The Public Employees’ Retirement System of Mississippi (PERS) is holding a runoff election for one of the two retiree representatives on its Board of Trustees. The runoff candidates are George Dale, former commissioner of insurance, and Dr. Philip Pepper, former state economist.
PERS will mail runoff ballots to eligible voters Monday, March 6. The deadline to cast runoff ballots is 5 p.m. Thursday, April 6. The PERS Board will certify the election results at its April 25 meeting. The retiree representative term will run from May 1, 2017, to April 30, 2023, and will replace Dr. Richard C. Miller who is retiring April 30, 2017, after serving 22 years as a trustee. Visit www.pers.ms.gov to view the complete election schedule, a sample runoff ballot listing the candidates, and their biographical information and candidate statements.
The Mississippi Retired Public Employees’ Association (MRPEA) surveyed candidates running for this retiree representative post. Click on the links below to review the survey responses and position statements received by MRPEA from the two candidates in the runoff election.
Phil Pepper MRPEA Survey Response and Phil Pepper Position Statement
The 10-member PERS Board includes the state Treasurer, a gubernatorial appointee who is a member of PERS, two PERS retirees, two state employees, and one representative each of public schools and community/junior colleges, Institutions of Higher Learning, counties, and municipalities. With the exception of the state Treasurer and the gubernatorial appointee, board members are elected to staggered six-year terms.