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.” 

Government Accountability

Government Unions Bosses United for Political Attack Ads

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 28, 2014

Politics PA reported last week that a group called “Americans United for Change” is targeting four Pennsylvania Congressmen (Charlie Dent, Joe Pitts, Mike Fitzpatrick, and Pat Meehan) in their…

Media

Read More: Government Unions Bosses United for Political Attack Ads

Public Union Democracy

Big Labor Scares Workers, Storms Capitol

  • January 28, 2014

For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Gov. Unions Rally to Defend the Indefensible While Supporters of Paycheck Protection Defend Workers’ Rights January 28, 2014, HARRISBURG, Pa—Government…

Press Release

Read More: Big Labor Scares Workers, Storms Capitol

Public Union Democracy

National, State Teachers’ Unions Don’t Talk to Teachers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 27, 2014

A survey of National Education Association (NEA) members, summarized by the Educational Intelligence Agency, reveals most teacher union members never hear from state and national union officials. While most…

Media

Read More: National, State Teachers’ Unions Don’t Talk to Teachers

Government Accountability

Paycheck Protection Garners National Attention

  • January 27, 2014

The effort to protect Pennsylvania’s union members and taxpayers from union bosses is grabbing national attention in major papers. Both the Wall Street Journal (paywall) and Investor’s Business…

Media

Read More: Paycheck Protection Garners National Attention

Public Union Democracy

Pennsylvania Next in Union Crosshairs

  • Nathan Benefield, Priya Brannick
  • January 24, 2014

Government union leaders are ramping up their attack messaging machine in Pennsylvania and planning a rally to bully state lawmakers as they did in Wisconsin and Michigan. But…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania Next in Union Crosshairs

Government Accountability

Answering the Critics About Paycheck Protection

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 23, 2014

Under current law and contracts, it’s permissible for a school district’s personnel office to act as the collection agent for Political Action Committee contributions and membership dues…

Memo

Read More: Answering the Critics About Paycheck Protection

Education

Win for Transparency in Public School Spending

  • Priya Brannick
  • January 22, 2014

How would you like to know what’s in a teachers’ contract before your school district passes it—and locks in spending—for four years? And how would you like to track how…

Media

Read More: Win for Transparency in Public School Spending

Public Union Democracy

Myth: Paycheck Protection Affects Firefighters’ Freedom of Speech

  • January 21, 2014

According to a WTAJ report in Altoona, there is some concern among firefighters that paycheck protection legislation would silence their voices in Harrisburg. This is wrong on two counts—firefighters…

Media

Read More: Myth: Paycheck Protection Affects Firefighters’ Freedom of Speech

Welfare

Protection for the Poor a First Step

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • January 21, 2014

It’s too easy to steal from low-income Pennsylvanians and taxpayers according to Senators Scarnati and Argall. The lawmakers say it’s time to increase fraud penalties to make stealing over $1000…

Media

Read More: Protection for the Poor a First Step