Samantha O'Malley, Republican Lower Merion School Board Candidate

LOWER MERION TOWNSHIP, PA — The 2023 primary election is coming up, and Patch is looking to give voters a closer look at who is running for office.

Below is a profile of Lower Merion School District Board of Directors candidate Samantha O’Malley.

Name: Samantha O’Malley
Age: 37
Gender: F
Location/Town: Wynnewood
Party: Republican

Why are you seeking a position on the school board?
I am just a single mom who wants the best for my children, I fight for them every single day and will fight for yours too. I grew up in Lower Merion, and have truly been shocked at what I have seen now that my children are in school. I know that we as a district can be better.

What are your qualifications/experience?
I am a mother of 3 and an educator. I have been working at the Kaiserman JCC for a number of years in different age groups. I have spoken to countless families in the district to understand what they feel they are lacking and what needs to change.

What are three main issues you plan to take up in the district, and how will you do so?
Budget, Curriculum, Parents’ Rights. I plan on building positive relationships throughout the district, making sure that families are really heard, that there is complete transparency and accountability, asking the right questions, and no matter what the challenges are, we must never lose sight of what is best for the students.

Who are elected official or political/community leaders who inspire you?
I am inspired by leaders who speak up against the odds and are not afraid to go against the norm to make a difference. People who rise up against what seems like impossible adversity and thrive. People like my grandfather, a holocaust survivor who escaped a concentration camp and went to build a successful business in New York when nearly everyone in his family perished. Or single mothers like my own mother who took her passion and incredibly hard work ethic to create a beautiful store that has been thriving for over 30 years in our community and who gives back any chance she gets.

What are some other personal information details you want voters to know about you ahead of the election?
As a mother with a child in the special education program in Lower Merion, I truly understand the challenges that these families go through. It is often a constant battle that is costly, devastating for the families and exhausting. We need to be a district centered on education for everyone. It shouldn't take hiring outside attorneys and suing the district to get the district to do what they should be doing for our children anyway. All of our children deserve a chance to be successful.