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MONDAY, JANUARY 28, 2002

How did Secretary of Interior Gale Norton do in her first year in public office? Not that bad, if you ask The Denver Post, which reviews the home-grown former attorney general's twelve months at the top.

Of course, there are some qualifications to be noted. Norton still hasn't found herself in the good graces of all the environmental groups who opposed her.

And no assessment of Norton would be completed without reference to the Indian trust debacle. Of this, she tells reporter Mike Soraghan: "That issue has occupied more of my time and more of my top managers' time in the last six months than any other issue."

Norton's statement might be an indication that, after months in office, she is actually living up to her pledge to make trust reform a top priority. But according to Soraghan, Norton then heaved an "uncharacteristic sigh of frustration."

And with the threat of contempt looming, Norton says she has no plans to step down from office. Or run for governor of Colorado.

Soraghan includes no opinions from tribal leaders about Norton's year. He also refers to the Indian trust as a litigation issue and doesn't mention the reorganization which Indian Country has unanimously opposed.

Get the Story:
Norton weathers stormy 1st year (The Denver Post 1/28)