Ben Waxman

Ben Waxman speaking at SEIU rally in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Ben Waxman (born February 9, 1985) is a prominent liberal activist, journalist, and Democratic staffer in Pennsylvania. Waxman is the chief spokesman for State Senator Vincent J. Hughes, who is the Democratic chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and the top ranking African-American lawmaker in the state. Waxman currently lives with his wife Julie Wertheimer in Center City, Philadelphia.^[1]

Early activism

Waxman was heavily involved in left-wing activism during his high school years, leading protests against the Iraq war and U.S.A. Patriot Act.^[2] He also served on the board and later as youth organizer for an anti-death penalty group called Pennsylvania Abolitionists United Against the Death Penalty.^[2] Waxman was recognized for his high school activism by the American Civil Liberties Union^[3] and Juniata College, where he received the Burkholder Scholarship and other awards.^[4] Waxman continued his activism in college, where he was active in local Democratic politics and published liberal opinion articles in newspapers across Pennsylvania.^[5]

Journalism

After college, Waxman was hired as a reporter to cover state and local government for a joint project between Philadelphia Daily News and WHYY-FM called “It’s Our Money.”^[6] During that time, he wrote about government corruption,^[7] criminal justice reform,^[8] the state budget, and other topics. Waxman also appeared regularly as an analyst in local media, including WHYY’s Radio Times^[9] and local television stations.^[10] “It’s Our Money” was named Best Blog by the Philadelphia Citypaper in 2008.^[11] Waxman left the project in May 2011.^[12]

Other activism and Pennsylvania Senate

After leaving journalism, Waxman joined the staff of the United Food and Commercial Workers as part of a campaign to unionize Walmart employees. He then worked on the Pennsylvania campaign against the so-called "Voter ID" law during the 2012 election.

Waxman was hired by State Senator Vincent Hughes as Communications Director in May 2013. As Hughes’ primary spokesperson, Waxman is regularly quoted in media outlets throughout the state and maintains an active presence on social media. Waxman played a role in several legislative campaigns, including raising the minimum wage, expanding health insurance, and increasing funding for public education through a tax on natural gas drilling. Waxman was named to Billy Penn's "Who's Next: 18 young Pennsylvania's shaping politics" and Politics PA's "Pennsylvania’s 2014 Rising Stars: 30 Under 30."

Public education and community involvement

Waxman has been active on issues related to Philadelphia public schools. He co-founded Friends of Albert M. Greenfield, which helps raise money and volunteers for a neighborhood elementary school in Center City, Philadelphia.^[13] The group also organized a panel discussion on race and public education in response to a controversial cover story of Philadelphia Magazine that some criticized as being racially insensitive.^[14]

Waxman is also involved in local civic activism, serving on the board of the Center City Residents Association and was elected in 2014 to the 8th Ward Democratic Executive Committee. He and his wife are members of Beth Zion-Beth Israel Synagogue.

References