Active Candidates for the 2023 Board of Trustees Election
Three Trustees to be elected. Listed in ballot order.
A random drawing was held on Monday, July 17, 2023, to determine ballot positions for the candidates.
Click on the + icon to expand and view candidate platforms and qualifications.
Note: Platforms are presented verbatim, as submitted by the candidates.
Laura Lapeze
Undersecretary, Department of Revenue
View Platform & Qualifications
Qualifications and Platform:
I have been a member of LASERS for over 16 years. I offer the following experience:
- Over 19 years of state service in the areas of state budgeting/finance, executive level administration and service on various boards
- Currently serve as Undersecretary for the Department of Revenue
- Former Chief Financial Officer for the Louisiana State Treasury. Past employment also includes Department of Education, Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, and Louisiana Technical College as well as private sector employment.
- Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Louisiana State University.
My experience has exposed me to all facets of state government operations. A strong retirement system is critical in recruiting, hiring and retaining qualified staff.
If elected to the LASERS Board of Trustees, I pledge to:
- Serve with honesty, reliability and professionalism
- Be a tireless advocate for all state employees and retirees
- Prioritize protecting the health of our retirement system so that all state employees will be able to retire with security and dignity
- Support annual cost of living increases for retirees
- Be dedicated and committed to keeping our retirement system an attractive component to current and future members
I look forward to the opportunity to serve you.
Judge William Kleinpeter
Judge, City Court of Port Allen
View Platform & Qualifications
Qualifications:
I have been a member of the LASERS Board of Trustees since 2012. I have had the honor of serving as Chair of the Board, Chairman of the Legislative Committee, Chairman of the Investment Committee, and currently serve as Chairman of the Management Committee.
I have served as Judge of the City Court of Port Allen and have been a member of LASERS since 1991. I graduated from LSU with a bachelor’s degree in 1977 and received my Juris Doctorate from the LSU Law Center in 1985.
Platform:
Having had the honor of serving as a member of the LASERS Board of Trustees, I have been able to see the challenges and the opportunities we have to ensure that LASERS remains sound for all past, current, and future members. As the past chairman of the Legislative Committee, I have worked with the executive director and staff to support legislation that the Board felt was in the members’ best interest and oppose legislation that was not.
I am very proud of the work done by LASERS and ask that you allow me to continue to serve as a member of the Board of Trustees.
Cortny Jarrell
Human Resources Analyst, Louisiana House of Representatives
View Platform & Qualifications
Background:
My name is Cortny R Jarrell, and I serve as a Human Resources Analyst for the Louisiana House of Representatives.
I began employment in the Department of Children and Family Services (Foster Care Division) in 2007 and later transitioned to Human Resources in 2008 with the Department of Transportation and Development. Working in Human Resources allows me to help our workforce grow, assist Appointing Authorities with lasting and sound decisions, enforce policies and procedures, and to serve the public.
Qualifications:
- 15 year Member of LASERS
- Louisiana Public Employees Deferred Compensation Plan Participant
- Former State Civil Service Human Resources Consultant Supervisor
- Former Human Resources Manager for the Louisiana Department of Transportation & Development
- First Vice-President of the Southern University Alumni Federation & National Pan-Hellenic Council of Greater Baton Rouge
Education:
- Southern University and A&M College Bachelors of Science/Family & Consumer Science & Masters of Public Administration
Platform:
- My first priority is to serve with integrity, trust and honesty.
- To ensure every vote that I make is in the best interest of current and retired LASERS members.
- To maintain stability in our investment practices.
- To support efforts to repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision.
Your vote of confidence in me is greatly appreciated.
Pam Diez
Undersecretary, Department of Health
View Platform & Qualifications
Platform:
If elected, I will…
Perform the duties of a board member with integrity to honor myself and the members that I represent
Make informed decisions that will protect plan assets to ensure continuing benefits for current and future members of LASERS
Be a champion for identifying funding and/or legislation for cost-of-living adjustments in a fiscally responsible manner
Be steadfast in preserving the defined benefit plan for current and future LASERS members
Oppose mandatory social security participation and seek the reduction or elimination of the federal offsets, the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset
Qualifications:
LASERS member for 10 years
34 years of government service in the areas of finance and administration
Undersecretary, LA Department of Health
Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
Masters of Business Administration from University of Phoenix
Bachelors of Science in Accounting from Louisiana State University
Current Board Member of the National Association of State Human Services Finance Officers
Past Board Member of the Campus Federal Credit Union
Past member of the Ascension Parish Tourism commission
Graduate of Leadership Ascension