Erik Telford

Media Contact
media(at)commonwealthfoundation.org

Request an Interview Headshot

Erik Telford

Senior Vice President of Public Affairs

Erik Telford is the Senior Vice President of Public Affairs at the Commonwealth Foundation.

Erik is a senior public affairs and communications executive with more than 15 years of diverse experience across public policy, advocacy, and public affairs institutions. Before joining the Commonwealth Foundation, Erik served as the senior vice president at Stand Together Communications, the Koch network’s marketing and communications capability. Erik has also served as the president of the Franklin Center for Government & Public Integrity, a state-based watchdog journalism organization. And at Americans for Prosperity, he was the executive director of RightOnline (an initiative he founded) and the director of membership and online strategy. He is currently on the board of the American Commitment Foundation.

In 2013, Campaigns & Elections Magazine honored Erik as an “Advocacy Innovator” and in 2011 as a “Rising Star in American Politics.”  Politics Online named him one of the “Top 10 Who Are Changing the World of Internet and Politics.” 

Top 5 Blog Posts of 2014

  • December 29, 2014

Which blog posts were the most popular in 2014? We count them down, as chosen by you, the reader. 5.) Video: Government Unions’ Political Power Cycle How do…

Media

Read More: Top 5 Blog Posts of 2014

Education

SAT Scores by State 2014

  • December 22, 2014

Every year, the College Board releases its SAT Report on College & Career Readiness, which includes SAT data for individual states. We've organized this data into one convenient…

Media

Read More: SAT Scores by State 2014

Education

The Self-Fulfilling Prophecy of Low Expectations

  • James Paul
  • December 19, 2014

Is it true that schools with high concentrations of low-income students face unique challenges? Yes. Should poverty, along with several other social problems, be understood as a factor that influences…

Media

Read More: The Self-Fulfilling Prophecy of Low Expectations

Education

Harmed by “Hold Harmless”

  • James Paul
  • December 15, 2014

There are few more egregious examples of political doublespeak than Pennsylvania’s “hold harmless” provision for state education funding. Hold harmless guarantees each school district receives no fewer state education dollars…

Media

Read More: Harmed by “Hold Harmless”

Mary’s Law: Protecting Teachers and Taxpayers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 12, 2014

“Mary’s Law,” new legislation that will soon be introduced by State Senators John Eichelberger and Gene Yaw—along with 10 other senators—would end the taxpayer-funded collection of political money. Update:…

Media

Read More: Mary’s Law: Protecting Teachers and Taxpayers

Regulation

Government Falls Short in Subsidizing Job Creation

  • December 12, 2014

“Incomplete, misleading, and unreliable”—that is how an Auditor General report described Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) efforts to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of your…

Media

Read More: Government Falls Short in Subsidizing Job Creation

Education

Pennsylvanians Deserve True Fairness

  • December 11, 2014

Everyone deserves an equal opportunity to pursue success in our state. While Gov.-elect Wolf's intentions echo this noble sentiment, many of his proposals fall far short of his vision.

Commentary

Read More: Pennsylvanians Deserve True Fairness