Leadership

Co-founders

Tim Potts
Carlisle
"Looking at decades of public opinion, pollster George Gallup once said the American people have always been far ahead of their political leaders on important issues like civil rights, women's rights and the environment. Today, Pennsylvania citizens are far ahead of their political leaders on principles of integrity, value, transparency and citizen confidence in government. It's time to let our citizens take the lead through a Citizens' Constitutional Convention where these principles can serve as the basis for creating the best state government in America."

  • One of three "Citizens of the Year" for 2005 - The Philadelphia Inquirer
  • Public Service Achievement Award, 2006 - Common Cause/PA
  • Director, Pennsylvania School Reform Network, 1997-2005
  • 22 years as a senior advisor in the legislative and executive branches, including the PA House of Representatives and the PA Departments of Education, Public Welfare, and Commerce

Kathleen Daugherty
Harrisburg
"'Government is of divine origin and any government is free where laws rule and the people are party to those laws.' These words of William Penn on the wall outside the state Capitol might easily go unnoticed by tourists. But, from college summer jobs to work inside government to professional advocacy with government, Penn's words about the pivotal role of citizens to their government have had an impact on my life and now my passion for the mission of Democracy Rising PA. A Citizens' Constitutional Convention is the most inclusive, fair and diverse process for accomplishing the ultimate: citizen trust in government through citizen engagement."

  • 25 years experience in advocacy with government for the faith community as national Lutheran public policy staff in Washington DC and as director, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in PA
  • Director, PA Hunger Action Center
  • PA School Boards Association
  • Assistant for Legislation and Public Affairs, Governor Raymond P. Shafer


Board of Directors

Joyce Bylander
Carlisle
"Citizenship is our capacity to create for ourselves what we had sought from our leaders." The solution to the problems of government and community is "not to keep trying to create better leaders, it is to explore how to become more accountable citizens." (Peter Block; "From Leadership to Citizenship" chapter 8 in Insights on Leadership, Larry Spears, ed.)

I have always been a believer of the Gandhi quote, "be the change you want to see in the world." It is something I share with students all the time. Rather than complain about what isn't right about a situation, consider how you might make the situation better. It is because of this fundamental belief that we are the change that I accepted an invitation to serve on the Board of Democracy Rising PA. I am fed up with a government for and by the people that is spending more and more time alienating us from each other, that has lost sight of any notion of the "common good". This alienation from each other and the political process is what creates the conditions that allow leaders to act in selfish ways so that their own positions are enhanced at the expense of real citizen needs. I believe Democracy Rising PA is a coalition of citizens who wish to hold leaders and themselves accountable. I want to be part of that accountability. I want to be part of that change.

  • 18 years as a higher education administrator and educator committed to educating the next generation of citizen-leaders
  • Member of the national advisory boards of Bringing Theory to Practice and the International Institute for Sustained Dialogue
  • Over 20 years working on issues of diversity and community

Pat Clark
Pittsburgh
Pat Clark is managing partner of the company Jackson/Clark Partners, a consulting and management firm specializing in cultural, community and technology development projects. He is a founding core member of the Ground Zero Action Network (G0), a Pittsburgh social entrepreneurial organization, and is a founding member of the Golden Triangle Community Development Corporation.

Pat served as the project manager of G0 initiatives including the UltraViolet Loop, an innovative transportation solution connecting Pittsburgh's central neighborhoods; the SkinnyBuilding project, which has created Downtown's most visible and innovative public art space at Forbes and Wood; and Carp All Night, an arts and fishing event. Jackson/Clark Partners projects include development of the Everybody VOTE electoral initiative, the www.thisishappening.com web-based events system and market analysis work for clients including the Three Rivers Arts Festival. Current work includes project administration for Pittsburgh City Councilman Bill Peduto's Guyasuta Fellowship Program, an initiative that allows four young people to work with City Council to research and prepare recommendations for youth policy for Pittsburgh.

Before founding Jackson/Clark, Pat spent seven years with General Nutrition Centers, serving as Director of Real Estate Systems and Analysis. Before moving to Pittsburgh, he spent four years in artist management with the New York firm Idol Makers Management, working with clients including platinum recording stars Salt-N-Pepa. Pat has produced several video, record, concert and radio projects. His extensive professional background also includes seven years of experience in the international video program distribution and marketing industry with the Washington, D.C. firm Adler Video Marketing.

Pat is on the board of Preservation Pittsburgh, serves as board secretary of PCTV21 and sits on the advisory board of the Tourism and Cultural Heritage Department of the Greater Pittsburgh Convention and Visitors Bureau. He is also a member of the Friendship Preservation Group and the Elks. He attended Michigan State University with majors in English and Political Science.

Pat lives with his wife, writer Al Hoff, in Friendship.

John Claypool
Philadelphia
"Transparency is essential for the success of representative democracy. Citizens can make informed and sound judgments only when they have full and easy access to information about past government performance and what their government intends to do in the future. Transparency is a core value of Democracy Rising PA, as it should be for all organizations seeking to improve the quality of our government."

  • Executive director, Philadelphia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects
  • Chairman of the Management and Finance Committee of the National Civic League
  • Vice Chairman of the Friends Center Corporation, leading the "green" renovation of its facilities that would make it a fossil fuel free facility in Center City Philadelphia.
  • 15 years leading regional non-profit organizations focused on economic growth and prosperity for the Greater Philadelphia region, building regional partnerships for economic development and leading business executives in major public policy initiatives, including legislation to rescue the financially failing City of Philadelphia and legislation that established, for the first time, dedicated public support for capital investments in public transportation.

Terry Dellmuth
Philadelphia
"Democracy Rising PA offers the opportunity to continue to build citizen support for returning integrity and competence to the executive, legislative and judicial branches of state government. ALL citizens need a refresher course on our state constitution - what needs to be heeded, and what changes are needed. Pennsylvania especially needs to change the method of drawing legislative district boundaries."

  • 1994-2000 - Chief of staff and senior advisor for the School District of Philadelphia
  • Over 15 years in leadership positions in the administrations of three PA governors
  • Ten years consulting with government and community organizations on health, welfare and education

David Thun
Reading

Mark Widoff
Camp Hill
Mark P. Widoff is an experienced manager and legal professional with a 35 year career in the non-profit sector, government public service and private practice. Since retiring in 2005 from the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) after 17 years as General Counsel, he has returned to private practice and is pursuing interests where his experience and passion intersect. These include service as legal counsel to Democracy Rising PA, chairing the Board of Directors of Keystone Research Center and service with the Interfaith Alliance of Pennsylvania.

Mark's diverse experience includes service with the U.S. Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic and as a Commissioner with the Independent Regulatory Review Commission. He received the Volunteer of the Year award from Big Brothers/Big Sisters of South Central Pennsylvania and has served in leadership at Temple Beth Shalom in Mechanicsburg.

He was nominated by Governor Milton J. Shapp to be Pennsylvania's first Consumer Advocate, an office created by the Legislature to advocate before the Public Utility Commission on behalf of Pennsylvania's consumers. In this position, Mark built a legacy of success and competence that has continued for almost 30 years.

Emphasis on government law and commitment to education, health care and labor law became the focal points of his service as principal in the Harrisburg firm of Widoff, Reager, Selkowitz & Adler during the 9 years prior to joining PSEA.

Mark and his wife Janet live in Camp Hill and also enjoy long visits with their daughter, son and grandchildren in Colorado and Texas.