Well, at the very least, let me say that I fully agree with the Tribune Editorial Board’s position that as city manager, I should be held to a higher standard of conduct and fiscal responsibility.

I also agree that this controversy isn’t healthy for the city — or for the city staff I’m leading. We have good people working for this city. They deserve good leadership that empowers them to do their best work on behalf of taxpayers.

Finally, I apologize to the Editorial Board for not taking the time to discuss the accusations that have been made about the period during my move to Albert Lea. (It’s been hectic these past couple of months.) I highly value a good community newspaper — and the Albert Lea Tribune is a credit to the community in a time where many papers are cutting staff to the point that they’re no longer the watchdogs they’re supposed to be.

Had we taken the time to discuss this matter, my guess is that your remarks might have been at least tempered somewhat by your familiarity with my character and my past record as a strong, honest manager. (At the very least, I might have received a phone call.)

But I hold no grudge for the Tribune Editorial Board attempting to call it as it sees it. That’s your job, and I respect it.

What I would request is a chance.

Over the next few weeks, I would request that our community debate over my integrity — and my future — be based truly on the facts and that honest, thoughtful conclusions are based from those facts.

Not to belabor the obvious, but I had a written agreement with the city to use the city’s credit card, in addition the city agreed to aid in my moving expenses. Further, I was to receive an additional housing supplement. It is true I made a mistake on at least one expenditure on the city’s card as this was a hectic transition. When pointed out, I immediately paid back all the money charged on the card — and I did so even before the city paid any money to cover it.

It was a small mistake, but the mistake was mine. For that, I’m deeply sorry at the pain and embarrassment this has caused our community and my family.

How this has evolved into a police investigation is as difficult for me to fathom as it is hurtful and humiliating. But I thank the editors for acknowledging that I should have my day in court. While the charges are serious, and I take them seriously, I have great faith in our courts and I simply can’t envision a scenario in which the facts add up to any sort of dishonest intention or action.

But the real issue here, as you editorialized, is my ability to thoughtfully manage our city staff and help our council and mayor enact their visions for the future of Albert Lea. l truly believe I can.

I have a long history of strong economic development success. I have a strong history of reform, restructuring services to improve them while reducing costs to taxpayers. Most importantly, I share a vision for the future with the council and the mayor.

If exonerated legally — and more importantly in the hearts of this city — I look forward to working with our city staff, especially our city finance director. We need a careful set of eyes watching how our money is spent. (She was doing her job!) She is the responsible representative of a lot of city employees who work hard to deliver dedicated services at reasonable cost to taxpayers.

If the facts prevail, I would like the chance to restore that trust with the Tribune staff as well. The Tribune is the city’s voice and its forum for community conversation — and our city government should always be part of that conversation. (It isn’t much of a conversation if we’re not talking to each other!)

Most importantly, if the facts prevail, I look forward to proving to our city leaders and the people of Albert Lea who elected them that the trust they showed in hiring me was justified — and that I am the manager and co-leader you hired to help move Albert Lea into the future.

Jim Norman is the city manager of Albert Lea.

Editor’s note:
The Albert Lea Tribune Editorial Board printed an editorial on Wednesday calling for Jim Norman to resign as city manager of Albert Lea or for the City Council to fire him, noting that a city manager is held to a high standard that disallows even facing felony charges. This column is Norman’s response to that editorial.
Also, the Tribune indeed did contact Norman for a story when the charges came out.