PPOA Retiree Liaison
LASD retired
jschallert@ppoa.com
It looks as though summer is ending. We are deep in the midst of the sheriff’s election, and I get asked questions about it from many people. PPOA has decided that Alex Villanueva is the best choice for employees in the sheriff’s race. There are many who believe that Mr. Luna would fire all the non-vaccinated employees on day one or side with the Board of Supervisors on the issue of taking powers away from an elected sheriff. Many say that because he does not openly argue that DA Gascon is a complete failure in his position; that he supports what he is doing to destroy safety in Los Angeles County. This article is not to argue those points. The candidates themselves can argue their records, beliefs and why they feel they would be better suited. As your Board, we make decisions that, especially during elections, are not popular with everyone. Our job is to select who the best candidate is for the LASD employees and who would serve them best.
Four years ago, we supported Jim McDonnell because the Board at that time felt he was the best candidate. So, we are not simply behind one person … we are here to work with whomever the sheriff ends up being to the betterment of all of us. Employees and retirees: If Mr. Luna ends up winning, we will work with him also moving forward. We cannot simply shut down relationships due to us not getting our way. That would be simply childish and unacceptable behavior. Once the voter speaks, we move forward.
We have several challengers to the PPOA Board this election. I am unopposed, so I am with you another two years. I look forward to seeing you at the next PPOA Retiree Luncheon (see page 31) and at the Roundup in Laughlin. Several challengers mean the makeup of the PPOA Board will be different. It seems every cycle that members become more interested in PPOA when the sheriff election nears.
I was shocked when Shawn Kehoe lost his position at LACERA. How could that happen? He lost his seat to a fire department member and our LASD turnout was dismal, to say the least. I was saddened by the terrible turnout of members. Election results revealed that 40% of County Fire members cast their ballots compared to only 15% of LADA/LASD members. That made the difference for this election, in which 3,231 safety members voted. In the end, Shawn lost by only 60 votes for the Board of Investments and 161 votes for the Board of Retirement.
That was a huge loss for both active and retired members. Shawn has served so well for all of us. He really looked out for us. I have heard good things about the victor, so I am hopeful we will all be OK. Now, retirees did not vote in that election so you can rest easy knowing you did not miss the critical vote email. I talked to another Sergeant Super School class last month, and a handful of them voted, but most were unaware. I am again saddened by this. Apathy will be our undoing.
We have about eight weeks until the election as I type this, and the PPOA Board election will also be completed by then. No matter who wins both elections, we move forward and work with whomever is chosen by the voters. Someone once told me you can’t choose the family you were born into but you can learn to thrive with them or despise them. Same with elections. You can’t choose who the electorate votes for, but you can work well with them or despise them. I hope we can all work well together moving forward. Ego needs to be put in check at the door.
Until next month, keep the emails coming!