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
Shapiro’s Backward Budget
Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania Pennsylvania’s most precious resource – people – are leaving. Gov. Josh Shapiro’s newly adopted 2024–25 state budget, once more, mimics the policies of other declining…
Media Hit
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Why Kamala Harris may ignore Josh Shapiro
There is a growing speculation around Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s odds of being selected as Kamala Harris’ running mate. While the buzz around Shapiro continues to grow, his inexperience and…
Press Release
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Why Kamala Harris may ignore Josh Shapiro
Originally published at The Philadelphia Inquirer Should Kamala Harris choose Gov. Josh Shapiro as her vice-presidential running mate? That’s what many in the media — both in…
Media Hit
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Pennsylvania’s energy future is alarming — and the governor isn’t helping
Originally published at Broad + Liberty Things are heating up in Pennsylvania, especially for our electrical grid. The Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Maryland Interconnection (PJM), the grid manager for the commonwealth plus…
Media Hit
Read More: Pennsylvania’s energy future is alarming — and the governor isn’t helpingEducation
Taxpayers and students lose with Pennsylvania’s new budget
Originally published at The Patriot-News Pundits and reporters have rushed to identify the “winners and losers” of Pennsylvania’s newly signed budget. Obvious winners include Gov. Josh…
Media Hit
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New Swing State Poll: PA Voters Evenly Divided, Presidential Election a Toss Up
Harrisburg, Pa., July 26, 2024—Public support for Donald Trump and Kamala Harris is evenly divided in Pennsylvania, according to a new statewide survey of Pennsylvania voters, with Harris leading Trump 47%…
Press Release
Read More: New Swing State Poll: PA Voters Evenly Divided, Presidential Election a Toss UpEducation
TV Ad Exposes Shapiro as “All Talk, No Results”
Harrisburg, Pa., July 25, 2024—The Commonwealth Foundation today released a new television ad that exposes Gov. Josh Shapiro’s leadership failures and his inability to obtain significant legislative successes.
Press Release
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Who will Harris pick for vice president? Why Shapiro and Whitmer aren’t the answers.
Originally published at USA Today Joe Biden is out. Kamala Harris is almost certainly in. The question now is: Who will the likely Democratic presidential…
Media Hit
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Why is Gov. Shapiro Afraid of His Own Campaign Promises?
HARRISBURG, PA., July 24, 2024 — At a press conference Tuesday, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said the Commonwealth Foundation has “spent years and millions and millions of dollars attacking me.” Shapiro’s…
Press Release
Read More: Why is Gov. Shapiro Afraid of His Own Campaign Promises?Education
President and CEO Charles Mitchell on Philadelphia’s Morning Answer with Chris Stigall
Topics on this pageCharles E. MitchellChris StigallPhiladelphia…
Media Hit
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Special Needs Students Thrive in Cyber Charters
Originally published at Delaware Valley Journal Kris Hansen and her son Lucien are square pegs in a world full of round holes. If not for a cyber charter school,…
Media Hit
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VP Josh Shapiro? Ad Spotlights Governor’s Failed Leadership
Harrisburg, Pa., July 22, 2024 — Some political pundits say Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro would provide the Democratic presidential ticket a boost in a critical battleground state. That will only be…
Press Release
Read More: VP Josh Shapiro? Ad Spotlights Governor’s Failed LeadershipEducation
Fully funded public education must include cyber charters
Originally published at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review When a parent says that a public school isn’t what it used to be, the implication is usually bad. But for Brenda Jesky,…
Media Hit
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Governor Shapiro’s Do-Nothing Record Makes Him a Perfect Fit for Vice President
HARRISBURG, PA., July 18, 2024 — Amid growing speculation about President Joe Biden’s future as a candidate, political pundits, operatives, and donors are touting Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro as a potential…
Press Release
Read More: Governor Shapiro’s Do-Nothing Record Makes Him a Perfect Fit for Vice PresidentEducation
Broken promises
Originally published at the Philadelphia Inquirer The Inquirer left someone out in its coverage of the “winners and losers” of the new state budget: kids in Pennsylvania’s low-achieving…
Commentary
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Shapiro Failed on School Choice—Again. There’s Hope Despite Him
Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania The state budget is finally done, but Pennsylvania families should be angry. That’s the most important takeaway from the budget that Gov. Josh Shapiro and…
Media Hit
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New Ad Highlights Shapiro’s Historic Ineffectiveness
Harrisburg, Pa., July 17, 2024 — Convention delegates, leaders of both political parties, and the national political media will see a new ad telling the truth about Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s ineffectiveness.
Press Release
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New TV/Digital Ad Holds Gov. Shapiro Accountable for Turning His Back on Vulnerable Families
HARRISBURG, Pa., July 16, 2024 — The Commonwealth Foundation will air a new television ad featuring a Pennsylvania mother calling out Gov. Josh Shapiro for once again breaking his promise to provide…
Media
Read More: New TV/Digital Ad Holds Gov. Shapiro Accountable for Turning His Back on Vulnerable FamiliesHealth Care
In Case You Missed It Pa. Health Care Experts Propose the Personal Option as a Solution to the State’s Health Care Woes
Harrisburg, Pa., July 15, 2024 — The Commonwealth Foundation held a webinar last week to discuss a transformative health care proposal, the Personal Option, which would give Pennsylvanians more control over their…
Press Release
Read More: In Case You Missed It Pa. Health Care Experts Propose the Personal Option as a Solution to the State’s Health Care WoesEducation
S2: E5 Featuring Joelle Fortin
In this episode of the School Choice Report podcast, host Dave Hardy sits down with Joelle Fortin, a dedicated mom of five and former public school teacher with over a…
Podcast
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2024–25 State Budget Analysis
Key Points Pennsylvania’s $47.6 billion 2024–25 budget creates a $3.6 billion structural deficit. This will exhaust General Fund reserves, which will require draining from the Rainy Day fund—illegally—or raising taxes…
Fact Sheet
Read More: 2024–25 State Budget Analysis