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 | |
| Party | Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick |
| Other political affiliations | Conservative (federal) |
| Residence | Saint John,New Brunswick |
| Profession | Lawyer,businessman |
Mel K. Norton is a Canadian politician,who served as mayor of Saint John,New Brunswick from 2012 to 2016.
Norton 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]
Norton 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]