Thomas J. Norton

Combat Veteran | Co-Founder, West Michigan Veterans Ranch | Former Village President

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Thomas J. Norton is a fifth-generation Michigander, Afghanistan veteran, and proven community leader from West Michigan. He combines military service, hands-on business experience, and local government results with a clear commitment to veterans and fiscal responsibility.

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Norton earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting and Economics from American InterContinental University. After college he enlisted in the U.S. Army National Guard and served with the 1-126 Cavalry. He deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, where he conducted scouting, reconnaissance, and security operations. He was honorably discharged in 2014 after more than six years of service and received the Afghanistan Campaign Medal along with other awards.

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Returning home, Norton recognized the gaps in support for many veterans. He co-founded the West Michigan Veterans Ranch, a spiritual retreat and support organization dedicated to helping local veterans reconnect, find purpose, and address challenges such as transition stress and suicide prevention. The ranch operates on the principle of “veterans helping veterans.”

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In public service, Norton was elected Village Trustee and then Village President of Sand Lake. As president he focused on practical results: he upgraded critical infrastructure (including roads and the drinking water system), secured government grants, and balanced the village budget without raising taxes. He turned the village’s finances and operations around through disciplined management and grant funding rather than higher local taxes.

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Professionally, Norton built and grew a telecommunications and installation business that expanded to more than 20 installers before he sold the company. He later served as a Commercial Sales Representative and District Sales Trainer, training sales teams and delivering results on a national scale.

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Norton currently serves as Chair of America Pact. He has also held leadership roles in conservative organizations, including past President of the Michigan Conservative Union, and remains active in veterans’ groups and his local church.

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A lifelong resident of the Rockford–Greenville–Sand Lake area, Norton brings a results-oriented approach shaped by military service, small-business ownership, and local elected office. His priorities center on supporting veterans, protecting taxpayers, strengthening infrastructure, and delivering accountable leadership for Michigan communities.