About Us
About Healthy Democracy Oregon
Healthy Democracy Oregon was formed in early 2007 by Tyrone Reitman and Elliot Shuford - colleagues from the University of Oregon's Public Policy Master's Program. While in graduate school in 2003, Reitman and Shuford's studies focused on methods of citizen deliberation and contemporary democratic processes. Studying small group dynamics and large scale electoral systems, Reitman and Shuford debated the merits of different reform ideas, including the Citizens' Initiative Review-a proposed reform to the initiative process.
The formation of Healthy Democracy Oregon followed both good timing and a bit of luck. Concerned about the quality of information in the initiative process, and the design of many proposed reforms, the debate between Reitman and Shuford was settled in early 2006 when Reitman contacted Shuford to explore the idea of promoting the Citizens' Initiative Review in Oregon. Shortly thereafter Reitman and Shuford approached Ned Crosby, the founder of the Jefferson Center (the organization that developed the underlying model of citizen deliberation for the CIR) and his wife, Patricia Benn about the possibility of collaborating on such a project. Crosby and Benn had been working in Washington state on the CIR proposal and upon multiple meetings with Reitman and Shuford agreed to provide funding to start Healthy Democracy Oregon.
Setting out to improve Oregon's initiative process by developing the CIR with Crosby and Benn's help, the team enlisted the support of good government advocates, former Secretaries of State, and key legislators, and the citizens of Oregon. While the majority of funding for HDO to date is provided by the generous support of Crosby and Benn, the organization has also received contributions from over 500 Oregon donors. And to date, HDO has also signed on over 30,000 Oregonians in support of the Citizens' Initiative Review.
After testifying before the House and Senate Rules Committees in 2008, Healthy Democracy Oregon ran a full-scale demonstration of the Citizens' Initiative Review process on Ballot Measure 58 to showcase the efficacy of the reform. The demonstration received high for both being a fair process and for being free of bias marks from the panelists, advocates, and the League of Women Voters of Oregon (who independently evaluated the review) . The HDO team is currently lobbying the Oregon State Legislature to pass House Bill 2895 which would enable an expanded demonstration of the CIR process in 2010, placing the results directly into a new page in the statewide Voters' Pamphlet. The proposal is co-sponsored by 26 legislators, including Co-Chief sponsors Sen. Doug Whitsett and Rep. Ben Cannon.
UPDATE (June, 2009): The Citizens' Initiative Review pilot legislation was signed into law the Gov. Ted Kulongoski. During the 2010 election cycle, 1-3 statewide ballot measures will be reviewed with the results being placed in the statewide voters pamphlet. During this same election cycle a thourough evaluation of how the results of the CIR are used by voters will be conducted. Pending a successful pilot of the CIR process, legislation will be introduced in 2011 to make the CIR a permanent function of Oregon's initiative process.
Healthy Democracy Oregon's Advisory Committee
Kappy Eaton
Jeff Golden
Mike Greenfield
Phil Keisling
Andi Miller
Fred Neal
Norma Paulus
Jack Roberts
Healthy Democracy Oregon's Board of Directors
Patricia Benn
Ned Crosby
Susan Edwards
Mick Mortlock (Board President)
Tyrone Reitman
Staff Bios
Tyrone Reitman, Co-Director
Tyrone grew up in Silverton, Oregon. His background is in social justice organizing, having worked on fair trade and political reform efforts. Tyrone has also worked for and volunteered with a number of ballot initiative campaigns, acquiring a first hand understanding of the complexities and problems endemic to Oregon's ballot initiative process.
Tyrone graduated with a Master's Degree in Public Policy and Management from the University of Oregon. His studies focused on the practical and ideological issues around decision-making processes in volunteer-based organizations. In his time off he enjoys rock climbing and hiking around Oregon, spending time with his wife and friends, and is an avid home brewer.
Elliot Shuford, Co-Director
Elliot was born in Salem and grew up hunting, fishing and camping in the Cascades and in Eastern Oregon. Elliot also has a Master's Degree in Public Policy and Management from the University of Oregon, where his focus was on new democratic processes. Elliot has training in several methods of group process and has worked as a professional facilitator.
Elliot's experience in government includes internships with US Senator Mark O Hatfield and the Department of Human Services. He has worked as a performance auditor for the Oregon Secretary of State where he helped identify opportunities for improved economy and efficiency in state government. Elliot is an avid back country skier and experienced hiker (having completed 2300 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail in 2006). He currently works as a Co-Director a Healthy Democracy Oregon.
