Common Cause hires Snyder-Hall as lobbyist

Common Cause Delaware has hired Claire Snyder Hall as lobbyist/program director as of Feb. 15.

Snyder-Hall , who has a Ph.D. in political science from Rutgers University, served as a faculty member in the George Mason University Department of Public and International Affairs for 12 years, and directed a number of university programs. She has extensive experience working with nonprofit, action-oriented organizations and lobbying for a variety of causes in Delaware and Maryland. She is an expert in citizen engagement and consults regularly for the Kettering Foundation.

Snyder-Hall ran for the state senate in southern Delaware, and thus is familiar with the Delaware political scene as well as many of the key players in the state. Snyder-Hall has been a blogger, Op-Ed columnist, and author of books and articles. She is an experienced and excellent public speaker.

CCDE Chair Jeff Raffel said, “Claire brings a tremendous amount of substantive knowledge and experience about the requirements of an engaged citizenry and vibrant democracy to this position. Most importantly, she brings her tremendous energy and enthusiasm to CCDE and to transparent and accountable government in Delaware.”

CCDE has lately been working to implement the campaign finance reforms outlined in the Veasey Report, called for a Citizens Commission to redistrict the General Assembly, and worked to increase voter participation through same-day registration and easing the restrictions on absentee voting.

"I am excited about joining Common Cause,” says Snyder-Hall. “I have spent my entire career advocating for a strong democratic process that is accountable to the people. We have a lot of work to do to get our country back on the right track, and I look forward to rolling up my sleeves and getting to work."

Snyder-Hall replaces Dee Durham, who recently began a position as coordinator of grants at the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary.

Common Cause Delaware is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization dedicated to restoring the core values of American democracy, reinventing an open, honest and accountable government capable of solving today’s challenges to the public interest, and empowering ordinary people to make their voices heard in a government that belongs to them.

Since its founding in 1972, CCDE has been one of the state’s most effective watchdog groups and has played a leading role in the passage of major legislation at the state and local levels such as campaign finance, transparency, and lobbying reforms.