Mr. Do-Nothing

Greeley Mayor Tom Norton announced his bid for reelection this week, and stated his goals as economic development, infrastructure repair and replacement, and water expansion.  However, since being elected in 2009 Norton has been ineffective in each of these arenas.  Norton touted his experience at the state level, as chief of the Department of Transportation, and as a state Senator.

So let's look at what Norton has done.

• Norton served as Department of Transportation chief for eight years.  However, this area is filled with dirty business dealings, kickbacks, and inside deals.  Recently Norton proposed spending $625 thousand dollars...to repave the parking lot at city hall!  If that is what experience brings to the table, Norton is more of a danger than an asset.

• Norton was elected Greeley Mayor in 2009, and stated he would look at what needed to be done to repeal regulations, taxes and fees that hindered small business growth in the city.  When asked recently at the Greeley 9.12 meeting what he had done in this area in the past 2 years, he was forced to respond to the fact that he had done...nothing.  If he plans to build on his past, he will probably continue to do nothing in this area in the future.

• Greeley Report recently exposed the internal corruption that is ongoing in the city Water and Sewer segment, revealing possible lawbreaking and fraud committed by the City Manager Roy Otto and Water and Sewer Director Jon Monson.  What steps has Norton taken to deal with this?  None.  Absolutely none.  In short, Norton has a track record of doing nothing in the three areas he wants to address in his next term as mayor.  And he ignores potential fraud within the city administration.

Prior to becoming Mayor, Tom Norton was one of the leading powers trying to push through an unnecessary bond issue that would have generated $16 million for District 6 Schools.  Voters shot it down.  He's out of touch with the people he wants to lead.  Norton is married to UNC President Kay Norton that is pro-illegal-aliens receiving in-state tuition at UNC.

Norton also likes to play up his role as Mayor whenever it's to his advantage.  However, when challenged with tough issues, he hides behind the fact that he is one vote on the city council.  In short, he is an experienced politician, and a long-time bureaucrat that knows how to work with state and federal issues.  But is he the best candidate to run the city?  Probably not.

So, who will run against him?  The local demoncrats will probably put up a liberal, socially-conscious candidate of some type, but it is up to the conservatives and independents to present a candidate that can really lead the city.  Norton has not messed things up very badly, but he hasn't moved the city forward either.  That's not a ringing endorsement that deserves another term.

Comments

[Dennis]

Rey,

You sure are a hotshot, aren't you? Do you think that you are the only person in the free world that knows the Constitution?

Why don't you tell me about the Tenth Amendment? The Amendment on which we all should be focused.

Do you even know the purpose of our Constitution? Would you even know a threat to your freedom if it came up and slapped you in the face? Do you understand vigilance?

Here's a riddle for you: The pied piper is to wisdom, as wisdom is to fools. The gift you are given is the key. The gift speaks to those who have ears, but lulls to sleep the complacent. Of what do I speak?

When I say obama is making a mockery of our Constitution, do you even know to which part of the Constitution I am referring?

[Rey]

And Bin Laden was just exterminated (unless you don't believe that either). I'll stop my observations about your delusions and greeleygirl's repulsiveness when you both demonstrate some intelligence and shed your baseless self-righteousness. Stop listening to everyone who sells you on the idea that the end times are near (so give me your money) and start observing and acknowledging truth (like men and women have the same number of ribs).

You'll find that the truth is far less expensive than the alternative.

And read a book or two on the subject (not websites) before you claim knowledge about the Constitution. Tell me whether the first and second amendments have limits, and if the bill of rights aren't supposed to be part of a living document, what do the fourth and fifth amendments mean?

[Dennis]

Rey,

Where has this "financial reform" got us?
He reformed a healthcare system that was the best in the world. 'll admit our system could be improved, but what would be so wrong with tort reform and opening insurance competition between state lines? He's so fond of using a "scalpel" on the budget, why not on healthcare where it would have been effective?

Budgets? What budgets? Don't you remember he was in Brazil when all of the real work was done on the sham of a "budget cut" for the balance of 2011 was done?

He has done anything but manage the "wars"; however, he has got us into more international turmoil.

You are correct, in that he has made a mockery of our Constitution.

I am glad you did not vote for him. The damage he has wrought on our country is likely never to be repaired.

I don't know what Ed Clark did.

You really should stay away from personal insults. It's unbecoming.

[Rey]

Financial reform, health care reform, budgets, management of 2-3 wars, laughed at people who got all riled up about a birth certificate, etc. That's a lot of stuff. I didn't vote for him, nor am I likely to vote for him next time, but he's done lots of stuff. Again, however, that is not the issue. The issue is what did Ed Clark do? I submit he did nothing except rough up a little kid and show kids racist material about Obama. Greeleygirl (is that a title she won at a pageant, because I'd like to see the competition?) says Ed had coffee. Impressive. Anything else?

[Dennis]

Rey,

Please define "lots of stuff".

[greeleygirl]

Rey. Ed Clark was available to all of the citizens of Greeley. He was beholding to no one. If you wanted to have coffee with him and talk over a Greeley problem, you had his cell number and he would meet you and your group for coffee. Now we have someone who has his little TV show and dictates what goes on in this slowing sinking City. I suppose that you support Roy Otto also?
As far as Obama, he has totally turned this Country upside down. Try to find someone that thinks he is a good prez. He will go down as the worst President in History........If we have a history when he is done with us.............Ya like that five dollar a gallon gas huh?

[Rey]

Lots of stuff, whether good or bad is subject to debate. What did Ed Clark do to win the loyalty of the Mensa member, Greeleygirl?

[Dennis]

What has obama done?

[Rey]

What did Clark do?--Other than be really dumb and say bad things about Obama, which, I realize, is worthy of your praise.

[greeleygirl]

Ed Clark was twice the Mayor that Mayor do nothing is.....I cannot think of one thing that this guy has done to improve Greeley.

[D. Roberts]

Personally I thought we were better off with the big bald guy that sat on kids.