Susan Thornton

Susan M. Thornton, Mayor of Littleton, Colorado 1989-1993 and 1999-2003

Related Topics:
Littleton, Colorado - 1989 - 1993 - 1999 - 2003

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Susan M. Thornton has worked as a reporter for U.S. News and World Report and as a writer for Time, Fortune and Money magazines. She earned an undergraduate degree from Michigan State University, spending a year interning with Nebraska's unicameral legislature as she completed her degree. She went on to earn a master's degree in journalism from UCLA in 1966. Prior to her service on the city council, Thornton had established Media Images, a public relations consulting company.Thornton and her husband, John, married in 1967 and moved to Littleton in 1970, finding here the "sense of community" they sought. Their son, Charles, was born in 1973.

Related Topics:
U.S. News and World Report - Michigan State University - Nebraska - UCLA - 1966 - 1967 - 1970 - 1973

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Thornton's first formal involvement with the City of Littleton came in 1977, when she was asked by the City Council to chair the Littleton Task Force on Natural Resource and Energy Conservation, which studied environmental and growth-related issues for the Council. The Task Force also established a recycling program that served both Littleton and Englewood for a number of years.

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In 1981, Thornton became involved with helping to turn Littleton's old Town Hall on Main Street into the Town Hall Arts Center. From 1980-1983 she served on the steering committee of the Littleton Leadership Retreat, then chaired the Retreat for several years; she continued to be involved in planning the Retreat in the 1990s and again in 2001 and 2002.

Related Topics:
1981 - 1980 - 1983 - 2001 - 2002

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In the 1980s, she wrote for "Fiasco," a musical spoof of the community, and served on the Press Council for the Littleton Independent newspaper. She was membership chair of the Friends of the Littleton Library/Museum from 1983-1985, and was president of that organization from 1985-1987.

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In 1987, former mayors approached her to run for city council. Her energy and friendliness helped her succeed to a four-year, at-large council seat; she was re-elected to that position four times, serving on the City Council a total of 16 years. She became mayor in 1989 and served as mayor from 1989-1993 and again from 1999-2002. She was also mayor pro tem for two terms (1993-1995 and 1997-1999).

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In the early 1990s, Littleton was notified by the Environmental Protection Agency that it was a potentially liable for millions of dollars in cleanup costs because it had placed sludge from the Littleton-Englewood Wastewater Treatment Plant at the Lowry Landfill. The City joined with other municipalities to fight this unfair action, and Thornton began a campaign to educate Littleton residents ? and Littleton's Congressional delegation ? about possible financial implications. She became a key spokesperson for American Communities for Cleanup Equity and was named the sole municipal representative on the National Commission on Superfund (1992-1994). In these positions, she attended numerous meetings across the U.S. and testified on several occasions before Congressional committees.

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Thornton was elected to the executive board of the Colorado Municipal League five times between 1991-2003 and was president of the League from 1993-1994. She spoke often at League workshops and conferences, chaired the League's Superfund Committee and also served on the League's Policy, Children and Youth and Juvenile Justice committees over the years.

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In 1991, she was appointed to the Energy, Environment and National Resources Policy Committee of the National League of Cities. She was subsequently appointed to a steering committee position and served there for seven years (1996-2003).

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In 1996, Thornton was asked by Governor Roy Romer to chair his Renewable Energy Task Force. In addition, she was a member of the Regional Air Quality Council from 1996-1999, served on the steering committee of Littleton Unlimited (a strategic planning process) from1993-1996, was a member of the South Metro Chamber's Economic Development Council from 1992-1993 and co-chaired a Gold Ribbon Committee for Littleton Public Schools.

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A founding member of the Metro Mayors' Caucus, Thornton was co-chair of the Caucus from 2002-2003, represented municipal interests on the State/Local Forum and was vice-chair of the Colorado Energy Science Foundation beginning in 2000.

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Following the tragedy at Columbine High School in 1999, Thornton became a founding board member of the Greater Littleton Youth Initiative, which is dedicated to youth-development and the prevention of youth violence. Thornton's emphasis on prevention in her professional life helped guide the Initiative to a number of prevention programs that have since been implemented in Littleton.

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During the 16 years Thornton served on the Littleton City Council, major progress was made in the city. A vigorous citizen-outreach program was developed, including the Littleton Report, Littleton 8! (cable channel), neighborhood outreach meetings, and an interactive Web site; library check-out services were computerized; a life-saving E-911 system was installed; the popular southwest light rail line was built and the old Denver and Rio Grande railroad depot was renovated for use at the downtown station; downtown Littleton was named to the National Register of Historic Places and a historic preservation ordinance and district were put in place; the city developed a strategic approach to youth-development and violence-prevention; an innovative, award-winning program was in place to strengthen local businesses; and the Police Department began community policing with the addition of Neighborhood Liaison Officers and School Resource Officers.

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In addition, major infrastructure investments were made, including millions spent on the rebuild of area roads and storm drainage projects; the extension of Mineral Avenue and the widening of Bowles were completed; several strategic parcels of open space were purchased to protect the South Platte Park; Chambers Farm (now Wynetka Ponds) was preserved; mini-parks were developed across the City; the last at-grade rail crossing was eliminated through Littleton; a major beautification project was undertaken on Main Street; a three-year expansion of Bemis Library was completed; the city preserved and renovated the historic Arapahoe County Courthouse for use as the city's courts; land was acquired next to the Courthouse for a new community recreation facility; a new city maintenance facility was acquired; important safety improvements on South Santa Fe were under way; a major expansion of the Littleton Historical Museum and construction of a new Fire Station 12 were also under way; and a new police administration facility was in the planning stages.

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Thornton received a number of honors for her civic and professional contributions. In 1993 the Littleton Independent named her Littleton's "Most Valuable Citizen," she received a "Distinguished Service Award" from the Denver Regional Council of Governments in 1994 and she was the recipient of the UCHSC School of Nursing's "Visionary Leadership Award" in May of 2000.

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Thornton's husband, John, is an electrical engineer known internationally for his work in solar energy. He has worked for Martin Marietta, the Solar Energy Research Institute and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Their son, Charles, attended Colorado State University and the Colorado Institute of Art, and in 2000, he married Ivilina Dimova.

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In their spare time, Thornton and her husband enjoy travel. In 2001, for example, they led a delegation of elected officials from Colorado to meet with mayors in Bulgaria. They acknowledge their Scottish roots by playing in the Colorado Isle of Mull/St. Andrew Pipes and Drums bagpipe band. Thornton has chaired the Western U.S. Pipe Band Association, founded the North American Alliance of Pipe Band Associations, and competes and judges across the Western United States.

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