Police pension board member has attended 10 of 40 meetings since 2023 appointment; attendance policies vary among Oklahoma retirement boards.
OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma gubernatorial candidate Mike Mazzei has attended just 10 of the 40 monthly meetings of the Oklahoma Police Pension and Retirement Board since Gov. Kevin Stitt appointed him in March 2023, according to records first reported by Oklahoma Watch. Mazzei has not attended a board meeting since April 2025, around the time he launched his campaign for governor.
The attendance record has drawn attention because Mazzei has made his background in budgeting, finance and pension reform a central part of his campaign for governor.
During his 12 years in the Oklahoma Senate, Mazzei chaired the Senate Finance Committee and played a leading role in pension reform efforts. He later served as Gov. Kevin Stitt’s budget secretary before returning to the private sector, where his financial planning firm manages approximately $1.5 billion in assets.
The 13-member Police Pension and Retirement Board oversees nearly $4 billion in retirement assets while also approving new members, paying death benefits and deciding disability claims involving law enforcement officers.
Attendance standards vary
Attendance expectations differ among Oklahoma’s retirement systems.
The Oklahoma Teachers’ Retirement System Board of Trustees, for example, has a formal attendance policy requiring trustees to attend at least 75% of regularly scheduled board meetings. The policy provides for written reminders after three consecutive absences and requires notification of both the trustee and the appointing authority when attendance falls below established thresholds.
The Police Pension Board has no comparable policy.
No attendance policy
Board Chairman Chris Cook told Oklahoma Watch that attendance issues would ultimately be up to the governor because Mazzei serves as a gubernatorial appointee. Cook also said the board has no attendance policy and noted that members understood Mazzei had been occupied with his gubernatorial campaign.
Police Pension Executive Director Ginger Sigler told Oklahoma Watch that she believes board members have a duty to attend meetings but acknowledged Mazzei’s campaign has limited his availability. She also said any action regarding board members would have to originate with the board.
Mazzei’s campaign defended his service, saying the position is unpaid and voluntary.
In a statement attributed to campaign spokeswoman Carissa Mazzei, the campaign said Mazzei offered to step down after becoming a candidate for governor but agreed to remain until a replacement could be appointed if his financial expertise was needed. The Police Pension Board chairman also indicated the board has continued conducting business despite Mazzei’s absences and said members understood he had been occupied with his gubernatorial campaign.
Stitt’s office did not directly address questions from Oklahoma Watch about whether Mazzei would be replaced on the board. Instead, Deputy Chief of Staff Abegail Cave issued a statement praising Mazzei’s legislative record and service on the pension board.
Mazzei faces Attorney General Gentner Drummond in the Aug. 25 Republication runoff election for governor.
This story is based in part on reporting by Oklahoma Watch and includes additional reporting and context.
