Santa Ana, CA (July 16, 2024) – The Orange County Employees Retirement System (OCERS) is pleased to announce the 2024 Board of Retirement Safety and Alternate Safety Members Trustee Election results. The election was held on June 18, 2024 for Active Safety Members, and the following individuals have been re-elected to the OCERS Board of Retirement.

• Richard Oates (Safety Member Trustee)

• Jeremy Vallone (Alternate Safety Member Trustee)

Their terms are from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027. The official certification of their terms will be conducted by the Orange County Board of Supervisors at a later date.

“Congratulations to Mr. Oates and Mr. Vallone on their re-election to the OCERS Board of Retirement,” said Steve Delaney, OCERS CEO. “Their dedication and expertise have been invaluable, and we look forward to their continued contributions as we strive to serve our members with the highest standards of excellence.”

Trustee Profiles

Deputy Sheriff Richard Oates was elected for his first term as the Safety Member on May 18, 2021, and was certified to serve by the Orange County Board of Supervisors on May 25, 2021. He began his first term on the OCERS Board of Retirement on July 1, 2021. Since beginning his career in law enforcement in 2001, Mr. Oates was promoted to Sergeant on October 22, 2021. He has served in various roles within Custody and Patrol Operations for the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. Mr. Oates is also a Board Member of the Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs (AOCDS), serving as Vice President.

Fire Captain Jeremy Vallone began his role as the Alternate Safety Member of the Board of Retirement on July 1, 2018. He has served with the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) since 2004. Mr. Vallone holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Chapman University in Orange, CA. He is actively involved in the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) teaching cadre and is a We/Fit (Wellness and Fitness) member. Married with three children, Mr. Vallone and his family enjoy outdoor activities such as camping, biking, and surfing.

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Media Contact:
Mary-Joy Coburn, Director of Communications
mjcoburn@ocers.org

Press Release: 2024 Safety Member and Alternate Safety Trustee Election Results