Council candidates on pensions: Martin Thouvenell
Martin Thouvenell, former Upland Police Chief:
QUESTION: The city is faced with increasing salaries and pension costs for retired employees. What do you think needs to be done in order to make salaries and pension costs affordable?
ANSWER: I am a fiscal conservative who has consistently opposed unsustainable pension benefits for public employees. We need to establish a new, less expensive pension plan for new employees. I also support increased contributions by both existing and new employees to ensure they are paying their fair share of pension costs. I am against the abuse of pension spiking, the practice of allowing employees retirement income based upon their highest single year salary. I would end the practice of allowing the employee to purchase additional service credits. I will demand balanced city budgets and pension reforms while ensuring that public safety and infrastructure are top priorities. I am strong proponent of hiring qualified part-time employees to assist where appropriate and of better utilizing volunteers to enhance services for seniors, library users and the animal shelter. This will save the city significant dollars.
I can be reached at 909-579-7525 or martinthouvenell@yahoo.com if you would like to speak with me. Thank you. www.martinthouvenell.org
would like to ask Mr. Thouvenell how much retirement he is receiving from the City and if he was able to spike his retirement pay as Police Chief. I would also ask Mr. Thouvenell if he believes that the retirement package he got from the City was to excessive?
As a 26 year home owner in our fine city, I believe it's Mr Thouvenell's responsibility to discuss these two incidents that he was involved in when he was the Chief of Police. One involves his ten daughter in law.
http://www.porac.org/ldf/articles/june%201%202006.html
http://www.metnews.com/articles/2008/beck052908.htm
More:
One involves a person who was his daughter-in-law at the time. "The same witness also testified under cross examination that he had heard comments of a sexual nature being made by officers around the department and further stated that he had also heard supervisors make similar comments. When asked to identify the supervisors by name, the witness identified former Upland Chief of Police Martin Thouvenell."
http://www.porac.org/ldf/articles/june%201%202006.html
http://www.metnews.com/articles/2008/beck052908.htm
http://www.martinthouvenell.com/Martin-Thouvenell/Testimonials.asp