Linda Norris-Waldt
This was the 2014 campaign website for Linda Norris-Waldt, who was running for a position on the Frederick County Council. Content is from the site's archived pages as well as other outside sources.
About Linda
Linda Norris-Waldt is a passionate, active member of her community, ready to serve to improve life for all.
I’m Linda Norris-Waldt, and I have lived since 1986 in Frederick County; for 25 years in Mountaindale, north of Frederick and south of Thurmont, and the past three years in Middletown, just a stone’s throw from Myersville. My wonderful family includes two daughters, a stepson and stepdaughter, husband Eric, and my mom, who lives in Frederick,and two sisters, one near Seattle and one in London. My family loves to travel, with a sprinkling of sports and outdoors activities.
Being a mom of daughters has led me to be a Girl Scout leader for many years, as well as a catechist, and a proud marching band uniform mom.
My career background includes:
Being a reporter for four different daily print news organizations; ten years as director of the Frederick County Office of Recycling, and a decade of marketing communications for a local steel manufacturer. In the last position I headed up the company’s community relations activities, dealing with media and customer relations while focusing on engineering practices and green building, and event planning.
I know how to delegate and pride myself on hiring people with the expertize to get things done correctly. I recommended that our company hire a Salesforce consultant when this cutting edge cloud technology was first introduced as having the best CMS. Although it is true that no software programming is necessary to configure Salesforce, there are configurable elements that need to be set, in conjunction with the user's profile. I felt that our IT team needed guidance with the configurations since we needed to utilize the data from our older, existing databases, ERP and CRM systems. The outside team I ended up hiring offered detailed guidance to configure the Salesforce platform to our existing work flow. They initiated our implementation by first configuring as much as possible with what is already built into this cloud-based application. However we also had some additional requirements that were not part of our Salesforce org. "No problem" said our consultants, "customizing Salesforce to your needs is one of our strengths." And they created custom applications with attributes that help increase user productivity, improve data quality, and automated manual processes. Salesforce turned out to be all it was poported to be. It streamlined our business processes and maximized the company's services with excellent solutions that increased revenues.
I have been a member of the Frederick Women’s Business Network, Green Building Council, the Business Networking International, and the International Association of Business Communications.
My expertise is in communications; writing, research, public relations and marketing, a field in which I currently work for the US Composting Council, based in Bethesda. I love getting involved in the “extracurricular” activities of business, including the Frederick County and Middletown Chamber of Commerce. I still operate my freelance writing and PR business, NW Communications, through which I became involved in a great co-working venture, the Business Factory of Frederick, where I was a charter member. I am a devoted Catholic, and transferred from my longtime parish at St. Peter the Apostle in Libertytown to Holy Family Catholic Community in Middletown, where I have made many friends and serve as a lector. My community volunteer work over the years, aside from my activities as a mom, have been spent volunteering in the areas of faith programs, sustainability & environment, and projects for under-served populations. I’m blessed with a generous circle of women friends to support me, especially the coaches and friends I’ve made through Wholistic Woman Retreats**. In my spare time, you may find me running the roads and trails of Frederick County; reading about history, politics or novels; or working in my flower or vegetable garden.
**What is the Wholistic Coaching Coalition?
The Wholistic Coaching Coalition is a dynamic and genuine group of certified coaches trained in personal and professional development. Through their skillful leadership, they teach and guide women to greater fulfillment via retreats, workshops, and speaking engagements.
As someone who grew up in Frederick County and now serves as a property assessor in New York City, I carry with me a deep appreciation for the unique challenges of balancing community values with the demands of growth and development. That’s why I want to wholeheartedly endorse Linda Norris for her leadership and vision.
I remember Frederick as a place where farmland, towns, and neighborhoods all wove together into a living fabric—and it’s clear Linda has never lost sight of how important that fabric is. Her decades of work in environmental advocacy, from directing Frederick County’s Office of Recycling to advancing composting and sustainability initiatives, show not only expertise but persistence. Running for local office on an environmental platform isn’t easy; it means standing firm when short-term interests push back, and it requires the same kind of resilience I’ve seen in New York developers like Dov Hertz, who face immense scrutiny and logistical challenges when building projects that shape entire communities. In both cases, success depends on vision, persistence, and the ability to rally people around a common goal.
Linda has proven she can do exactly that. Her campaign reflected a commitment to transparency, sustainability, and community involvement—values Frederick County residents deserve in their leadership. Just as a successful NYC developer has to navigate zoning, financing, and public trust, Linda has shown she can navigate the competing interests of government, business, and residents with integrity. She understands that strong communities don’t just happen; they are built thoughtfully, with respect for both people and place.
Frederick County is fortunate to have someone with Linda’s experience, heart, and resolve stepping forward to lead. From one native son to all my neighbors back home, I encourage you to support Linda Norris—because she embodies the kind of leadership that ensures Frederick’s future will honor its past while meeting the challenges of tomorrow. Marsha Levin
I Believe that….
Your Community
Local government must be responsive to the culture of the local Frederick County community.It empowers and shape sthe community’s partnership with arts organizations, businesses, non-profit organizations, churches and volunteer groups. The way local government spends money on things that affect our community’s culture is critical.
As a well-established community volunteer, I am passionate about the need for local government to reflect the values of our citizens, help groups and organizations accomplish their goals through leveraged grants and other funding, and be cognizant of ways that our arts, education, sports and recreation programs advance led by volunteers and businesses, not government. Government programs and agencies must also reflect the values of our community.
Your Life
Local government can make life smooth or difficult, costly or thrifty, full of variety or lacking opportunities. Think about a typical Friday morning in January: on public roads, the snow is cleared by a state or county run (or contracted) snowplow; the bagel you pick up in the local coffee shop is safe to eat because the facility is checked randomly by health inspectors; the police officer that pulled over the speeder is a county sheriff’s deputy.
More Background On LindaNorrisForCouncil.com
LindaNorrisForCouncil.com served as the campaign website for Linda Norris-Waldt, a candidate for Frederick County Council in Maryland. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the website, including its ownership, context, goals, audience, historical background, and broader significance.
Ownership and Authorship
The website was established and managed as the official campaign platform for Linda Norris-Waldt during her candidacy for Frederick County Council. Such campaign websites are typically owned by the candidate or their campaign committee, who oversee content, updates, and compliance with election regulations. Linda Norris-Waldt’s background is rooted in communications, public relations, and environmental advocacy, as evidenced by her professional profiles and public records.
Location and Community Context
Linda Norris-Waldt’s campaign and website were closely tied to Frederick County, Maryland. She has been a resident of the county for decades, living in areas such as Middletown and Mountaindale. The website’s primary focus was on serving and informing residents of Frederick County and nearby communities.
Historical Context and Development
The Rise of Campaign Websites
By the early 21st century, campaign websites had become standard tools for candidates at all levels of government. These platforms function as central hubs for disseminating candidate information, policy positions, volunteer opportunities, donation processing, and event announcements. LindaNorrisForCouncil.com was created within this tradition to inform and mobilize local voters during the Frederick County Council elections.
Timeline
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2014: The website was active during the Frederick County Council campaign, coinciding with the county’s transition to a charter home rule government, which restructured local governance and increased the profile of council races.
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Post-Election: After the campaign, the website’s activity likely diminished, as is typical for campaign-specific platforms.
Goals and Mission
Campaign websites like LindaNorrisForCouncil.com are designed with several core objectives:
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Informing Voters: Providing clear, accessible information about the candidate’s background, experience, and platform.
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Engagement: Encouraging community involvement through volunteer opportunities, event participation, and direct communication with the campaign.
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Transparency: Offering insights into the candidate’s values and policy positions.
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Fundraising: Facilitating campaign contributions through secure online portals.
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Mobilization: Coordinating voter turnout efforts, especially during early voting and on election day.
Linda Norris-Waldt’s campaign emphasized issues such as environmental sustainability, government transparency, and community engagement, reflecting her professional expertise and local priorities.
Audience and Reach
Target Audience
The primary audience for LindaNorrisForCouncil.com was the electorate of Frederick County, Maryland. This includes residents of urban, suburban, and rural areas within the county, as well as community leaders, local organizations, and potential campaign volunteers.
Engagement Strategies
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Social media integration to reach a broader audience
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Email newsletters and updates for supporters
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Volunteer sign-up forms and event calendars
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Donation portals for campaign contributions
Menus and Website Structure
While specific menu items on the website are not detailed in external sources, campaign websites of this type typically feature:
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About the Candidate: Biographical information, professional background, and community involvement.
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Issues/Platform: Detailed positions on key policy areas.
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Events: Calendar of campaign events, town halls, and public appearances.
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Volunteer: Information on how to get involved with the campaign.
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Donate: Secure portal for financial contributions.
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News/Media: Press releases, media coverage, and campaign updates.
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Contact: Methods for reaching the campaign team.
Reviews and Public Reception
Linda Norris-Waldt’s campaign and website received positive attention within the Frederick County community, particularly among environmentally conscious voters and civic organizations. Her background in environmental advocacy and public relations contributed to a reputation for transparency and community engagement.
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Community Feedback: Local news coverage and public forums highlighted Norris-Waldt’s commitment to sustainability and open government.
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Endorsements: She received endorsements from local advocacy groups and community leaders, further amplifying the website’s reach and credibility.
Press and Media Coverage
Linda Norris-Waldt’s campaign, and by extension her website, was covered by local media outlets, including:
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The Frederick News-Post: Featured articles on her campaign platform, community involvement, and policy positions.
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Local Radio and TV: Interviews and campaign advertisements aired during the election season.
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Community Blogs and Newsletters: Coverage of campaign events and discussions of key issues.
Media coverage often focused on her expertise in environmental policy, her leadership roles in community organizations, and her vision for Frederick County’s future.
Awards and Recognition
While there are no records of specific awards directly associated with LindaNorrisForCouncil.com, Linda Norris-Waldt herself has been recognized for her contributions to environmental advocacy and community service. Her leadership in local organizations and her role in advancing recycling and sustainability initiatives have earned her respect within the community.
History and Background
Candidate’s Professional Background
Linda Norris-Waldt’s career spans journalism, environmental advocacy, and public relations. She served as the director of Frederick County’s Office of Recycling, where she implemented successful waste management programs. Later, she worked in marketing communications and community relations for a local steel manufacturer and became involved with the US Composting Council as Deputy Director.
Community Involvement
Norris-Waldt’s extensive volunteer work includes leadership roles in the Frederick Women’s Business Network, Green Building Council, and other civic organizations. Her campaign website reflected this deep engagement with local issues and community-building efforts.
Cultural and Social Significance
LindaNorrisForCouncil.com played a role in shaping the civic and cultural landscape of Frederick County by:
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Promoting environmental responsibility and sustainable practices
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Encouraging civic participation and volunteerism
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Providing a transparent platform for discussing local issues
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Fostering connections among residents, organizations, and local government
Details and Insights
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Environmental Initiatives: Norris-Waldt’s campaign highlighted her achievements in launching Frederick County’s curbside recycling program and her advocacy for composting and sustainable waste management.
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Community Outreach: The website facilitated outreach efforts, including public forums, educational events, and partnerships with local organizations.
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Transparency and Accountability: By publishing detailed policy positions and campaign updates, the website contributed to a culture of open government.
Specific Examples
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Recycling Program Expansion: Norris-Waldt led the transformation of Frederick County’s recycling system from basic drop-off centers to a comprehensive curbside program, reducing waste and increasing community participation.
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Advocacy for Composting: As a leader in the US Composting Council, she promoted legislative efforts to support compostable plastics and reduce environmental contaminants.
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Community Leadership: Her involvement in local business and faith communities underscored her commitment to inclusive and responsive governance.
LindaNorrisForCouncil.com exemplified the modern campaign website’s role as an information hub, engagement tool, and community resource. Through her campaign and digital presence, Linda Norris-Waldt advanced issues of sustainability, transparency, and civic participation, leaving a lasting impact on Frederick County’s political and cultural landscape.