CeaseFire PA, a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing gun violence, announced the hiring of a new executive director with extensive campaign experience to direct a growing statewide coalition that supports stronger handgun laws for Pennsylvania.
According to Phil Goldsmith, President of CeaseFire PA, the organization is hiring Joe Grace, an attorney, former journalist and communications professional, to serve as the organization’s fulltime executive director. He will assume his position on January 14, 2008.
“We’re hiring Joe Grace because it’s time for CeaseFire PA to take its growing coalition in support of stronger handgun laws to the next level,” Goldsmith said. “As CeaseFire PA takes its campaign to communities across Pennsylvania, it needs an experienced campaign strategist who understands what it takes to achieve results. Joe is that person and we’re pleased to welcome him aboard.”
Joe succeeds Diane Edbril, who has served as part-time executive director.
“Diane has done a wonderful job. But our growth requires a full-time individual at the helm. I am delighted she will continue on a part-time basis to work with Joe as we further our mission to make communities safer,” Goldsmith said.
Grace served for the last two and ˝ years as communications director for Philadelphia Mayor John F. Street. In that role he interacted with mayors from across Pennsylvania on the issue of growing violence caused by illegal handguns, and with the national coalition of mayors focused on reducing gun violence headed by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Tom Menino.
Prior to his work in Philadelphia, Grace served as campaign manager for a number of winning political campaigns, including several nationally targeted races for U.S. congressional seats. He served as a deputy campaign manager in the successful Rendell for Governor campaign in 2002. Grace, an attorney and former prosecutor, was also an award-winning journalist whose work was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize.
“I’m honored to join an organization like CeaseFire PA and I support its mission to prevent handgun violence in Pennsylvania,” Grace said. “We need stricter handgun laws to protect our police officers who put themselves in harm’s way to protect us, and to protect the public as well. This campaign is winnable. As Governor Rendell recently said, we need our legislators to stand up and support our police and the public on this issue – not the special interests.”