2008 Woodie Awards
Ambrose and Eichenwald win in Allentown elections
Meredith Clinton
Issue date: 11/29/07 Section: News
This year's Election Day proved to be a success for both the city of Allentown and the College. Two of the College's staff members, Jeanette Eichenwald, Schools Program Coordinator for the Institute for Jewish-Christian Understanding, and Julie Ambrose, Director of the Senior Year Experience, were elected to join City Council and the Allentown School Board.
Eichenwald, a former teacher, city school board member, and College alum, was registered with the Democratic Party for the City Council election. The other two City Council seats were filled by fellow Democratic runners Peter Schweyer and William Michael Donovan, an Associate Professor of Business, Management and Economics at Cedar Crest College, meaning that the entire seven-member council will be made up of Democrats next year.
Prior to the elections on Nov. 6, the three nominees attended the College Democrats Young Voter's Forum. They, and the other Democratic nominees for Allentown elections, spoke about their campaigns and intentions for the city. The forum was an attempt to actively involve students on campus with the town and city in which they attend school.
Eichenwald ran a non-traditional campaign for this election, which included complete self-finance and the absence of mass mailings and lawn signs. She was so successful in her win due in large part to recognition of her name within the community and past work that she has done for the community as well. In regards to her campaign Eichenwald said, "I decided not to accept any contributions from anyone so that I could remain totally true to what I believe is in the best interests of the citizens of Allentown rather than find myself beholden to anyone or any special interest. I used no political signs, no mailings, and no ads on TV or radio. I felt that years of public service to my community, my resume, would need to be sufficient." This approach proved to be very rewarding when Eichenwald was not only elected to City Council, but turned out to be the top vote-getter as well.
Eichenwald, a former teacher, city school board member, and College alum, was registered with the Democratic Party for the City Council election. The other two City Council seats were filled by fellow Democratic runners Peter Schweyer and William Michael Donovan, an Associate Professor of Business, Management and Economics at Cedar Crest College, meaning that the entire seven-member council will be made up of Democrats next year.
Prior to the elections on Nov. 6, the three nominees attended the College Democrats Young Voter's Forum. They, and the other Democratic nominees for Allentown elections, spoke about their campaigns and intentions for the city. The forum was an attempt to actively involve students on campus with the town and city in which they attend school.
Eichenwald ran a non-traditional campaign for this election, which included complete self-finance and the absence of mass mailings and lawn signs. She was so successful in her win due in large part to recognition of her name within the community and past work that she has done for the community as well. In regards to her campaign Eichenwald said, "I decided not to accept any contributions from anyone so that I could remain totally true to what I believe is in the best interests of the citizens of Allentown rather than find myself beholden to anyone or any special interest. I used no political signs, no mailings, and no ads on TV or radio. I felt that years of public service to my community, my resume, would need to be sufficient." This approach proved to be very rewarding when Eichenwald was not only elected to City Council, but turned out to be the top vote-getter as well.