NORTON: Ward 2 councilman Donald Nicolard is encouraging voters to read and vote on local election issues before considering the more high-profile state issues on the Nov. 8 ballot.He has coined the phrase “Open Me First” for his initiative.“I feel it is vitally important that voters read local issues first because they are more likely to approve tax measures they come upon first,” Nicolard said. “Unfortunately, it is usually the state issues that are first in the election packet, and by the time a voter gets to the local issues, he is more apt to vote against them.”Norton voters must approve two tax renewals or the city would revert to leaving the fire station unmanned from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. every night to save money.“That is what we had to do until 2006,” city Administrator Richard Ryland said.The two levies, each for five years, are not increases, Nicolard said. One is for 2 mills to support the Norton EMS unit; the other is 2.6 mills to support the fire department.“ ‘Open Me First’ is not just about Norton,” Nicolard said. “It’s about all the local issues in cities and counties in this area. After all, local issues are more important, usually, than state or national issues to local residents.“We’re talking about police, fire, schools, roads and many other local issues, which will directly affect our residents,” he said.A town meeting to discuss city issues will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the downstairs meeting room of the new Norton fire station. All residents are encouraged to attend.