Siobhan “Sam” Bennett

Siobhan “Sam” Bennett is running for the House of Representatives in Pennsylvania’s 15th district against Republican two-term incumbent Charlie Dent. The district is on the western border of New Jersey, and includes the cities of Allentown and Bethlehem.

Background:
Bennett is currently the Statewide Director and CEO of Properties of Merit of PA, which is a non-profit Bennett founded to revitalize communities. In 2001, she lost the Allentown Mayor’s race to State Senator Roy Afflerbach by a margin of 46 votes. Bennett currently serves as the elected chair of the Allentown Democratic party, and the Vice Chair of the Lehigh County Democratic party. She has lived in Allentown for twenty years. Bennett graduated from SUNY College at Oneonta in New York.

Sam Bennett was criticized in the local newspaper for receiving an inappropriately high salary for a non-profit organization. Ms. Bennett had developed the organization in 1999 and served as its volunteer Director until 2006 when the Governor made it a statewide program. She became the Executive Director and her salary was set at $110,000. After the controversy in the press, the board commissioned an independent consulting firm with expertise in employee compensation for nonprofit organizations. They found that the actions of the Board in setting the salary were appropriate.

Positions on Key Issues:

• Supports: Reproductive Rights, Universal Health care, Investment and Development of Alternative, Renewable energy sources, Fully funding education
• Opposes: Iraq war

Supported By:

• Feminist Majority
• National Organization for Women (NOW)
• National Women’s Political Caucus

Primary:
Bennett has no challenger in the April 22nd primary, nor does incumbent Dent.

Prospects:
This will be a tough race to unseat two-term Dent who won with 54% last election in a district with a Republican registration edge.

Website:
www.bennett2008.com