Treasurer candidate slams opponent over pension plan
Charles de Coune, an independent candidate for state treasurer, said Tuesday that retired state employees are worse off because of his opponent’s work in the Legislature.
“Do you want someone who’s made it his mission to cut these peoples’ benefits?” de Coune said at a news conference surrounded by supporters at the state Capitol. “Or do you want someone who understands that treating core service providers fairly will allow our working families, our small businesses and Oklahoma to thrive?”
State Rep. Randy McDaniel is the Republican nominee and the only other candidate for treasurer on the Nov. 6 ballot. The state treasurer sits on boards that oversee pension investments.
McDaniel guided much of the legislative policy on state worker retirement benefits in recent years. During his time as a lawmaker, state pension systems have become more solvent, McDaniel has said, because of policies he pushed through the House of Representatives.
At the news conference, retired Cleveland County Sheriff Joe Lester accused McDaniel of blocking efforts that would have increased permanent retirement payouts for the first time in a decade. Another supporter of de Coune, retired Oklahoma City teacher Susan Bumgarner, said it’s her turn to use the pension she worked hard to earn.
“For now, my pension is enough,” she said. “But inflation and the rising cost of health care, and any extra help I might need as I get older, means that it’s not going to stay enough without cost-ofliving adjustments.”
In response, McDaniel said, “We need to ensure we have long-term solutions to make sure the systems are strong not only today, but for many generations to come.
“I think those solutions can be found as we look for funding sources to pay for benefits that have long-term costs.”