Civic & Public Service

“One of my favorite passages of scripture is, ‘in as much as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.’ –Matthew 25:40.”

– U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren

Sam serves and has served on national boards of directors and executive leadership positions for the oldest organizations working to elect and financially support women from both sides of the aisle when they run for elected office at all levels.

Founding Board Member, National Womens Political Caucus 2016 – present
CEO/ President Women’s Campaign Fund and She Should Run 2009 – 2015

Sam has been at the leading edge of solving neighborhood blight and historic preservation for over 30 years on a local, regional, and state wide basis.

Owner Restoration of The Historic Benner Mansion 1999 – present
Owner Innkeeper The Historic Benner Mansion Bed & Breakfast 2008 – present
Co-Founder West Park Historic District when member of West Park Civic Association Ward of Directors 1998-1999
Founder, CEO, Board Officer Properties of Merit 1984 – present
Co-Founder, Board Officer William Allen Construction Company 1999 – present
Board of Directors Allentown Housing Association and Development Corporation (HADC) 2002 – 2009

Sam a life long active member in the religious choral traditions of the churches she has been blessed to be a member of.

Choir and Church Member, Mediator Episocpal Church Allentown, 2005 – present
Choir and Church Member, Soloist, First Presbyterian Church Allentown 1998 – 2005

Sam has been a national spearhead of the initiatives that honor the critical role that women have played in the civil rights movement and honoring the little known intersect of the civil rights and women’s movements.

Co-Founder, Board Officer The Freedom Memorial formerly Martin and Coretta Scott King Memorial Project 2006 – Present
Founding Co-Chair, Stories That Shaped A Nation 2015, 2016

Sam has been a long standing community leader in initiatives celebrating first Scandinavian heritage.

St. Lucia Fest Leader Muhlenberg College 1990 – present

Sam has been honored to be recruited to serve on a wide variety of arts and communications non – profit board of directors.

Founding Board Member William Allen Academy of the Arts 2001 – 2005
Board Member WDIY Public Radio 2007 – 2008
Board of Directors Mayfair Festival of the Arts 2000 – 2002

Sam has been honored to follow in the foot steps of her grandfather O.W. “Bud” Bennett who was Mayor of Piscataway, NJ and the longest serving National CEO of Cub scouting in scouting history.

Troop Leader Girl Scout Daisy and Brownie Troop 1990 – 1995
National Girl Scout Team commemorating the Tri-centennial of Marquette and Jolliet Mississippi Trip 1973
Board of Directors Greater Lehigh Valley Girl Scout Council 2006 – 2008

Sam has worked hard to honor the passion for politics that has come from both sides of her family. Her paternal grandfathers life long involvement in the republican party culminating in his being appointed Mayor of Piscataway, NJ by the Democratic City Council and her Democratic committee women’s mothers life long passion for progressive politics.

Candidate for U.S. Congress 2008 (PA-15) 2007 – 2008
Candidate for Mayor of Allentown 2001 & 2005
Chair Allentown City Democratic Committee 2005 – 2009
Lehigh Valley Regional Field Director America Coming Together 2004
First Vice-Chair; Chair GOTV Committee Lehigh County Democratic Committee 2003 – 2009

For over 3 decades Sam has been a passionate advocate for the Allentown School District and its students. As Sam likes to say, “so goes the school district so goes the city”.

PTO President, Muhlenberg Elementary School, ASD 1989-1991
Co-Founder, Board Officer William Allen Construction Company 1999 – present
Founder, Chair Good Neighbors 1998 – 2001

Coming from a military family, Sam has been an active participant and mentor in Collegiate and high school programs.

Mentor William Allen High school NJROTC 1998- present
Clarkston University ROTC Ranger 1977

I'm With Sam

“I have known Siobhan "Sam" Bennett for nearly two decades and have found her to be intelligent, honest and well organized with an outgoing engaging personality. In the many years that I worked with Sam in the Allentown City and Lehigh County Democratic Committees I have found her to be an encouraging and artful leader with incredible political and personal instincts and skills. Sam is a person who is truly dedicated to her community and to her family. Back in the early 2000's my daughter, Rachel told me about the extraordinary person who was mentoring Rachel and some of her friends in organizing and operating the student led "William Allen Construction Company," which was responsible for some major renovations including the Auditorium at William Allen High School. These renovations cost the taxpayer nothing and made major improvements to William Allen High School. Rachel, who is now a successful Attorney, credits Sam for helping her to develop many skills such as Grant Writing, Public Speaking, as well as Public Relations and Marketing, which have served Rachel well in her Attorney positions. Sam also gave Rachel her first "Real Job" working for Sam's Non Profit, "Properties of Merit," a local beautification project that Pennsylvania Governor, Ed Rendell pushed to be funded statewide. Rachel was also a trusted member of Sam's team when Sam ran for office. As a member of "The Lehigh Valley Folk Music Society" Performing Group I had a chance to witness Sam Bennett in action on the grounds of Cedar Beach back during the "Mayfair Festival Of the Arts" when Sam was the Mayfair Executive Director for 2 years. Sam was traveling all over the Cedar Beach area during the Music Festival personally making sure that every performer had what they needed, whether it was sound equipment or water. Sam also has experience working in Washington where she was the National CEO for 5 years of the "Women's Campaign Fund," the Nations oldest organization financially supporting women running for office. While working in Washington Sam also became a regular contributor for Fox News, MSNBC and PBS, where she often appeared on shows such as Megyn Kelley's, Chris Matthews Hardball and others. A look at Sam's website, www.sambennett.info can give Allentown voters a look at Sam's outstanding background and lifetime accomplishments. In my opinion if Sam Bennett becomes the Democratic Mayoral Candidate and later on the Mayor of Allentown, I believe we will all breathe a sigh of relief as the dark cloud that hangs over the Allentown Mayor's Office is lifted and is replaced by a dynamic new Breath of Fresh Air. Jerry Gallagher - Allentown City Democratic Committeeman and Lehigh County Democratic Committeeman”
— Jerry Gallagher

Endorse Sam