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

Cyber Proposal Undermines Cherished School Option

  • Priya Brannick
  • January 29, 2013

The Matunis girls are just two of some 32,000 students statewide who are thriving at cyber schools.  New legislation unveiled in Harrisburg, however, could do serious damage to cyber…

Commentary

Read More: Cyber Proposal Undermines Cherished School Option

Education

New Bills Constitute Attack on Cyber Schools

  • Priya Brannick
  • January 25, 2013

Pennsylvania House Majority Leader Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) and a trio of legislators today unveiled a package of bills aimed at reducing cyber school growth and limiting the popular schools’…

Media

Read More: New Bills Constitute Attack on Cyber Schools

Regulation

PLCB Declares Emergency, Reign of Error Continues

  • January 25, 2013

From the “You Just Can’t Make This Stuff Up File,” we bring you word the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board has declared an emergency today. That’s right, I said it, an…

Media

Read More: PLCB Declares Emergency, Reign of Error Continues

Regulation

PLCB’s Sultan of Syrah Surrenders Silently

  • January 21, 2013

For those in the public relations business, a state-issued news release dropped on a weekend buttressed by a holiday is the media equivalent of the midnight pay raise.  But that’s…

Media

Read More: PLCB’s Sultan of Syrah Surrenders Silently

Regulation

Pension Bomb to Hit Pennsylvania Families

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 18, 2013

Are you ready to pay an additional $1,000 in state and local taxes alone?  Prepared to see your child's teacher laid off? Thanks to bad promises politicians made to good…

Commentary

Read More: Pension Bomb to Hit Pennsylvania Families

Taxes & Economy

How Do Pa. Gas Taxes Stack Up?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 17, 2013

In the wake of reports Gov. Corbett will unveil a transportation funding plan that includes increasing the cap on the Oil Company Franchise Tax, the Tax Foundation has put…

Media

Read More: How Do Pa. Gas Taxes Stack Up?