Erik Telford

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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.” 

Education

Audio: Could Charter Conversion be in York City’s Future?

  • December 10, 2014

York City School District—financially distressed and second-to-last in the state in student achievement—may be in for some much-needed change in the coming weeks. After two years of…

Media

Read More: Audio: Could Charter Conversion be in York City’s Future?

They’re Complaining Because We’re Convincing

  • Charles Mitchell
  • December 9, 2014

This morning’s Harrisburg Patriot-News includes an item that gives unfortunate credence to tired and lame allegations made by critics who are upset with CF’s effectiveness about our research…

Media

Read More: They’re Complaining Because We’re Convincing

Education

More Choice on the way to Philadelphia?

  • James Paul
  • December 9, 2014

Tens of thousands of Philadelphia students languishing on charter waiting lists have reason to hope. For the first time in seven years, the School…

Media

Read More: More Choice on the way to Philadelphia?

Education

Teachers’ Unions: The Common Roadblock to Reform

  • James Paul
  • December 9, 2014

From Philadelphia to York to the Pittsburgh suburbs, parents and taxpayers are looking to improve public education without breaking the bank. But there’s a common roadblock standing in their way:…

Commentary

Read More: Teachers’ Unions: The Common Roadblock to Reform

State Budget

Spending Restraint, Reform Needed to Balance Budget

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • December 5, 2014

With an estimated $2 billion “planning deficit” announced this week, one might believe crafting a balanced budget that doesn’t raise taxes is impossible. Yet earlier this year, we…

Media

Read More: Spending Restraint, Reform Needed to Balance Budget

Education

School Funding Reform & Weighted Student Funding

  • James Paul, Nathan Benefield
  • December 4, 2014

Thank you for the opportunity to offer testimony to this commission on the important topic of reforming how we distribute state funding for education. Our written testimony will focus on…

Testimony

Read More: School Funding Reform & Weighted Student Funding

Education

In Education Debate, Let’s Fund Students not Districts

  • December 4, 2014

For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 In Education Debate, Let’s Fund Students not Districts Current System Favors Shrinking Districts at Growing Districts' Expense December 4,…

Press Release

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Taxes & Economy

PA Ranks 27th in Economic Freedom, Lawmakers Can Make a Difference

  • December 3, 2014

Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 PA Ranks a Mediocre 27th in Economic Freedom, Lawmakers Can Make a Difference New Report Shows Expanding Economic Freedom Could Boost Incomes by Thousands…

Press Release

Read More: PA Ranks 27th in Economic Freedom, Lawmakers Can Make a Difference

Taxes & Economy

Economic Freedom Key to a Prosperous Pennsylvania

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • December 2, 2014

Pennsylvania is the 27th freest state in America according to the Fraser Institute’s annual Economic Freedom of North America report, which is hardly news to be celebrating. States were…

Media

Read More: Economic Freedom Key to a Prosperous Pennsylvania