Board of Retirement Elections

Joel Flores

Certified Public Accountant

My name is Joel Flores, and I am running for the SBCERS Board because every member deserves confidence that the retirement benefits we have earned will be protected through responsible financial stewardship. As an SBCERS member, I understand how important a secure retirement is to each of us and our families.

As a Certified Public Accountant and Cost Analyst for the County, I have built my career on financial accountability and sound judgment. I also serve on the County’s Deferred Compensation Committee, where I support employee retirement planning and financial well-being. My experience includes helping prepare the County’s annual $1 billion Property Tax Roll, contributing to the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, and developing budgets and long-term financial forecasts.

My commitment to public service extends beyond my professional responsibilities. For five years, I volunteered through the VITA program, providing free tax preparation to low-income families in our community.

If elected, I will bring independent judgment, fiduciary responsibility, and disciplined financial oversight to every decision. I will work to safeguard our pension fund, protect our earned benefits, and preserve the long-term strength and stability of SBCERS for current and future retirees.

I would be honored to earn your vote.

John Paul Sekulich

Park Ranger II

I am honored to be a candidate for the General Third Member of the Santa Barbara County Employees Retirement System (SBCERS) Board of Retirement. Throughout my career, I have demonstrated a commitment to leadership, fiscal responsibility, and public service.

I earned my undergraduate degree from UC Berkeley, where I also competed as a collegiate athlete. I hold two master’s degrees in education, including one with an
emphasis in Organizational Leadership and Management from UCSB. As Head Coach of the UCSB Rowing Team, I managed nearly 100 student-athletes and coaching staff, oversaw an annual budget of approximately $500,000, and administered a $30,000 scholarship program. Our program earned Team Points Championships in 2023 and 2024, and I was honored as the 2019 Coach of the Year.

Today, I proudly serve Santa Barbara County as a Park Ranger and hold certification as an Emergency Medical Technician. I am also an Eagle Scout and a National Champion rower, experiences that have reinforced the values of integrity, preparation, accountability, and teamwork.

If elected, I will bring thoughtful leadership, sound financial oversight, and a commitment to protecting the long-term sustainability of our retirement system while faithfully representing the interests of SBCERS members and retirees.

Julius Abanise

Incumbent

It is an honor and privilege to serve as your General Third Member on the Board of Retirement. I earned a Bachelor of Science degree from UC Riverside as well as a law degree from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles. I have been a Deputy County Counsel since 2015. I am currently a senior deputy, and my job is to defend the County and its employees in civil cases in federal and state courts. I serve as President of the Civil Attorney’s Association (“CAA”), a union that represents County lawyers in the Office of County Counsel and the Department of Child Support. In addition, I serve as CAA’s representative on the County’s: a) Deferred Compensation Oversight Committee (“DCOC”) that oversees our 457 deferred compensation plan; and b) Health Oversight Committee (“HOC”), an advisory body that oversees our medical, dental and vision benefits. My legal training, deep interest in economics and experience have enhanced my ability to make an impact on the Board by asking the right questions. My priority is to nurture the growth of the irreplaceable retirement savings of all County workers. SBCERS has one job — pay benefits. Let’s go!

Zandra Cholmondeley

Incumbent

As your elected retiree representative for the past 18 years, I have brought my experience as a financial analyst to the important issues before the SBCERS Board.

During that time, I have worked to represent your interests by paying particular attention to the development and revision of policies that impact retirees, determining asset allocation, selecting firms to manage investments, and exercising vigilant oversight of Fund performance. Together with my fellow Board members, we have guided the pension Fund through several economic downturns. Since the market crash of 2007-08, when the Fund dropped to $1.2 billion, the Fund has grown to $5.1 billion today.

Over the years, I have served as your retiree representative on the Health Oversight Committee and worked to ensure the security of our health benefits. I also monitor the Health Fund, managed by the SBCERS Board, to help ensure these funds remain secure. I would be honored to continue representing your interests and respectfully ask for your vote.

Allan Kaplan

Retired District Attorney

Having previously served for almost a decade as Chair of the Retirement Board, I have extensive experience dealing with problems faced by the Board.

While employed as a Deputy District Attorney I was elected as the employees’ representative. After my initial years of service my fellow Board members elected me as their Chairman. With my participation and leadership as Chairman the retirement funds grew from mere millions to over one billion dollars and was 100% funded.

I originally sought election for the purpose of obtaining health benefits for retirees which at that time did not exist.

While serving as Chairman health benefits for retirees were created for the first time. In addition, a mechanism to contribute to the retirees’ portion of the cost was created.

An established procedure of sharing the system’s income between the County, the employees, and the retirees began. The retirees’ portion was utilized to increase the amount paid to each employee to assist in covering the costs of their health insurance.

It is critical to understand that my experience in providing retiree benefits is an essential qualification for the position.

Experienced leadership is necessary now more than ever. I have that experience.

Gary Blair

Incumbent

I respectfully request your support in re-electing me to a three-year term as your Retirement Board Trustee. During the last nine years I have worked diligently to protect the interests of retirees and to help ensure that our pension plan remains prudently invested, financially sound, and well managed. I have actively participated in Board deliberations and served as Chair of the Operations Committee and the Property Management Committee, which provided oversight of the Robin Hill Road Construction project in which SBCERS staff now operates.

Before joining the Board, I served for 34 years as the Superior Court Executive Officer. That experience provided me with extensive knowledge of fiscal planning and the ability to interpret executive-level financial reports as well as experience in human resources, facilities management, employee benefits, and organizational oversight. These skills enable me to carefully evaluate the complex investment and administrative issues that come before the Board. I always strive to represent your best interests.

In these uncertain economic times, trustees must be vigilant, independent, and fully committed to protecting the long-term solvency of our retirement system. I pledge to continue representing your interests with diligence, sound judgment, and integrity.

Thank you for your support.

Gary Blair