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Carlton Norris announces candidacy for city mayor
Norris said, too, that "a large number of citizens from all over the city and from all walks of life" have urged and encouraged him to make the commitment to run. "The primary role of Washington's mayor, as prescribed by charter," Norris says, "is to serve as its ambassador, and I am in total agreement with this arrangement. I am confident that my experience, and particularly the passion I have for this city and its people, can be a factor in Washington's attraction to large and small businesses and professions, heritage tourists, assistedliving centers, movie makers, ecommerce companies, alternative energy producers, and other enter- prises so new that they hardly have names." To be successful, he said, a community must nurture not only existing manufacturing facilities but small businesses as well. "Small business constitutes the majority of jobs in America and this holds true in Washington as well. A small business or profession enriches our community in many ways, but we often overlook the fact that the owner, with no salary plus bonus arrangement, no 401K, no shareholders, no corporate management or board of directors - but more often than not a hefty business loan - takes a gamble and puts himself and his family's welfare on the line every day. Our community and government leadership should be aware of this and surround these small businesses with every support we can muster." A native of Georgia, Norris is the son of the late Jake C. Norris and Lura Reese Hill Norris of Warren County. His father was a lineman with Western Union and, as a consequence, his family made several moves within Georgia while he was a boy. His early education was in Americus, Macon and Albany, with high school graduation in Thomasville. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Management from the University of Florida and later did graduate study at The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. Norris's 35-year career with Atlantic Richfield Company (now merged with British Petroleum, one of the world's largest oil companies) began in 1959. Beginning in service station marketing, his responsibilities rose through sales promotion to senior management in community and government affairs. This assign ment included the public affairs sector on the company's search teams for new manufacturing facilities. Later Norris served as Special Assistant for International Affairs to Atlantic Richfield's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. This final assignment included nine years of research, planning and negotiations with industrial and government leaders in Western and Eastern Europe, the Soviet Union, The People's Republic of China, Korea, Indonesia and the Middle East. Since returning to Georgia permanently in 1994, Norris's community service has included directorships of the North Alexander School Association, the Wills Memorial Hospital Foundation, and the Washington- Wilkes Chamber of Commerce. He has served as a member of the Washington Historic Preservation Commission and has been a director and president of the Washington Little Theater Company of which he is a lifetime member. An active Kiwanian, he has served as director and president of the local club as well as Lieutenant Governor and Secretary-treasurer of the Georgia District of Kiwanis International. He will advance to the position of District Governor in 2008, becoming the first Washingtonian to hold that office since M. Pembroke Pope over 85 years ago. Norris is also a member of Washington Presbyterian Church where he serves as both an elder and a trustee. In August 2004, Norris and Margaret Harper were married, he said, "joyfully embracing her family of three sons and daughters-in-law, three grandchildren and one 'granddog,' an English bulldog, Bo."
Norris says he is confident that he can help every citizen in Washington. "In short, my goals will include pursuing every avenue which will enrich the health, education, quality of life and pocketbooks of all our citizens."
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