“I'm not a politician, I'm you": Matt Norte's vision for Kennett's future

Matt Norte wants change for Kennett and he believes he can help bring it.

Norte is running for Ward 1 City Councilman in the April election. He recently reflected on the journey that brought him to this area he now calls home.

Norte, a California native, spent most of his life in San Francisco.

“I stayed there until I went to the Marine Corp,” he stated. “It was the best eight years of my life.”

Norte continued, “Boot Camp was pretty scary, but I really enjoyed it. Even to this day I still have friends that I went to boot camp with that I keep in contact with.”

Norte traveled to Okinawa and Thailand while in the service.

“I actually lived in town in Thailand,” Norte said. “I didn't live on base. I was an NCO at the time so I was able to stay off-base if I wanted to.”

Upon leaving the service Norte suffered an injury that kept him out of the workforce for two years.

He eventually recovered and began a career in television working in sports media.

“I was working in TV during the day and bringing stuff for Safeway at night,” Norte informed. “I would come home, sometimes over a weekend shift, or on a gig for the TV network, and Mary, my wife, was always scared.”

Norte provided, “I decided, we're out of here. My first choice was Florida, second was Texas, and I wanted to stay in sports media.”

“I had worked at Stanford University as a cameraman, so I was going to try and go to Florida State and work with the Seminoles,” he added. “Mary did not want to move to Florida, Florida was out.”

Mary wanted to go home and home was southeast Missouri.

“She wanted to connect with her relatives here,” Norte said. “I knew two people when I first got here, Matt Mobley and Tina Privett,”

Norte shared, “Keith and Robbin Mitchell were the first people I met when I finally got here. He showed me his museum and we visited for two hours.”

“The more I started learning about Kennett and the more he talked about it, I felt like I was home, as well,” said Norte. “I felt right at home.”

Mitchell then invited the new resident to join the local Rotary Club.

“I loved being part of Rotary,” he said.

Had Norte always been patriotic?

“No,” he replied. “My neighborhood was as far as my vision took in. Going into the Marine Corp I started seeing other things and meeting other people from different cultures.”

Norte stated, “I never wanted to get involved until I got here. I fell in love with this community.”

Norte informed he is in the process of buying a home in Kennett.

“Mary and I have decided this is where we're going to retire and this is where we'll die.”

The couple began to attend city council meetings.

“One thing I heard a lot was this town is dying,” Norte confided. “Well, I just got here. I'm not ready to hear that.”

Norte stressed, “There are things that can be done. I want to focus on the youth and bring the community back together.”

“Our future is the kids and our past is our elderly,” he added. “I believe if we guide these kids this town will stay alive because they'll want to be here.”

Norte is passionate about the area youth and is a CASA volunteer, as well as, working in the youth program at FCC Behavioral Health.

“My next door neighbor actually told me about CASA,” he said. “I was one of those kids. I went wrong for awhile. When I got the opportunity to volunteer, I did.”

As far as his relationship with the local youth through his employment and CASA, Norte said, “It's been the greatest experiences I've ever had.

“Watching these kids transform and morph in to an incredible human beings is amazing,” he added. “I show them the way and they kick the doors down and walk through them.”

Running for council is now a passion for Norte, as well.

“There are two types of men,” he stated. “There's a man who will stand out in the street and shake his fist at the sky, or it's the other one who is going to put his nose to the grindstone and get something done. That's me.”

Norte shared, “I have the passion for it. I want this town to succeed.”

Marine, CASA volunteer, FCC employee, Republic Party Delegate, Norte wears many hats, except for one.

“I'm not a politician,” he said. “I'm you. I'm exactly like you. I've gone paycheck to paycheck. I've gone without power or water. I am no better than you.”

“I want to be your voice,” he concluded. “I want to fight for you.”