“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.
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.
Sam a life long active member in the religious choral traditions of the churches she has been blessed to be a member of.
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.
Sam has been a long standing community leader in initiatives celebrating first Scandinavian heritage.
Sam has been honored to be recruited to serve on a wide variety of arts and communications non – profit board of directors.
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.
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.
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”.
Coming from a military family, Sam has been an active participant and mentor in Collegiate and high school programs.
“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