Every two years the League offers a half-day “Running for Local Office” workshop to train prospective candidates for public office. The workshop includes information on preparing yourself to be a candidate, working with the press, working with your political party, completing necessary paperwork and running a successful campaign. A handbook full of helpful details is also provided.
THE NEXT RUNNING FOR LOCAL OFFICE WORKSHOP WILL BE HELD IN JANUARY OF 2025
2023 WORKSHOP TOPICS AND SPEAKERS
“Prepare Yourself to be a Candidate”
- Malcom Kenyatta, Keynote Speaker: Served as a Pennsylvania State Representative for the 181st district since 2019
“Working with the Press”
- Bill White: Former full-time columnist for The Morning Call for more than 25 years, currently writes a semi-monthly column
“Working with Your Political Party”
- Lori McFarland (D): Chair of the Lehigh County Democratic Committee
- Ron Beitler (R): Lehigh County Commissioner
“The Paperwork”
- Tim Benyo: Chief Clerk of the Lehigh County Registration and Elections
“Running a Successful Campaign”
- Tori Morgan (R): Former Commissioner and Chair of South Whitehall Township Commissioners
- Brad Osborne (R): Commissioner in South Whitehall Township and former Lehigh County Commissioner
- Peter Schweyer (D): State Representative and former Allentown City Council President
- Marisa Ziegler (D): Member of the Parkland School Board
PRAISE FOR THE WORKSHOP
“As a first-time candidate running for office, I needed a way to quickly come up to speed with the election process. The “Running for Local Office” Workshop is practically a prerequisite for someone needing to learn how to proceed.”
SUNNY GHAI, CANDIDATE FOR SUPERVISOR OF UPPER MACUNGIE TOWNSHIP, 2021 WORKSHOP
“Of all the things I have done over Zoom this past year, this was by far the most enjoyable and informative! The speakers were well chosen and each brought something different to the table. From the packet sent out beforehand to the very well organized workshop, this was a great way to learn what to expect when running for office!”
BECKY HITE, CANDIDATE FOR NORTHWESTERN LEHIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD, 2021 WORKSHOP
“Not only did I find the information invaluable, but the virtual workshop ended up being a great networking opportunity. I highly recommend attending the workshop if you are interested in running for local office.
SUNNY GHAI, CANDIDATE FOR SUPERVISOR OF UPPER MACUNGIE TOWNSHIP, 2021 WORKSHOP
2021 WORKSHOP TOPICS AND SPEAKERS
“Prepare Yourself to be a Candidate”
- Ken Mohr, Keynote Speaker
“Working with the Press”
- Peter J. Leffler, Senior Content Editor, Politics and PA Issues, Morning Call (retired)
“Working with Your Political Party”
- Ed Hozza, Chair of the Lehigh County Democratic Committee
- Glenn Eckhart, Chair of the Lehigh County Republican Committee
“The Paperwork”
- Tim Benyo, Chief Clerk of the Lehigh County Board of Elections
“Running a Successful Campaign”
- Candida Affa (D), Allentown City Council
- Jeffrey Dimmig (R), School Director of the Southern Lehigh School District
- Dan Harzell (D), Lehigh County Commissioner
- Kathy Rader (R), Supervisor of Upper Macungie Township
We thank the 2021 workshop speakers and panelists who made the workshop successful.
WDIY NEWS EXCLUSIVE
Primary Elections with LWV’s Mary Erdman and Attorney Zachary Cohen
Marcie Lightwood interviewed Mary Erdman, co-chair of the 2021 “Running for Local Office” Workshop and Zachary Cohen, a workshop attendee and candidate for Lehigh County Judge in the Court of Common Pleas. The interview aired on May 5, 2021.
WE HOPE WE CAN HELP YOU GET STARTED WITH YOUR CAMPAIGN
GOOD LUCK!
For further information, please contact us at email@lwvlehighcounty.org and put “RFLOW Question” in the subject line.