Pension Defense Fund Update!

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ORTA launched the Pension Defense Fund in May of 2023. This fund was established to collect and hold for disbursement financial resources for activities that would advance ORTA mission to protect pensions of STRS members. The impetus for the establishment of this fund was Governor DeWine’s illegal removal of Wade Steen from the STRS Pension Board.

ORTA collected over $87,000 that paid the legal fees of Wade Steen in his successful challenge to be reinstated to the STRS Board. As soon as Mr. Steen returned to his seat by the appellate court, the governor and Attorney General Yost launched a new attack on STRS board members Steen and Fichtenbaum. On the basis of an anonymous letter from STRS staff, Mr. Yost has attacked reform board members Steen and Fichtenbaum. Despite the fact that Mr. Steen’s term expired in September, Mr. Yost’s persecution of both Steen and Fichtenbaum continues. ORTA’s pension defense fund has, again, stepped forward to protect these two outstanding men. Thus far ORTA’s expenses in defense of reform at STRS are as follows:

Mr. Steen’s case to reclaim his legal seat on the STRS board - $87,368.28

Mr. Fichtenbaum’s defense of the attack by the A.G. - $35,869.00

The pension defense fund continues to collect donations towards this worthy cause. Without Steen and Fichtenbaum none of the reforms that have occurred would have been possible.

The 3% COLA granted in 2022, and the 1% COLA granted the following year would never have occurred without Rudy and Wade’s leadership. The promised supplemental benefit for December of this year would never have been put forward without their leadership. The exit of the executive director and the acting executive director would not have happened without reform minded men such as these. ORTA needs your help to continue to fight the legal challenges from state officials that are opposed to reform at our pension. ORTA urges you to consider donating to the Pension Defense Fund.

You can donate online or send a check to ORTA Pension Defense Fund at
250 E. Wilson Bridge Road
Suite 150
Worthington, Ohio 43085.

Also, it is important to note that Wade Steen has taken legal action to get reimbursed for his expenses in his Quo Warrento (getting reinstated to his rightful seat on the STRS board) case. I am unsure how long such an action takes but the process has begun.

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Robin Rayfield, Executive Director
November 2024