Mike Norris has a choice. He can either resign or convert.
I don’t mean he should embrace City Hall’s prevailing creeds. Disruption has its benefits. A harder look at the city’s pace of development is not a bad thing, and on this council he’s not the only one taking it. But that’s policy. Every elected official is entitled to his/her/their own, and to try to change that of colleagues. It’s the nature of government.
Norris’s conversion is a matter of self-reflection. He would benefit from giving his Napoleonic ego a four-year sabbatical and from giving up the illusion that his power is more than one-fifth of the council’s, that his word is law, or that the mayor’s position is defined by authority more than ceremony.
He should learn that using his position to humiliate others isn’t funny. It’s not folksy humor. It’s cruel, and judging by where his eyes stray, it’s somewhere between Mad Men-sexist and a private predilection that should remain private. He should learn that it’s not his City Hall, and it certainly is not his staff. He was right to clear his things out of his office there. He was getting more pasha than mayor, more thrilled by his title than his responsibility to live up to it.
Which, I suspect, he could do very well. I think Norris is a good and sincere man at heart, easily likable if you look past the lunar crust and much smarter than people give him credit for. His judgments and political whisperers are another story. So is his AWOL self-awareness. he needs self-discipline. He needs to realize he’s the rookie. If he doesn’t want to fit in, it’s his right. But that doesn’t absolve him of the responsibility to listen, observe, learn, respect staff, respect the charter, respect the office he represents (which is our office as constituents, not his), then try changing the world. No one would begrudge him for trying. It’s what we elect people to do.
But we don’t elect them to destroy the village to save it. This self-aggrandizing ex-soldier seems to have no clue that Palm Coast doesn’t need saving. It’s not even in trouble. It merely needs steering, which, to City Hall staff’s credit–and specifically to City Manager Lauren Johnston’s credit, who would be the city’s ideal permanent manager–is being steered despite the mayor’s carnage. He’s made himself superfluous. If he doesn’t convert, he’ll be a four-year irrelevance. His colleagues will make sure of that.
Because continuing as the Mike Norris we’ve come to know and dread is not a choice. It is, to borrow from his likely beloved Phyllis Schlafly, an echo from his barrio of buffoonery–the embarrassment of his State of the City address, the puerility of his “Wanted” poster, the insult to city manager candidates of his tailgate interview, the contempt he showed them hours later by dissing the community meet-and-greet. What next, replacing the best communications department in Northeast Florida with Dennis McDonald?
Clearly, the mayor isn’t interested in governing. He’s our Peter Bergman (“I’m not a mayor but I play one on TV”), mistaking chaos for change and misinterpreting the few sycophants pledging allegiance to him at meetings or on his Facebook page for a political compass. All he’s done since his election is accuse, criticize, denounce, bellyache. The only initiative he championed was the ill-fated fuel dump off U.S. 1, pulling back when he saw the flames. Then it was back to grievances and fabrications, and that ridiculous claim that he’s the victim of a cabal because he wants a building moratorium.
He has plenty of time to rescue his mayorship. The council would be his first ally. So would the administration. These aren’t vindictive people. He doesn’t seem interested.
Norris is not the resigning type, and driving him out of office is undemocratic. He was duly elected by a large margin: 63 percent is landslide territory, even though one suspects that figure is now more than halved by regret. The City Council has every reason to censure him or express its lack of confidence. But to draft the governor to expel him? This isn’t Albany in 1920, when the state legislature expelled three assemblymen for being “disloyal” (that is, socialist) or Nashville in 2023, where three Black lawmakers were Jim Crowed out of their seats for exercising their First Amendment rights on the House floor.
Norris’s sins aren’t as noble as socialism or Black lives. He merely mistook City Hall for his man cave. But as Oliver Wendell Holmes put it when describing our system, “I quite agree that a law should be called good if it reflects the will of the dominant force of the community even if it takes us to hell.” The same holds true for the elected. If the electorate wants to take Palm Coast to hell, who are we to stop it with banana republic tactics?
The mayor could theoretically sustain four years of bluster and disruption. It’s not as if his role model isn’t doing the same to the country. (I wish the other Trump-addled council members came to that realization. We’re not there yet.) Thankfully, Norris is just one vote, and the council, under the deft and dignified leadership of Theresa Pontieri–who is now the mayor in all but name–the city will not go to hell.
For all of Norris’s follies, we now have a solid, intelligent and effective council only occasionally resembling a military commission. He can either be a part of it or play the irrelevant mayor in his self-built labyrinth. It’s his choice. But he doesn’t have to be our problem anymore.
Pierre Tristam is the editor of FlaglerLive. A version of this piece airs on WNZF.
Ld says
Military vet?
Glenn Sims says
I think the council should be the ones to sit up and take notice. Norris was effectively voted in by constituents that wanted Alfin out and growth slowed down. Maybe not so far as a moratorium but definitely slowed. The council has all but ignored that. They need to remember they are voted in also and many will remember the council ignoring the will of the people. Norris’s boorish behaviour not so much. If this last election showed anything it showed policy over personality. It would do the council well to remember that.
The dude says
A MAGA can’t change its spots.
MAGA can’t change anything really… this MAGA we’re talking about here.
Still willing to give the guy a chance, but as stated before, don’t expect it to make any difference.
Purveyor of Truth says
Quite a magnanimous article.
Can the city’s mayor change his spots?
Mike says
Another opinion from a democrat small newspaper editor!
The full sack... says
Norris turned out be the worst Mayor in Palm Coast history.
Totally unhinged, and paranoid, playing the conspiracy theory when in 5 months he hasn’t proven crap.
He’ll never last, I have no confidence in his ability to lead.
He claims to have been a leader, I feel for anyone that served under him.
I can’t wait to vote for a new Mayor…….
Justbob says
Too late. The damage is irreparable. No “come to Jesus moment” is going to change that.
Mayme Casady says
It sounds like a cabal to me. You say Palm Coast doesn’t have problems? We don’t have the infrastructure to handle the masses of homes being built. Who opened the gate? Who is going to be saddled with the costs of roads, water, schools, etc ; not the builders. Norris has the common sense to see the downside of the farce.
Everyone suspect paybacks…goes with DC DOGE government findings. . I hope people reading this does contact the Governor, and ask for a State (Palm Coast) Doge Report.
Hang in there Norris, this is why you got 63% of the vote…people want a moratorium on building…we voted for a fighter.
MITCH says
Residents / City Officials / City Employees all want a better Palm Coast. 25 years have passed by and there are “many” residential streets needing to be repaved. The water system needs improvements and enlargement. The wastewater plants need improvements and enlargement. Swale maintenance can be improved on with additional equipment. Looking back over the last 25 years, yes, I’m angry that these items were ignored. If I was Mayor Mike, being elected from the community of residents looking over all these facts and realizing how ordinary residents are suffering; what can I do? I would all of a sudden realize it was up to me to make changes where the last 25 years failed. Is there an easy way to get everyone’s attention that the changes have to occur? No, or they would have occurred already, and the city would not have continued on the same course for 25 years. It is hard to change a course of action when so many visualize that changing the course of action “would not be easy”; SO FULL STEAM AHEAD”! Any forgiveness for making mistakes in a new job? The mistakes of the last 25 years have already been forgiven (you know, mistakes of establishing a new city and how we got to this point)? Are any willing to set a new course for the city or will it be another 25 years before we ask again, “WHAT HAPPENED”?
Nick caruso says
The author is not a Trump fan. What the mayor did and what the President does are not the same. When the President was elected last November, the voters knew what kind of person he was. This cannot be said about the Mayor. I hope the council finds a way to all work together and keep moving Palm Coast forward.
justbob says
I gotta say this piece is a wordsmithing delight in every way. Thanks.
Cisco Williams says
I am just thinking that you are just putting out your liberal ideology and wished that we had an unbiased outlet to inform the people of Palmcoast. I think that if you listen to what he campaigned on about the growth,as you said 63% voted for his campaign promises, then the other council members should see that is what the citizens want, just slower growth .I think that the two appointed new council members should give the voters what they said they wanted, but they were voted to keep the status quo and keep the money flowing and screw us over if we have another recession. I am just wondering what kind of city they are leaving for their kids,no jobs,traffic nightmares(heck Ocala has alot more traffic on 200 and it moves smoothly),new schools and not portable classrooms. I know that if the council actually took a look at the budgets, they could cut 12% off of the budgets and look at different kinds of impacts on the newer citizens to pay for their, and I do mean their improvements, there are different kinds of impact fees to be legal to impose. I have done the math to prove that this will not overly burden the elderly citizens of our city. I said that I was not going to ever get involved in the politics of Palmcoast, because I was going to retire and live 15 years in what was Beautiful Palmcoast and sell my home and move back to Georgia and rent me a home and be buried in Georgia, but the asinine behavior of the last 5 years of our council cannot be just say what the heck anymore, so if the 63% that voted for an orderly growth shows up at city hall and blockade it,I reckon the Sheriff’s jail couldn’t hold us all,so have a meeting even late and maybe even have our Sheriff prove that he is not biased and enforce illegal parking and arrange to have bases for the elderly to attend and see what the council will do then. PEOPLE IN PALMCOAST,RISE UP !!!
John R says
Well thought out and written Pierre. I am not a supporter of him but if he listens to what you have written he can make a positive difference.
Lenny says
Well said. This is a tragic mess. There is a lesson here. Do not run for office if you cannot define your role and responsibilities according to State law. Many continue to run, few are qualified. And for some reason, this man refuses to accept the tools and help that are offered, preferring instead to debase.
A good leader doesn’t threaten or debase. He builds consensus. We elected you to assist in making good decisions for the city, not for the drama. For a military man, you give up all too easily.
Jeani Whitemoon Duarte says
Lol
Greg says
Mike needs to realize that the swamp will fight him ay every step. The circus of the city does not want to change. Their goal, destroy the city with uncontrolled building of houses, and traffic so bad, it takes 30 minuted to go down 100 to Flagler Beach. Only to find out there is no parking there. Every day, the quality of life gets wires here.
Big Mike says
What most citizens fail to realize is that our current situation has been formed by those who came before. It has been years in the making. Blaming one person (Alfin) or one administration is folly. Developing a path forward requires teamwork; Council and administration. The mayor is responsible for developing that teamwork. On this task he has failed miserably.
His vision of doing a better job of managing growth is a worthy one but he can’t do it alone and that is what he needs to internalize. If he can’t or won’t his vision is toast. The great man theory of leadership is dead.
It will be difficult but an admission that he was overzealous and a commitment to lead a team effort might just get us on the road to a more controlled and planned future.
The dude says
What the folks here who demand a building moratorium don’t seem to realize is this is the state of Floriduh…
Property owners here probably have more rights than voters do.
I believe the state itself limits what can be charged for impact fees.
Palm Coast can’t stop issuing building permits, or they face costly lawsuits and the like.
Your gripes are not with local municipalities, which you MAGA dullards have packed with MAGA moron politicians like the mayor, your gripes are with Tallahassee, which you MAGA dullards have packed with MAGA moron politicians for decades.
Your gripes, and they are legion, ultimately are with yourselves. All of this current mess is 100% attributable to your voting patterns of the 21st century.
Do better, and maybe things get better.
Keep electing MAGA clowns, expect a MAGA circus.
Tired of it says
All this posters defending his bad behaviour because they want growth and building slowed down. These are two separate things. There is no excuse for his treatment of staff, his rude comments, his antagonistic remarks. If he really wanted to do something about the growth, he would have worked with the council and staff to come up with a workable plan.
He is a typical republican, motuhing off about something that will catch the attention of those who voted for him but actually doing nothing about it. And lest you forget who you can thank for the failing infrastructure, the uncontrolled growth, the lack of funding for road repairs…etc., the republicans who have been running this city and county for decades.
Skibum says
Many people breathed a sigh of relief when our previous mayor lost the election. Who could have predicted that the new mayor would be even WORSE? Norris is just another dictator wanna-be who talks down to and demeans other city employees, tries to act arbitrarily without the consent and approval of other council members, wants to unilaterally fire people without cause and without the consensus of the other council members, etc. Then he gets his poor feelings hurt when the other council members hold him accountable for his abysmal behavior so he refuses to show up when expected at meetings and then goes out in the parking lot sucking his thumb and holds performative job interviews among the distraction of cars and people going by in the hot sun. What a complete idiot, and total disappointment to those who thought they would be voting for a competent, rational, adult military veteran who would make good decisions. Jeez, idiots like him who think they can rule from their high horse like the king of the city make me want to vomit. I think he is on his very last straw… who believes he will change his stripes and suddenly become competent and part of the GROUP that is our city council???
JohnB says
When the city staff presented the budget to upgrade our sewage treatment plants, I was impressed that only Norris was smart enough to ask the most important question,” is this enough to handle future growth?” As it turned out, the improvements will not cover the already approved lots. I am very upset with the city staff that presented a proposal that won’t fix the problem. Also upset with the city council approving a new subdivision west of US1 when they know that the sewer treatment system, with improvements, will not handle this new development.
I am saddened by Norris’ behavior but I can understand his frustration. We need people with his thinking.
John Calvin says
“Nobel as socialism”? Did you really say that?
Pierre Tristam says
Noble, yes. You’re benefiting from it if you’re on Medicare, Social Security, or either went to public school or benefit from the services of those who have. And it sure as hell better than the mega maggotry of fascisto-republican Calvinism waterboarding us now.
Hammock Bear says
The minute Mayor Norris used the word, “Moratorium’, every eye of realtors and developers and builders opened wide and many with fear. Jan. 2025 Palm Coast experienced an unusual heavy rain storm that created over flow problems at the septic treatment plant. Those problems were enough that the residents were asked to use less water in homes and businesses that included washing machine use etc. The following week the news said that hundreds of new building permits for single homes and apartments were issued. In other articles we see there is a dire need for new septic waste system. The Mayor used common sense in suggesting a Moratorium as that seems the most sensible approach to the existing septic problem. He was not given the opportunity to suggest how to deal with temporary job loss in the building industry and we all know THAT is VIP. SO next the Council gangs up and has not stopped attacking the Mayor. Commentors and articles are included by the People. Even Flagler Live has added his two cents. I would like to remind Everyone that we are All in Palm Coast together and we have to show more respect to each other. Add the proposed YMCA Swimming Pool topic and that is another huge concern. Flagler Live had an article recently that stated several million dollars was already paid towards the new pool and now that is never in the news when more money is asked by the Y. That should be addressed by the Mayor and the Council. It would be nice to go swimming in a public pool that our taxes pay for and currently one never knows if the schools will accomodate the tax payer’s use of the pool. Please folks, RESPECT is seriously needed. We all have to try harder to listen and discuss things that matter in an adult manner.
Dianne says
Whoever thinks Palm Coast has no issues is completely delusional…too much building allowed by Alfin and now we suffer..water system in dire need of upgrade..
.roads filled with traffic……why aren’t all these builders paying towards these upgrades that are needed.
Stop complaining people and give Norris a chance…yes all you Democrats seem to do nothing but complain and blame it on MAGA.
Very sad
CELIA PUGLIESE says
Looks like we should feel guilty of using our Social Security and Medicare benefits? Is oit free we contributed and pay for it all our labor lives we are entitled to receive the benefits we paid for. Also our seniority in the FL homestead exemption is the law and we are also entitled to just the only 3% limit Advalorem raise a year…Nothing to be ashame off to the contrary. Vets and age exemptions as well. The fact that the so much we need commercial and indusrial to not be overburdened with only advalorem taxes to sustain it all. Well look a Jacksonville and other cities, they have plenty commercial and imdustrial based taxes but the goverment spenders, just like here, do a great job of also making their taxes higher than in PC…No commercial or industril generates any higher revenue than a small home owner 1/4 acre lot or less paying 2,500 to 10,000 a year in ad valorem. Who all those cheering for ad valorem tax lowering commercial and industrial tax revenue, are you kidding?
Critical Eye says
Norris just wanted to be mayor. A title to add to his name a legacy to his boys. What he failed to see is Florida is the wrong place for him. He doesn’t belong here, not in Palm Coast. Palm Coast, he doesn’t belong in Florida at all. The majority of people living in Florida are New Yorkers. Norris is a Hillbilly with hillbilly humor. We don’t take kindly to his hillbilly humor. Norris should’ve chosen a state like Kentucky to reside in and took a run for mayor.. he’s far better suited for Kentucky. That’s exactly where he belongs… in Kentucky, you don’t need to know anything at all about running a city. You can just use words “like rack em and stack em” and Name your dog Cowboy like they name their chickens and pigs
Once a hillbilly always a hillbilly. Norris likes doing nothing all day, just lazing around with a good old boys, chewing tobacco and stirring up trouble. That lifestyle doesn’t work for us in Palm Coast Florida. Norris is now the brunt of every hillbilly joke. He has no one to blame but himself for his failures at being mayor.