HDO Advisors Keisling and Paulus Receive Legend Award

Congratulations to Phil Keisling and Norma Paulus, 2011 recipients of the Bus Project’s Legend Award.
Phil and Norma are both on the advisory committee to Healthy Democracy Oregon, and have a long history of working to improve the democratic process for Oregonians.

Phil Keisling currently serves as the Director of the Center of Public Service at Portland State University, which is located within the Mark O Hatfield School of Government. His career has also included politics and journalism. He served nearly a decade as Oregon Secretary of State (1992-99), where he focused on greatly expanding performance auditing, campaign finance reform, and making Oregon the nation’s first (and still only) all Vote By Mail election system. Keisling also served as a member of the Oregon House of Representatives from SE and SW Portland (1989-91), as well as in other leadership roles to campaigns and elected officials.

Keisling’s career in journalism included nearly 6 years as an investigative reporter and editor for Portland’s Willamette Week (1978-81). He also reported for The Washington Monthly Magazine in Washington D.C. (1982-84). 

Norma Paulus was raised in Eastern Oregon. After receiving her law degree from Willamette University, she has committed her life to serving the state in a variety of important roles.  Norma first held political office as a representative in the Oregon House of Representatives, and then became the first woman to hold a statewide elected office in Oregon when she became Oregon Secretary of State in 1977.

Norma later served as Oregon Superintendent of Public Instruction for nine years. In 1996, she was named to National Assessment Governing Board. In December 2000, she was appointed as the Executive Director of the Oregon Historical Society and served in that position until 2003. Paulus has served on several boards, including for the Oregon State Capitol Foundation, the High Desert Museum in Bend, the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport, and the City Club of Portland. Norma has been conferred with honorary degrees by Willamette University, Whitman College, Lewis & Clark College, and Linfield College, and has received University of Oregon’s Distinguished Service Award.

Secretary of State Kate Brown presented Phil and Norma their awards at the Bus Project Wheelies Award show. Secretary Brown is a strong supporter of the HDO’s work on the Citizens’ Initiative Reviews, as well as the Bus Project’s efforts to register young voters.

We at Healthy Democracy Oregon are appreciative for the outstanding contributions of Phil Keisling and Norma Paulus to our organization and the State of Oregon.