"Making Democracy Great Again"

From redistricting reform, to voting machines, to city budgeting practices, David Thornburgh has his hands full these days at Philadelphia's Committee of Seventy making sure our state and local governments live up to our expectations for a healthy democracy. Or as David intones with irony, "making democracy great again." Under his leadership, the 115-year-old nonprofit organization—known as "Seventy" around town—has become a stronger advocate and watchdog for good governance. David chaired the bipartisan state commission on redistricting reform and is leading the effort to implement its recommendations. He helped persuade the governor to pay for new, critically needed voting machines statewide. He is pushing to modernize Pennsylvania's 1930s-era election code and open its primary elections to voters of all parties. In Philadelphia, Seventy is fighting for reform of election laws and abolishment of the election commission, among other things.