KEVIN CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33
page 25 of this issue of NJ Cops Magazine, and retired members have received a communication from Kevin that included such information.
Still, there are a couple of lines worth reiterating, some of the accomplishments that make him the most qualified candidate.
• As a member of the State Health Benefits Design Committee, he has protected Chapter 330 retirees by prohibiting low-cost managed plans to be considered which would increase contributions for these members.
• He knows politics at the local level, having served as a member of his school board for 17 years, and at the state level, having served as co-chair of the NJ State PBA Legislative Committee.
• As the lead administrator for the PBA Legal Protection Plan since 2008, he has grown the assets from less than $ 2 million to current assets to more than $ 8 million and created a legal protection plan for retirees, which protects them when legally carrying a firearm.
• He has earned several certificates from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, including a certificate in public plan policy.
So Lyons is more than somebody who served as a State Delegate for 13 years and as a member of the State PBA Executive Board. Much more.
When he started working at the State PBA headquarters, he had an office next to Regina Herz, who used to be the union’ s pension consultant, was employed with the state pension office and was a consultant to the PFRS Board.
“ I was able to pick her brain and learned a lot,” Lyons declared.“ I learned some of the nuances, like if somebody is leaving on disability after 20 years compared to 23 years and what different considerations need to be made.”
Between working with the Police Training Commission, the Health Benefits Design Committee and his school board, Lyons has gained an acute knowledge of how committees, commissions and boards work.“ I understand the dynamics of a bureaucracy,” he added.
But the last thing Lyons has been doing since he announced his candidacy and earned enough votes to be put on the final ballot in less than two hours is campaigning. Oh, he has been making the rounds and talking to retired members.
But he is not running on promises, rather on facts and experience. He is out there reconfirming his philosophy of service, leadership and busting his butt for the members.
“ A very wise man told me it’ s never about the person; it’ s about the issue,” Lyons strategizes.“ If the issues fall in line, the people will be taken care of. If you do homework, make sure what you are telling is the right thing and what you believe in your heart is right, that gives you the credibility.” d
34 NEW JERSEY COPS ■ OCTOBER 2016