SIOBHAN “SAM” BENNETT ANNOUNCES

BID FOR MAYOR OF ALLENTOWN 2017

and launch of http://www.sambennett.info/

 

With endorsements from both Pennsylvania’s and Allentown’s most accomplished women public servants, Siobhan “Sam” Bennett announces her bid for Mayor of Allentown 2017.  Allyson Y. Schwartz (former U.S. Congresswoman PA-13) and Jeanette Eichenwald (former Allentown City Councilwoman and Inaugural Chair of 2017 Friends of Siobhan “Sam” Bennett) make it clear that Sam is exactly the leader Allentown needs as its next Mayor.

Former U.S. Congresswoman Schwartz, the longest serving woman from Pennsylvania in national politics stresses “I’ve known Sam Bennett for over twenty years, and I am excited to support her campaign for Mayor. Allentown deserves her kind of smart, trustworthy leadership.  Through her political, business and civic endeavors, Sam has demonstrated her deep commitment to the city of Allentown. She is the leader Allentown needs to continue to grow and thrive.”

Jeanette Eichenwald, who recently term-limited herself after two terms as an Allentown City Councilwoman, the lone voice on City Council speaking up against Allentown’s Mayor Pawlowski for almost a decade, is registered as the Inaugural Chair for Friends of Siobhan “Sam” Bennett.  Though recent family tragedy keeps her from being active in politics at this time she states ” I wish you the very best in your campaign and truly feel that you are the best for Allentown.  Though at this time I am unable to participate in politics in any fashion, I am wishing you the very best, and looking forward to voting for you in 2017.”

In addition, Jennifer Marre, the Managing Director and Associate General Counsel for U.S. Trust Bank of America will be on hand to speak to her belief that Sam would make a great Mayor for Allentown, and to the exceptional job Sam delivered in Washington, D.C. where Marre served as Board Treasurer for Women’s Campaign Fund and She Should Run under Sam’s leadership as their National CEO.

Attorney Jennifer Marre, a Republican known for her passion for politics, adds “I have known Sam since she ran for Congress in 2008 and then as CEO for WCF and SSR, where I served as Treasurer to the Board of Directors.  In a world where partisan politics have created nothing but gridlock, and where elected officials seem to have forgotten that their constituents elected them to represent them and work for their interests, Sam is a living reminder of the best of what our representatives have to offer:  she is smart, sensible, and most importantly you can rely on two things – she will work hard for you, and she cares.”

Siobhan “Sam” Bennett emphasizes “I am deeply honored by the vocal support of these remarkable women and the ever growing number of Allentown residents stepping forward with Jeanette Eichenwald to support my campaign for Mayor of Allentown 2017.  When I was chosen after an extensive four-month national search to be CEO of Washington, DC based Women’s Campaign Fund and She Should Run – I was clear with its remarkable Board of Directors.  After working hard to make a difference for all women, I would stop commuting to D.C. at some point in the future to run for Mayor of Allentown, my last and most important bid for elected office.  Now is that time.”

In her thirty years of deep business and community involvement Sam also has accumulated over fifteen years of broad political experience – shaping the first component of her mayoral platform – Best Political Practice: Mayoral Term Limits, Campaign Finance Limits, Transparency, Accountability, Responsiveness and Voter Engagement – essential to restoring faith in Allentown’s City Hall.

From being recruited by party leaders to run for U.S. Congress in 2008 where she was one of the most endorsed challengers in the nation in that election cycle (raising almost $1 million dollars and garnering a historic number of votes) to being recruited by both Republicans and Democrats to run for Mayor of Allentown in 2001, losing by only 46 votes to Roy Afflerbach.  From working in Washington, DC from 2009 – 2014 with women U.S. Senators and U.S. Congresswomen to serving as chair of the Allentown Democratic Party and first Vice Chair of Lehigh County Democratic Party 2003 – 2009 to ensuring Lehigh Valley was the top performing swing region in the nation in the 2004 presidential race — Sam knows what’s needed to restore confidence and keep Allentown’s downtown momentum moving forward.

Commuting from Allentown to Washington, DC for five years, Sam served as the National CEO for Women’s Campaign Fund and She Should Run, the second longest serving CEO in the organization’s forty year history and responsible for the highest revenue, leveraged impact and national awareness raising in this storied organization’s history, the first to raise funds for women when they run for elected office.

For thirty years Sam has been an entrepreneurial leader in Allentown – from serving as PTO President at Muhlenberg Elementary School to co-founding The William Allen Construction Company to bringing Properties of Merit to Allentown from Oneonta, NY where she originally created it and still runs to this day.  To co-founding Allentown’s The Freedom Memorial and its Stories That Shaped A Nation, the only in the world featuring both Martin Luther and Coretta Scott King to serving as Mayfair Festival of the Arts Executive Director – delivering the highest revenue and attendance in its thirty-year history.  From helping found West Park Historic District to restoring one of Allentown’s finest historic homes, The Historic Benner Mansion making it Allentown’s first and still only bed and breakfast.

“This is my last and most important run for elected office.  Important because I have worked for over thirty years to develop myself as a leader that can resolve the chronic issues that have kept our city from thriving.  I am highly qualified to ensure and deeply committed to keeping Allentown’s current momentum moving forward – so our city is safe, clean and prosperous for all.”

 

	Allyson Y. Schwartz Former U.S. Congresswoman PA – 13
	Jeanette Eichenwald Former Allentown City Councilwoman, Inaugural Chair for Friends of Siobhan “Sam” Bennett
	Jennifer Marre Managing Director, Associate General Counsel, U.S. Trust; Former Board Treasurer Women’s Campaign Fund and She Should Run
	Siobhan “Sam” Bennett Candidate for Mayor of Allentown 2017

 

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