We are proud to announce our endorsements for the upcoming Colorado PERA Board of Trustees election. After careful consideration of the candidates who sought our endorsement, including their experience, dedication to public service, and commitment to protecting the long-term sustainability of PERA, we are confident these individuals will provide strong, informed leadership. Their vision and integrity make them the right choice to represent the interests of Colorado’s public employees and retirees. We encourage all eligible members to take part in the election and support these outstanding candidates.
School Division (vote for three – see bios here)
- Drew Adams – Drew is a HR director in the Adams 14 school district. Secure PERA was proud to endorse him last year and still believe he is worthy of our support this year. As an education leader, he is personally and professionally invested in securing the best outcome for PERA and its members. He says, “Ensuring the long-term sustainability of PERA is essential for both current and future retirees who rely on these benefits. To preserve PERA, I would advocate for responsible funding policies that balance the needs of employees, retirees, and taxpayers. This includes supporting legislative efforts to maintain adequate employer and employee contributions, ensuring prudent investment strategies, and promoting fiscal responsibility within the system. Additionally, I would work to educate employees about their benefits and encourage proactive retirement planning. Collaboration with policymakers, public sector employers, and employee groups is key to maintaining the integrity and financial health of PERA for generations to come.”
- Eunice Botchway – Eunice been a strong educator voice on the PERA Board since 2023. A Special Education teacher, she notes her strength “strength lies in advocacy, ensuring that equitable practices are in place to support the success of students, educators, and staff.” She is seeking reelection to the PERA Board because of her “a deep commitment to ensuring our pension fund’s continued success and sustainability. Over my previous term, I have gained valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities ahead. I am eager to leverage that experience to contribute positively to PERA’s financial well-being. My dedication to transparency, collaboration, proactive decision-making, and passionate advocacy for the rights and interests of all members can help navigate the complexities of our pension system. My reelection would enable me to continue creating a lasting positive impact for all stakeholders.”
- Tonya Thompson – a former teacher, assistant principal, and now general counsel for Academy 20 school district, Tonya is a 31-year member of PERA. When asked about her support for PERA, she said, “public employees have dedicated their careers to serving our Colorado communities, and it is our responsibility to ensure that their retirement benefits remain secure, dignified, and fiscally sustainable. First and foremost, I strongly support maintaining PERA’s current defined benefit structure. Defined benefit plans offer stable, predictable retirement income and have proven crucial in providing retirement security for public employees, especially considering many PERA recipients historically have not qualified for Social Security benefits. Converting PERA into a defined contribution plan would shift undue financial risks onto employees, reducing the reliability of retirement income and undermining the long-term fiscal stability of the system. Additionally, I oppose efforts to shift the financial responsibilities of employers onto employees. Such “swapping” of contributions exacerbates the unfunded actuarial accrued liability, threatening the fiscal health of the plan and imposing unfair burdens on workers. Ensuring employers continue their commitments is critical for preserving both current and future retirees’ benefits.”.
State Division – (vote for one – see bios here)
- Luke Stanley – Luke is Colorado WINS leader who works at the School of Mines. As a member of the state division, he wants to ensure that voices of those who fully depend on PERA for their retirement are heard. When asked about the challenges facing PERA, he stated “the lack of working-class members of the board and staff, the lack of transparency and communication from PERA, and the inability or willingness to act responsibly for its members.” He is focused on strengthening the system because “we can’t afford for PERA to fail, and I would work very hard to ensure the security and wealth of PERA far into the future.”
Retiree Division – (vote for one – see bios here)
- Tina Mueh – Tina is a longtime friend of Secure PERA and an advocate for retirement security. An educator and former president of the Boulder Valley Education Association, Tina previously served on the PERA board and the legislative Pension Review Subcommittee. We are excited to endorse her again. Speaking about PERA, she said, “The sustainability of PERA is critical not only for current and future members’ economic security but for the health of Colorado’s economy too. People sometimes discount the fact that PERA’s over half a million public employees live here, and their retirement money is poured right back into Colorado. And yes, many members have spent the great majority of their careers in PERA-supported jobs and will have scant to no Social Security benefits. That fact is not understood by many stakeholders, and as a PERA board member, educating about the need to sustain PERA benefits for all the public employees who have tirelessly served our Colorado communities is an important duty! In addition to highlighting the importance of PERA, the most important jobs of a trustee are to act with fellow trustees to advise the legislature about statutory changes needed to keep PERA on firm financial ground (e.g. SB18- 200), to be vigilant about threats to PERA’s long-term stability (e.g. to oppose legislation designed to undermine PERA), and to welcome and pursue innovations in policy and structure (e.g. SB25-147, a bill to modify management of PERA and increase transparency) that will ensure PERA’s successful evolution.”
Ballots have already been mailed to eligible voters in the School, State and Retiree groups. There are many ways to vote – mail, phone, online, via your secure account or in the PERA app. Information is on your ballot. If you have not received your ballot or need to request a new one, you must contact PERA by May 16. All votes must be in or postmarked by May 31, 2025. More details are available on PERA’s website.