Former Pasadena City Manager Steve Mermell Seeks Seat on California Public Employees’ Pension System Board

Former City Manager Steve Mermell is running for a members-at-large seat on the California Public Employees’ Pension System (CalPERS) Board of Administration.

The 13-member California Public Employees’ Pension System Board sets policy and makes critical decisions that impact members and employers, including annual health premiums and allocations of the pension fund’s investments.

Under the California Constitution, the California Public Employees’ Pension System Board has exclusive authority to administer the California Public Employees’ Pension System pension fund.

The California Public Employees’ Pension System pension fund serves more than 2 million members, making it the largest defined-benefit public pension in the nation. California Public Employees’ Pension System also administers health benefits for more than 1.5 million members and their families, making California Public Employees’ Pension System the nation’s largest purchaser of public employee health services behind the U.S. government.

Mermell is seeking the Position A members-at-large seat. He is facing Dominick Bei of the Santa Monica Fire Department and David Miller of the Department of Toxic Substances Control.

Miller’s term will expire on Jan. 15, and the new term begins on Jan. 16 and will last until Jan. 15, 2030.

Mermell left the City in 2021, after nearly 30 years with the City. He began his career as an administrative analyst at Pasadena Water and Power. In the Finance Department, he served as Purchasing Administrator, Budget Administrator, and Deputy Director of Finance before being promoted to Assistant City Manager, then interim City Manager before the City Council chose him for the job.

While serving as City Manager, he led the City through the COVID-19 pandemic.

A random drawing for the order in which the candidates’ names will appear on the election ballot will be held on June 5. In order to view that event, an email must be sent to the Board election coordinator at Board_Election_Coordinator@calpers.ca.gov.

Ballots will be mailed August 29, and votes must be received by September 29 to be counted.

All eligible active and retired California Public Employees’ Pension System members (excluding survivors and beneficiaries) are eligible to vote for these two positions.