Sign In
Upcoming Event
Free Newsletter
Pa. chapter of watchdog group names new executive director
Becca Oken-Tatum//December 5, 2017//
Listen to this articleHe officially assumed his new role on Nov. 15.
Sims has a background in community organizing and advocacy, political campaign consulting, radio and television, and ministry work.
Most recently, Sims started his own consulting firm, the 155 Agency, in 2015, and worked as the outreach and faith director for the national political action campaign For Our Future during the 2016 presidential election campaign. He holds a master’s degree from Lancaster Theological Seminary.
“Micah is taking the helm at a pivotal juncture for Pennsylvania politics, and the state board has full confidence that he is the right person for the job of making sure the voices of citizens around the state are not drowned out by deep-pocketed special interests,” Common Cause Pennsylvania board chair Ken Myers said in a statement on Monday.
The nonpartisan, nonprofit national political watchdog group aims to hold politicians accountable and ensure their transparency.
The Harrisburg-based Pa. chapter of the group works toward that mission through “grassroots organizing, coalition building, policy development, research, public education, lobbying and when necessary, litigation,” according to its website. It’s focused on a few key issues: money in politics, voting and elections, ethics, open government and reform for increased democracy.
“With items such as the coming legislative session, approaching census and redistricting initiative, campaign finance reform legislation in Philadelphia and other places, there is much work to be done, but I look forward to facing these challenges with the backing of our members and coalition partners,” Sims said in a statement. He added that he hopes to grow the organization’s membership and partnerships statewide.
As the debate about gerrymandering in Pa.’s congressional districts heats up, Common Cause Pennsylvania has used its Twitter to voice its support and commitment to fairer redistricting.
According to its website, Common Cause has approximately 900,000 members nationally and is supported in part by individual donors.
