Mel K. Norton is a Canadian politician, who served as mayor of Saint John, New Brunswick from 2012 to 2016.
Mel K. Norton | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 77th Mayor of Saint John, New Brunswick | |
| In office May 28, 2012 – May 9, 2016 | |
| Deputy | Shelley Rinehart |
| Preceded by | Ivan Court |
| Succeeded by | Don Darling |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Saint John, New Brunswick |
| Political party | Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick |
| Other political affiliations | Conservative (federal) |
| Residence | Saint John, New Brunswick |
| Profession | Lawyer, businessman |
Early life and career
editNorton was born in Saint John, New Brunswick and started his early life on Grand Manan.[1]
He completed a bachelor of arts degree with a major in political science at the University of New Brunswick in Saint John, and then attended law school at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton graduating in 1999.[1]
Norton was admitted to the New Brunswick Bar in 2000 and has practiced law with Lawson Creamer since that time, becoming a partner in 2010. His practice has focused on labour and employment as well as debtor/creditor law and construction litigation. Norton has been involved in the Canadian Bar Association as a past chair of the Young Lawyers Section as well as an executive member of the Labour and Employment Group. He served five years as a legal officer with the Canadian Forces during which time he also sat on the CBA's Lawyers Assistance Program committee.[1]
His community volunteer work has included participation on a committee to establish a ward system in Saint John, the board of the Saint John Theatre Company and the board for the Abby St. Andrews Mixed Income Housing Project.[1]
Norton currently resides in Saint John with his wife Stephanie.[1]
Political career
editNorton was first elected to public office as Ward 3 councillor during a by-election in December 2010.[2] On May 14, 2012, he was elected as the 66th mayor of Saint John in a landslide victory, earning 75.6 per of the vote and taking every poll in every neighbourhood.[3][4]
On January 14, 2016, Norton announced he would not seek re-election as mayor in the 2016 municipal election.[5]
On May 4, 2016, Norton announced his intention to run for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick.[6] On October 22, 2016, Norton was defeated on the third ballot of the leadership election by Blaine Higgs.[7]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "Mel Norton official website". Archived from the original on 2016-08-09. Retrieved 2016-06-16.
- ^ "Byelections decided with low voter turnouts". CHJS. December 13, 2010. Retrieved 2016-06-16.
- ^ "Mel Norton crushed Ivan Court in every poll". CBC News. May 30, 2012. Retrieved 2016-06-16.
- ^ "Out with the old, in with the new for Saint John council". CBC News. May 14, 2012. Retrieved 2016-06-16.
- ^ "Saint John Mayor Mel Norton will not seek re-election". CBC News. January 14, 2016. Retrieved 2016-06-16.
- ^ "Mel Norton adds name to list of PC leadership candidates". CBC News. May 4, 2016. Retrieved 2017-02-10.
- ^ "Blaine Higgs wins N.B. PC leadership race on 3rd ballot". CBC News. October 22, 2016. Retrieved 2017-02-10.