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Frankfort, KY  –(June 23, 2015)– Kentucky Public Retirees (KPR) will hold their annual conference Thursday and Friday, June 25-26 at the Clarion Hotel on Newtown Pike in Lexington.  The non-profit organization represents nearly 100,000 state and local government and state police retirees.

Registration begins at 9 a.m. Thursday and the conference begins at 10 a.m.

Representative and democratic candidate for Lt. Governor Sannie Overly will address the group on Thursday at 9:30 a.m.  Likewise, republican candidate for Governor Matt Bevin will speak at 11:30 a.m. Friday.  Both will share their plans for the future of Kentucky, particularly the viability of the Kentucky Retirement System (KRS) and their ideas for the fund’s stability.  The system currently only has 17 percent of the funds needed to pay retirement benefits and is in jeopardy of insolvency. Questions will be taken following the presentations.

“We are grateful that the candidates agreed to join us,” KPR President Paul Guffey said.  “This is a great opportunity to hear their thoughts on the unfunded liability of KRS and to hear their ideas for shoring up retirees’ benefits.”

The Thursday afternoon session will include a legislative panel at 2 p.m., members of which will discuss topics of importance to public retirees, including the future of KRS.

“We have a great working relationship with our legislators, and they know as well as we that something has to be done, and done quickly, to ensure the future stability of the system,” said KPR President Paul Guffey.  “Our retirees have paid into the system throughout their career, and to let them down now is unconscionable.”

Additional guests include Mayor Jim Gray; Lt. Governor Crit Luallen; Director of the Kentucky Center for Economic Development Jason Bailey; and Publisher of Kentucky Monthly magazine Stephen Vest.

The annual Waterfield Achievement and Humanitarian awards will be presented Thursday evening during dinner.

For a registration form or for more information visit kentuckypublicretirees.org.