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Let the campaign begin Norwalk Town Clerk Andy Garfunkel is announcing Tuesday night that he will be the next Democratic mayoral candidate in Norwalk.
The lifelong Norwalk resident says he believes that Norwalk is at a critical juncture and he is determined to be a strong voice in the city's future. "Our schools are struggling, our growth is stagnant and some of our neighborhoods are unsafe. Norwalk's future is limitless, but we must demand that we do better and that starts with our leaders," Garfunkel said in a statement. "I'll be a tireless, proactive voice for all of Norwalk, and I will settle for nothing less than maximizing our great potential."
[breakhere] The news conference is at 7 p.m. Tuesday. The Democratic Party intends to "put forth leaders and candidates that believe it is time that we demand better," said Marc Bradley, committee chairman.
Bradley has already begun attacking the administration of Mayor Richard Moccia. "As the budget process has progressed over the past few weeks, more and more Norwalkers have been reaching out to the Norwalk Democratic Party expressing their feedback and disappointment in the city's direction," he said.
"People are fed up. They don't want to hear about 'horrendous' economic times. They want to hear about solutions. They want to hear what the plan is to move Norwalk forward. That is why you see them coming out in droves to stabilize our schools and support our communities.
"Why is it that every year we are scrambling to find ways to do more with less? This administration has had five years to offer some sort of plan a vision. Well, 'Responsive Government' as this administration has campaigned isn't a plan, it's an excuse to be reactive.
"Norwalk's Grand List has eroded dangerously under the Moccia administration. The mayor's inability to attract and retain business in our city has led directly to increased taxes and reduced services no more evident than in the massive cuts he is asking our public schools to manage or the inability of the DPW to effectively mitigate the season's snow storms due to major reduction in staff."
Garfunkel is serving his fifth term as town clerk. He is also a past candidate for Connecticut Secretary of the State. Before being elected town clerk, Garfunkel was a small business owner specializing in home improvement. He resides in the Spring Hill section of Norwalk and has two sons, Justin, 24, and Steven, 20.
Do you think the Moccia administration is doing a good job? Or are you ready for a change?
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