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Norwalk's latest political season is off to an interesting start: Rick McQuaid now wants Andy Garfunkel's job. McQuaid, a member of the Common Council for 18 years, plans to run for town clerk. Garfunkel, town clerk for 10 years, formally announced Saturday that he is running for mayor.
"It got out there a little quicker than expected, but it's there and ready to go," said McQuaid.
He met with his treasurer and friend for 43 years, Brian Smith, on Monday afternoon to sign the paperwork opening up an exploratory committee for the campaign. It's the first step in running for town clerk.
McQuaid, a Republican, may face competition when the GOP meets for its convention in July. "Hopefully that won't happen," he said. "Hopefully I can move right in. But we're going to hit the ground running today and start my campaign for town clerk."
Garfunkel risks not having a job next year, because he won't be town clerk anymore whether or not he defeats Mayor Richard Moccia. McQuaid doesn't have that problem. But if he wins, he won't be the interventions specialist at Naramake Elementary School anymore.
He's been at the school for about 12 years. "I'm very happy at Naramake School," McQuaid said. "It's going to be tough to make a change. But I think at this time in my life I'll have three kids in college, I'll still have the two little ones at home but I think it's time to do something different."
McQuaid's position at Naramake may be cut because of the tight school budget this year, but that has nothing to do with his decision to run for town clerk, he said. "The position may be cut, but I have enough years with the Board of Ed to go somewhere else in the system."
McQuaid says that becoming town clerk would be the next step in his career as a public servant. "A council person, it's a job. But you're not involved with the day-to-day operations of the city as much as we are as a town clerk," he said. "I want to stay in Norwalk and serve the people of Norwalk. It's a job in City Hall, I'll be dealing with people every single day. It's something I enjoy, something I always wanted to do."
McQuaid became president of the Common Council this year. As town clerk, he would oversee a staff of about 10 people; he also supervises people at Naramake. He's run for other offices before. "Down the road, you don't know," McQuaid said. "I've run for state rep a couple of times before. You never know what's coming up. And Andy moving up to run for mayor, it's an opportunity for me to go."
Do you think Rick McQuaid might be right for the job of town clerk?
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