2009 Pennsylvania
Leadership Conference

Campaign Workshop: Running for Local Office

Workshop Leader:

Ryan Shafik, Lincoln Institute

Panelists:

Mark Harris, Jamestown Associates

Patricia Simpson, The Leadership Institute

Friday, March 27, 2009

9:00 am - 12:00 noon

Workshop Leader:


Ryan Shafik

• Ryan Shafik, Lincoln Institute (click for bio)

Director of Communications, Lincoln Institute

A graduate of Villanova University, Ryan has worked extensively in politics since his days as a high school student. He first became involved in the political world while volunteering for Bob Dole’s 1996 Presidential campaign. In 2000, as a college student, Ryan served as a campaign staffer on a Congressional race in Montgomery County, PA . In 2002, Ryan went on to manage the campaign for a state Senator in southeastern Pennsylvania.

Shortly after the 2002 elections, Ryan helped pioneer the online grassroots effort for Congressman Pat Toomey's 2004 U.S. Senate Campaign. Following the Toomey campaign, he teamed up with Chris Lilik and started the Young Conservatives of Pennsylvania (YCOP). It is there in the capacity of Executive Director that Ryan and Chris put the Young Conservatives of Pennsylvania on the political map. First, by leading the successful fight to repeal the illegal 2005 legislative pay raise and then by starting and aiding the effort that led to the ouster of the political leaders that contrived the illegal pay raise.

In addition, Ryan has worked on a variety of political campaigns ranging from County Commissioner, State House of Representatives, State Senate and various local offices as well.

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Panelists:

Mark Harris

• Mark Harris, Jamestown Associates (click for bio)

Mark, a political consultant with Jamestown Associates. Recently, Mark was the campaign manager for Chris Hackett a top tier congressional candidate in Pennsylvania's 10th Congressional District.

After the 2005 legislative payraise, Mark knew something had to be done. Fed up with the status quo in Pennsylvania, Mark returned home to Pittsburgh to run for State Representative. In a hard fought campaign, Mark defeated a ten year incumbent in the Republican primary after being outspent 2 to 1. The anti-Republican wave of 2006 proved to be too much and Mark was defeated in the general election.

Wanting to remain active, Mark accepted a position as National Director for Students for Saving Social Security a non-profit in Washington, DC that educated students and the public on the benefits of Personal Retirement Accounts for the Social Security system. Returning to the political sphere, Mark worked as Deputy Campaign Manager for Jim Ogonowski's congressional campaign in Massachusetts 5th Congressional District. Being outspent by over three to one, Ogonowski came within a few points of one of the largest upsets in recent political memory.

Mark's first campaign position was as the volunteer Statewide Youth Coordinator for Pat Toomey's US Senate race in 2004. After that Mark went to Georgia where he worked as a Deputy Political Director for an upstart US Senate race. Mark continued his involvement in politics at the Americans for Prosperity Foundation serving as Director of Policy and  Grassroots Relations.

A graduate of the George  Washington University, Mark resides in Camp Hill, PA.

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