ALLEN KUKOVICH
Author & Public Servant
The Work is Never Done
Media Kit
For all media inquiries contact: Kim Lehman | kalehmanpr@gmail.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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ALLEN KUKOVICH CHALLENGES AMERICANS TO STAND UP, TAKE RISKS AND STRENGTHEN DEMOCRACY IN HIS NEW BOOK – THE WORK IS NEVER DONE
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Former Pennsylvania Legislator draws on three decades of victories and defeats to show how people working together, finding common ground and refusing to give up can solve problems and make government a force for good.
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Manor, Pa. (September 22, 2026) — Debuting at No. 1 on Amazon’s U.S. Local Government category, Allen Kukovich’s new book, The Work Is Never Done, arrives at a time when political division is deep, trust in government is shallow and many Americans say they feel increasingly powerless to foster needed change. In fact, only 30% of Americans say they are satisfied with how democracy is working, down from 37% in 2025, according to the Pew Research Center.
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Drawing on nearly three decades in the Pennsylvania House and Senate, The Work Is Never Done is an inspiring call to service built on a time-honored premise: when individuals act and communities unite, democracy works.
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“By building consensus instead of division, leading with compassion and never losing sight of the responsibility to use power for good, I challenge the next generation of leaders—and all of us—to recognize that strengthening democracy is not someone else’s responsibility,” Kukovich said. “It belongs to all of us. And that work is not done.”
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Kukovich is uniquely positioned to make that argument. As the architect of Pennsylvania’s pioneering Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), he helped create a model that became the foundation for the federal program now providing health care to millions of children nationwide. Through his service and the lessons learned, Kukovich also shows how people and government working together helped save the homes of laid-off steelworkers, provided independence to people living with disabilities, secured protections for victims of domestic violence, increased funding for food banks and shelters, and expanded Pharmaceutical Assistance for the Elderly. He shares how ideas become laws through negotiation, compromise, coalition-building and tenacity.
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The Work Is Never Done demonstrates what it takes to create meaningful change—and what each of us can learn from engaging in the work. Kukovich makes the case for standing up to bullies, fighting for fairness and justice, finding bi-partisan allies and building consensus. He argues that government is at its best when leaders use power for the greater good rather than for themselves, and that transformational leadership—not transactional politics—creates lasting change.
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He also examines his own efforts at meaningful legislation that never became law—including campaign finance reform and criminal justice reform—and why to do what’s right sometimes means never giving up.
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That message of perseverance is also deeply personal for Kukovich. For the past nine years, he has been battling pancreatic cancer, a journey that has reinforced his belief in hope, resilience and the importance of making a difference while there is still time. Despite the challenges, he has continued to engage in the work of encouraging others to get involved, stand up for what they believe in and keep moving forward. His experience offers a powerful reminder that setbacks do not have to stop us—and that there is urgency in using our time and our voices to make a difference.
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Deeply influenced by the political upheaval of the 1960s and the shooting tragedy at Kent State University, Kukovich entered public service believing that politics should be about people, not power. His career demonstrates that principled leadership and bipartisan cooperation can produce meaningful results—even in an increasingly divided political environment.
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The Work Is Never Done should give hope to those aspiring to enter public service and to the many people discouraged with today’s political climate. It offers an alternative way of thinking—and doing.
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“Democracy doesn't strengthen itself,” Kukovich writes. “It takes people willing to show up, find common ground, and do the work.”
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About The Work Is Never Done
The Work Is Never Done by Allen Kukovich is an inspiring call to service that demonstrates how one person can make a difference, how communities can create change, and why democracy is worth the work. Drawing on nearly three decades of public service in Pennsylvania, Kukovich offers practical lessons in leadership, compromise, coalition-building and perseverance for anyone who believes the government should be responsive to people’s needs and capable of improving lives. The Work Is Never Done , published by Radio Free Press, an imprint of Sunbury Press, Inc. is available online and in stores. Learn more at www.AllenKukovich.com.
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For all media inquiries and interview requests: Kim Lehman | kalehmanpr@gmail.com
About Allen Kukovich
Called the “conscience of the legislature” and voted the “Biggest Credit to the Senate” during his time in office, Allen Kukovich served for nearly three decades in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Senate where he was respected for his idealism and pragmatism as he strived to make government a force for good that improved people's lives.
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He was the prime sponsor of Pennsylvania's Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which became the model for the national program that now provides health care to millions of children. His Children’s Trust Fund law provided increased funding to programs that prevent child abuse, and his Medicare Overcharge Measure provided safeguards to protect seniors from fraud. He passed the Family Caregivers Act to help families supporting loved ones with Alzheimer’s, the Attendant Care Program to give independence to people living with disabilities, and the Homeowners Emergency Assistance Program to prevent mortgage foreclosures for laid-off steelworkers—all programs that received national acclaim.
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A known reformer, he helped create the state Ethics Act, ended the lawyer-legislator conflict of interest, and led a decades-long quest to enact campaign finance reform in Pennsylvania. His efforts to abolish the death penalty led to a remarkable bi-partisan partnership in the state Senate which resulted in two historic hearings and paved the way for the eventual capital punishment moratorium in Pennsylvania. He also authored and passed the first hate crimes amendment in Pennsylvania and led the fight to provide dedicated state funding to food banks, domestic violence shelters, and programs for the unhoused—helping people who needed a champion in the halls of power.
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Kukovich was a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1977 until 1996, when he won a seat in the Pennsylvania Senate where he served until 2004. In both chambers, he represented Westmoreland County, where he was born and raised. He was a candidate for lieutenant governor in 2002, and was Chairman of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party from 2002 through 2003.
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Kukovich helped found the Pennsylvania chapter of Common Cause and was an executive board member of the national organization, Americans for Democratic Action.
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Born 1947, in Manor, Pennsylvania, Kukovich graduated from Kent State University and Duquesne University School of Law. Prior to his service in the Legislature, he practiced law in Greensburg, Pennsylvania and served in the Pennsylvania National Guard from 1970 to 1976.
The Work is Never Done Synopsis
At a moment when political division is deep and trust in government is strained, The Work Is Never Done by Allen Kukovich inspires readers to recognize their own power to make a difference, the potential of communities to create meaningful change, and why democracy is always worth the work.
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Kukovich is uniquely positioned to make that case. During nearly three decades in the Pennsylvania Legislature, he helped turn bold ideas into meaningful change, including serving as the architect of Pennsylvania’s pioneering Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which became a model for the federal program now providing health care to millions of children nationwide. Through stories from his career and the lessons he learned along the way, Kukovich shows what can happen when people and government work together—from helping save the homes of laid-off steelworkers and providing greater independence to people living with disabilities, to securing protections for victims of domestic violence, increasing funding for food banks and shelters, and expanding Pharmaceutical Assistance for seniors.
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At its heart, The Work Is Never Done is a call to action: to stand up for what matters, take risks, find common ground, and keep working to build a better future.
Deeply influenced by the political upheaval of the 1960s and the shooting tragedy at Kent State University, Kukovich entered public service convinced that politics should be about people, not power. Through the successes and setbacks of his career, he demonstrates how principled leadership, bipartisan cooperation, and perseverance can transform lives—and how each of us can play a role in making meaningful change possible.
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Whether you're a student, an aspiring public servant, or simply someone who believes the government should be responsive to needs and help improve lives, this inspiring book offers practical wisdom for turning conviction into action. Strengthening our democracy belongs to all of us—and it starts with choosing to get involved because the work is not done.
Media Question & Answer
Overarching Message
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“During my three decades in office and 50 years in public life, the biggest lesson I learned is that democracy works best when people don't wait for someone else to solve the problem.
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Our American story is filled with ordinary people doing extraordinary things to create “a more perfect union.”
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It’s not necessary that you’re famous, or that you have power. We don’t know the names of all those in history who worked to strengthen our Democracy and improve peoples lives, but what they did provides a roadmap for us. We know that at every important time, people stepped up and answered the call to serve.
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So, find something you care about. Learn the facts. Find other people who care. Talk to the people, even those who don’t agree with you on everything. Look for partners and find people who have the ability to help you get something done. Working together, with courage and compassion, we have the power to make a difference. And, remember that it doesn’t stop when you accomplish something. There is always more to do. More people to help, more lives to improve, a better country for our children and grandchildren.
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That's what The Work Is Never Done is about.”