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Created page with "{{Infobox officeholder |name=Barbara Ann McCray Norton |office=Louisiana State Representative for<br>District 3 (Caddo Parish) |term_start=January 2008 |term_end=January 1..."
{{Infobox officeholder
|name=Barbara Ann McCray Norton
|office=[[Louisiana]] State Representative for<br>District 3 (Caddo Parish)
|term_start=January 2008
|term_end=January 13, 2020
|preceded=Ernest Baylor, Jr.
|succeeded=Tammy Phillips
|birth_date=February 10, 1946
|birth_place=Place of birth missing
|residence=[[Shreveport]], [[Louisiana]], USA
|spouse=Family information unavailable
|party=[[Democratic Party|Democrat]]
|occupation=Retiree from [[American Telephone and Telegraph]] employee
|alma_mater=[[Booker T. Washington]] High School (Shreveport)<br>
Louisiana State University in Shreveport}}
'''Barbara Ann McCray Norton''' (born February 10, 1946)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mylife.com/barbara-norton/e636465426126|title=Barbara Norton|publisher=Mylife.com|accessdate=September 1, 2020}}</ref> is an [[African-American]] [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] for state representative for District 3 in Caddo Parish in northwestern [[Louisiana]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://outlook.live.com/mail/compose/AQMkADAwATExADlhNy00YzRkLTYwOWItMDACLTAwCgBGAAADR%2FSU5MnzFkamel3t1%2FIblgcAVXnCKY5tEEqFrqUFeHWmpAAAAgEPAAAAVXnCKY5tEEqFrqUFeHWmpAADlOkEQgAAAA%3D%3D|title=Membership of the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2024 (Caddo Parish)|publisher=Louisiana House of Representatives|accessdate=September 1, 2020}}</ref>
==Background==
Norton graduated from the former historically black [[Booker T. Washington]] High School in [[Shreveport]]. She then completed a legal course at Louisiana State University in Shreveport. She is a retiree from [[American Telephone and Telegraph]].<ref name=bnort>{{cite web|url=http://house.louisiana.gov/H_Reps/members.asp?ID=3|title=Barbara Norton|publisher=Louisiana House of Representatives|accessdate=April 26, 2015}}</ref>
==Political life==
In 1994, Norton led the nonpartisan blanket [[primary]] for the District F seat on the Shreveport City Council. However, she lost the runoff election to fellow Democrat, James Edward Green, who polled 3,762 votes (51 percent) to Norton's 3,615 (49 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 8, 1994.</ref> She fell short again in a three-candidate primary field for the city council in 1998.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 3, 1998.</ref> The post went instead to another African-American Democrat, Joe Shyne, who unseated the incumbent James Green.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 3, 1998.</ref>
In 2003, Norton ran for the District 3 state House seat but was defeated by 251 votes by her fellow Democrat, Ernest Baylor, Jr. (born October 1949), who polled 3,788 votes (51.7 percent) to her 3,537, (48.3 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 4, 2003.</ref> Four years later, Norton rebounded to claim the seat when Baylor was not a candidate in a low-turnout contest. With 3,901 votes (56.1 percent), she defeated her fellow Democrat, Lindora Lee Baker (born September 1960), who received 2,648 votes (38.1 percent). Another Democrat, Spencer Stephens, held the remaining 403 votes (5.8 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 10, 2007.</ref>
In 2011, with 3,078 votes (44.7 percent), Representative Norton was forced into a runoff election with Lynn Dale Cawthorne (born March 1967), a Democrat who polled 1,850 votes (26.9 percent). In third place was her predecessor, Ernest Baylor, Jr., with 1,548 votes (22.5 percent). [[Republican Party|Republican]] and subsequently [[Independent voter|Independent]] Anna Marie Arpino (born March 1958) held the remaining 408 ballots (5.9 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 22, 2011.</ref>
To score her second term, Norton then defeated Cawthorne in the second round of balloting, 3,240 votes (56.1 percent) to 2,533 (43.9 percent).<ref>
Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 19, 2011.</ref>
Representative Norton served on the Legislative Black Caucus, the Women's Caucus, and the Democratic Caucus. She served on these committees: (1) Administration of Criminal Justice, (2) Municipal, Parochial and Cultural Affairs, (3) Transportation, Highways, and Public Works, and (4) House Committee on Enrollment.<ref name=bnort/>
Norton's legislative ratings have ranged from 38 to 67 from the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry. In 2012. the National Federation of Independent Business rated Norton 40 percent. In 2013 and 2014, the [[conservative]] Louisiana Family Forum scored her 67 and 20 percent, respectively. In 2009 and 2013, she was rated 67 and 50 percent, respectively, by Louisiana [[Right to Life]]. She was rated 100 percent in both 2013 and 2014 by the Louisiana Association of Educators.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/35632/barbara-norton#.VT5RbMstGhw|title=Barbara Norton's Ratings and Endorsements|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=September 1, 2020}}</ref>
In 2014, Norton did not vote on the requirement that [[abortion]] providers have hospital admitting privileges near their clinics; only five House members opposed the measure. That same year, she voted to extend the time for implementation of the [[Common Core]] State Standards Initiative. She voted to forbid the transportation of dogs in open truck beds on interstate highways. She did not vote on the repeal of state anti-sodomy laws; the measure failed in the House, 27-67.<ref name=votingrecords>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/35632/barbara-norton#.VT5SXcstGhw|title=Barbara Norton's Voting Records|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=September 1, 2020}}</ref>
In 2013, Norton voted to reduce penalties for the possession of [[marijuana]]. She did not vote on permanent concealed carry]gun permits but in 2014 opposed the use of such permits in [[restaurant]]s that serve [[alcoho]]. She opposed keeping information on concealed carry permits confidential and out of the public record. She voted to increase judicial pay and to end the mandatory retirement age for judges. She co-sponsored an "equal pay" plan for state employees. In 2012, she co-sponsored legislation to provide for [[parole]] eligibility for non-violent inmates. She did not vote on the prohibition of the use of telephones while driving but opposed making illegal the holding of hand-held devices while driving. She supported state tax incentives to recruit a [[National Basketball Association]] team to Louisiana but opposed state income tax deductions for taxpayers donating to scholarship funds. She opposed reducing the number of hours that polling locations remain open; Louisiana has traditionally had 14-hour polling days.<ref name=votingrecords/>
In 2011, Norton voted for a permanent tax on [[cigarette]]s. That year she also supported parole eligibility for elderly inmates and a failed bill which proposed to halt [[bullying]] in public schools. She opposed the requirement for drug testing of welfare recipients. She voted against the establishment of a commission to developa plan to abolish the state income tax. She supported the redistricting bill for the state Senate but opposed the plan for the [[United States House of Representatives|congressional]] delegation. In 2010, Norton opposed the carrying of handguns into churches; supporters said the measure would enhance security.<ref name=votingrecords/>
In May 2016, Norton received national attention when she announced her opposition to a bill which would require that the [[United States Declaration of Independence|Declaration of Independence]] , written by [[Thomas Jefferson]], be taught in Louisiana public schools. She declared the Declaration "[[racist]]" because it did not apply to [[Slavery|slaves]]. "For the Declaration of Independence, only [[Caucasian]]s [were] free. And for you to bring a bill to request that our children will recite the Declaration, I think it's a little bit unfair."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://insider.foxnews.com/2016/05/28/louisiana-state-representative-barbara-norton-declaration-independence-racist|title=State Rep: Declaration of Independence Is Racist|publisher=[[Fox News]]|accessdate=May 28, 2016}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Norton, Barbara}}
[[Category:Louisiana People]]
[[Category:Women]]
[[Category:African Americans]]
[[Category:Politicians]]
[[Category:Democrats]]
[[Category:Liberals]]
|name=Barbara Ann McCray Norton
|office=[[Louisiana]] State Representative for<br>District 3 (Caddo Parish)
|term_start=January 2008
|term_end=January 13, 2020
|preceded=Ernest Baylor, Jr.
|succeeded=Tammy Phillips
|birth_date=February 10, 1946
|birth_place=Place of birth missing
|residence=[[Shreveport]], [[Louisiana]], USA
|spouse=Family information unavailable
|party=[[Democratic Party|Democrat]]
|occupation=Retiree from [[American Telephone and Telegraph]] employee
|alma_mater=[[Booker T. Washington]] High School (Shreveport)<br>
Louisiana State University in Shreveport}}
'''Barbara Ann McCray Norton''' (born February 10, 1946)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mylife.com/barbara-norton/e636465426126|title=Barbara Norton|publisher=Mylife.com|accessdate=September 1, 2020}}</ref> is an [[African-American]] [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] for state representative for District 3 in Caddo Parish in northwestern [[Louisiana]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://outlook.live.com/mail/compose/AQMkADAwATExADlhNy00YzRkLTYwOWItMDACLTAwCgBGAAADR%2FSU5MnzFkamel3t1%2FIblgcAVXnCKY5tEEqFrqUFeHWmpAAAAgEPAAAAVXnCKY5tEEqFrqUFeHWmpAADlOkEQgAAAA%3D%3D|title=Membership of the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2024 (Caddo Parish)|publisher=Louisiana House of Representatives|accessdate=September 1, 2020}}</ref>
==Background==
Norton graduated from the former historically black [[Booker T. Washington]] High School in [[Shreveport]]. She then completed a legal course at Louisiana State University in Shreveport. She is a retiree from [[American Telephone and Telegraph]].<ref name=bnort>{{cite web|url=http://house.louisiana.gov/H_Reps/members.asp?ID=3|title=Barbara Norton|publisher=Louisiana House of Representatives|accessdate=April 26, 2015}}</ref>
==Political life==
In 1994, Norton led the nonpartisan blanket [[primary]] for the District F seat on the Shreveport City Council. However, she lost the runoff election to fellow Democrat, James Edward Green, who polled 3,762 votes (51 percent) to Norton's 3,615 (49 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 8, 1994.</ref> She fell short again in a three-candidate primary field for the city council in 1998.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 3, 1998.</ref> The post went instead to another African-American Democrat, Joe Shyne, who unseated the incumbent James Green.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 3, 1998.</ref>
In 2003, Norton ran for the District 3 state House seat but was defeated by 251 votes by her fellow Democrat, Ernest Baylor, Jr. (born October 1949), who polled 3,788 votes (51.7 percent) to her 3,537, (48.3 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 4, 2003.</ref> Four years later, Norton rebounded to claim the seat when Baylor was not a candidate in a low-turnout contest. With 3,901 votes (56.1 percent), she defeated her fellow Democrat, Lindora Lee Baker (born September 1960), who received 2,648 votes (38.1 percent). Another Democrat, Spencer Stephens, held the remaining 403 votes (5.8 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 10, 2007.</ref>
In 2011, with 3,078 votes (44.7 percent), Representative Norton was forced into a runoff election with Lynn Dale Cawthorne (born March 1967), a Democrat who polled 1,850 votes (26.9 percent). In third place was her predecessor, Ernest Baylor, Jr., with 1,548 votes (22.5 percent). [[Republican Party|Republican]] and subsequently [[Independent voter|Independent]] Anna Marie Arpino (born March 1958) held the remaining 408 ballots (5.9 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 22, 2011.</ref>
To score her second term, Norton then defeated Cawthorne in the second round of balloting, 3,240 votes (56.1 percent) to 2,533 (43.9 percent).<ref>
Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 19, 2011.</ref>
Representative Norton served on the Legislative Black Caucus, the Women's Caucus, and the Democratic Caucus. She served on these committees: (1) Administration of Criminal Justice, (2) Municipal, Parochial and Cultural Affairs, (3) Transportation, Highways, and Public Works, and (4) House Committee on Enrollment.<ref name=bnort/>
Norton's legislative ratings have ranged from 38 to 67 from the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry. In 2012. the National Federation of Independent Business rated Norton 40 percent. In 2013 and 2014, the [[conservative]] Louisiana Family Forum scored her 67 and 20 percent, respectively. In 2009 and 2013, she was rated 67 and 50 percent, respectively, by Louisiana [[Right to Life]]. She was rated 100 percent in both 2013 and 2014 by the Louisiana Association of Educators.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/35632/barbara-norton#.VT5RbMstGhw|title=Barbara Norton's Ratings and Endorsements|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=September 1, 2020}}</ref>
In 2014, Norton did not vote on the requirement that [[abortion]] providers have hospital admitting privileges near their clinics; only five House members opposed the measure. That same year, she voted to extend the time for implementation of the [[Common Core]] State Standards Initiative. She voted to forbid the transportation of dogs in open truck beds on interstate highways. She did not vote on the repeal of state anti-sodomy laws; the measure failed in the House, 27-67.<ref name=votingrecords>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/35632/barbara-norton#.VT5SXcstGhw|title=Barbara Norton's Voting Records|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=September 1, 2020}}</ref>
In 2013, Norton voted to reduce penalties for the possession of [[marijuana]]. She did not vote on permanent concealed carry]gun permits but in 2014 opposed the use of such permits in [[restaurant]]s that serve [[alcoho]]. She opposed keeping information on concealed carry permits confidential and out of the public record. She voted to increase judicial pay and to end the mandatory retirement age for judges. She co-sponsored an "equal pay" plan for state employees. In 2012, she co-sponsored legislation to provide for [[parole]] eligibility for non-violent inmates. She did not vote on the prohibition of the use of telephones while driving but opposed making illegal the holding of hand-held devices while driving. She supported state tax incentives to recruit a [[National Basketball Association]] team to Louisiana but opposed state income tax deductions for taxpayers donating to scholarship funds. She opposed reducing the number of hours that polling locations remain open; Louisiana has traditionally had 14-hour polling days.<ref name=votingrecords/>
In 2011, Norton voted for a permanent tax on [[cigarette]]s. That year she also supported parole eligibility for elderly inmates and a failed bill which proposed to halt [[bullying]] in public schools. She opposed the requirement for drug testing of welfare recipients. She voted against the establishment of a commission to developa plan to abolish the state income tax. She supported the redistricting bill for the state Senate but opposed the plan for the [[United States House of Representatives|congressional]] delegation. In 2010, Norton opposed the carrying of handguns into churches; supporters said the measure would enhance security.<ref name=votingrecords/>
In May 2016, Norton received national attention when she announced her opposition to a bill which would require that the [[United States Declaration of Independence|Declaration of Independence]] , written by [[Thomas Jefferson]], be taught in Louisiana public schools. She declared the Declaration "[[racist]]" because it did not apply to [[Slavery|slaves]]. "For the Declaration of Independence, only [[Caucasian]]s [were] free. And for you to bring a bill to request that our children will recite the Declaration, I think it's a little bit unfair."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://insider.foxnews.com/2016/05/28/louisiana-state-representative-barbara-norton-declaration-independence-racist|title=State Rep: Declaration of Independence Is Racist|publisher=[[Fox News]]|accessdate=May 28, 2016}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Norton, Barbara}}
[[Category:Louisiana People]]
[[Category:Women]]
[[Category:African Americans]]
[[Category:Politicians]]
[[Category:Democrats]]
[[Category:Liberals]]