The Honorable Alice Norris, Mayor of Oregon City
Recipient of the Ron Schmidt Leadership Award
July 18, 2007

Alice Norris’ involvement in civic and cultural affairs spans at least two decades.  She was elected to the Oregon City School Board in 1980; was a founding board member of the Oregon Trail Foundation; and executive director of the Oregon Trail Pageant from 1987 to 1999.  She served two terms on the board of the Regional Arts & Culture Council during the 1990s, including two years as chair.  She is a past chair of the Metropolitan Exposition-Recreation Commission and co-founded Oregon City’s First City Festival in 1994.   Since becoming Mayor in 2003, she has turned her energy to Oregon City’s 51-year old outdoor municipal elevator, built to bridge the city’s dramatic changes in elevation.  Since the elevator carries over 10,000 riders every month and stands as a functional and visible symbol of Oregon City, its enhancement is important to the revitalization of the community.  Under her leadership, the revitalization project seeks to integrate art and heritage, create a unique gathering place, and use art as a catalyst to enhance the appreciation and aesthetics of Oregon City.