About Us
About Healthy Democracy Oregon
The CIR is based upon the Citizens Jury method developed by the Jefferson Center, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization based in Minnesota. Since the mid-1970s, the Jefferson Center has conducted Citizens Juries on a wide range of issues – including water quality, health care reform, and the federal budget. In the early 1990s, The League of Women Voters teamed up with the Jefferson Center to conduct projects in Minnesota and Pennsylvania to evaluate candidate’s stands on issues. William Raspberry of the Washington Post wrote that “The Citizens Jury ...is a paragon of representative democracy”. The Philadelphia Inquirer said it “ was a portrait of democracy the way democracy is supposed to be.”
The principle backers of the CIR in Oregon are Ned Crosby, founder of the Jefferson Center, and his wife, Patricia Benn. In early 2006, Tyrone Reitman and Elliot Shuford – colleagues from the University of Oregon’s Public Policy Master’s Program – approached Crosby and Benn about the possibility of collaborating on such a project. Reitman and Shuford, concerned about the quality of information in ballot measure campaigns, set out to improve Oregon’s initiative process by developing the CIR with Crosby and Benn’s help. Healthy Democracy Oregon was officially founded in 2007.
Healthy Democracy Oregon's Advisory Committee
Kappy Eaton
Mike Greenfield
Phil Keisling
Andi Miller
Norma Paulus
Healthy Democracy Oregon's Board of Directors
Patricia Benn
Ned Crosby
Susan Edwards
Mick Mortlock
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, and has a first hand understanding of the complexities and problems endemic to the 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 issues and complexities around decision-making processes in volunteer-based organizations. In his time off he enjoys rock climbing and hiking around Oregon, and spending time with his wife and friends.
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.
Adam Rousse, Canvass Director
Adam grew up in Michigan where he enjoyed many outdoor activities. Adam was educated at Michigan State University and is finishing his BA in political science and coursework for a duel major in business. Adam is a Marine Veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom spending the bulk of 2003 in Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
Adam's experience includes working with non-partisan, non-profits to win a series of environmental campaigns in Michigan. He recently worked on the campaign staff to pass Measure 49. While Adam's political background is primarily environmental and conservation, his passion is crossing party aisles through activism and creating grassroots political will. Adam's hobbies include reading, spending time with his wife Melinda and one year old son Theodore, he also enjoys following college and professional sports.
Kristin Strommer, Research Staff
Kristin Strommer has lived in Eugene, Oregon since 1992. She has a Master of Arts in Teaching from Pacific University and is currently pursuing a Master of Public Administration at the University of Oregon. Kristin joined Healthy Democracy Oregon's research staff in late 2007.
Kristin taught Government and U.S. History at Springfield High School for five years. As a teacher, she developed a wide variety of projects emphasizing civic engagement among students, one of which was recognized by the National Council for the Social Studies' CiviConnections program in 2004. Kristin was active in her teachers' union at both the local and state levels, serving on the Springfield Education Association's School Board Candidate Endorsement Committee as well as Oregon Education Association's Legislative Contact Team. Her academic and professional areas of interest include state and local governance, citizen involvement in public policy making and strategies for enhancing informed civic engagement.