Pension Committees

Despite Harsh Rhetoric MF & CORE Join Forces on Pension Board

By Jim Vail

MF Pension Trustee Victor Ochoa

There is rhetoric, and then there is reality.

The war of words between Members First and CORE have heated up lately after Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates accused MF of being a part of the Illinois Policy Institute. The IPI helped lead an attack on the CTU by trying to get members to opt out of the union.

Gates even called MF Teachers Pension Trustee Phil Weiss the campaign manager for failed Republican Governor candidate Darren Bailey.

But despite these incendiary words - CORE, who controls the number of seats on the Chicago Teachers Pension Board, voted in favor of Phil Weiss to continue as Chairman of the Fund's Investment Committee and voted for MF Pension Trustee Victor Ochoa to chair the Technology Committee.

In fact, Trustee Weiss endorsed CORE Trustee Jeffery Blackwell during the campaign before his re-election.

The public fight between the two union caucuses apparently turned into a love fest.

And independents be damned! Retired Teacher Pension Trustee Maria J. Rodriguez and Teacher Pension Trustee Tina Padilla who is not affiliated with either CORE or MF will not chair any committees. 

Recently elected Teacher Pension Trustees Jeffery Blackwell will continue to be the President of the Pension Board, and Jaqueline Price Ward will be the new Vice President.

The new Committee heads were named at the Chicago Teachers Pension Board meeting on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022.  

The Financial Secretary will be Retired Teacher Trustee Mary Sharon Reilly and Recording Secretary will be Retired Teacher Trustee Lois Nelson.

The Finance and Audit Committee chair will be (CORE) Mary Sharon Reilly. This Committee is powerful because it provides oversight of management's administration of the Fund's annual budget and financial operations.

The Pension Laws and Administrative Rules Committee will be chaired by (CORE) Jacqueline Price Ward. It establishes CTPF's legislative agenda.

It recommends or proposes pension legislation.

Claims and Service Credits Committee will be headed by (CORE) Quentin Washington. This committee recommends action by the Board on applications for pensions, including disability and refunds.

The Personnel Committee will be headed by (CORE) Mary Sharon Reilly who will review, evaluate and make recommendations regarding staff compensations, and hiring and firing. 

MF Teacher Trustee Victor Ochoa will be the chair of the Technology Committee.

The Elections Committee Chair will be (CORE) Quentin Washington and the other members will be (MF) Victor Ochoa and (CORE) Jaqueline Price Ward.

The Policy Committee chair will be (CORE) Jeffery Blackwell, and include (CORE) Jaqueline Price Ward and (CORE) Mary Sharon Reilly. This Committee makes recommendations to write new policies and amend them.

The Executive Committee consists of (CORE) Jeffery Blackwell President, Financial Secretary (CORE) Mary Sharon Reilly, Price-Ward (CORE) Vice President and one elected trustee (CORE) Lois Nelson.

CORE controls the Chicago Teachers Pension Board, and they are playing ball with the caucus they claim to disparage.