After over 30 years of hearings, promises, and debate urging Congress to repeal the Social Security Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), we reached “victory lane” early in the morning of December 21st, 2024, when the Senate voted to pass HR 82. The vote was 74 – 20 to approve the Social Security Fairness Act repealing the WEP and GPO. These provisions unfairly target government retirees who are eligible for benefits they have paid for and also receive a governmental pension. The House passed the Social Security Fairness Act by a vote of 327 to 75 on November 12, 2025. The bill will be sent to the President, who has pledged to sign the legislation. We thank all who supported the enactment – FOP, IAFF, NARFE, NLCU, AFT, AFL-CIO, and others.
2025 BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE RETIRED EMPLOYEES’ ASSOCIATION OF JACKSONVILLE
President
John Keane
1st Vice President
Terry Wood
2nd Vice President
Darryl Patterson
Secretary
Greg Radlinski
Treasurer
Tom Waarum
Chaplain
Leona Spann,
Sergeant-At-Arms
Larry Johnson
Members at Large
Al Saffer
Charlene West
Laura English-Williams
Immediate Past President
Eric Smith
General Counsel
Paul Daragjati
Ombudsman
MaryAnne Anders
General Employees Pension Trustee
Eric Smith
General Employees Pension Fund Advisory Committee
Kent Mathis
Police and Fire Pension Fund Advisory Committee
Tom Lumpkin
Police and Fire Trustee
Terry Wood
Advisory Panel
Emily (Flo) Clark
Sheila Caulkins
Pete Ison