YourCT.com header image 2
← Norwalk: Bruce Kimmel Leaves Democratic Party Norwalk: Alvord Says $10 million Needed For Pipe Cleaning →

Norwalk: District C Candidates Spar Over Neighborhood Groups


by turfgrrl


May 23rd, 2007 · 114 Comments

Not much to say here except that if any of these people got elected then that would be the time to resign from any associations that would create the appearance of conflict. But since people run from will remaining on city boards and commissions all the time, why make this any different?

Park, upon announcing his candidacy early last week, said he would remain on the association’s board of directors if elected to the council. He since has reconsidered.

“Although I … would enjoy continuing as the chairman of (its speeding and traffic) committee, I recognize that my involvement in ENNA (gives) the perception that I may be using it as a platform for my candidacy for the Common Council,” wrote Park in a letter to the editor. Therefore “I will step down from the board,”
“To avoid this same perception, I have asked that the board review Laurel’s position as President of the ENNA to determine if there is a conflict, especially under statute 501-c-3 regarding political involvement of a non-profit organization that is supposed to be non-partisan,” Park continued.

Lindstrom said Park resigned from the board Sunday.

She rejected his characterization of her decision to remain involved with the neighborhood association as a conflict of interest. She considers his request for her to step down as president of the association premature.

“They’re really just trying to taint the voter, right from the beginning. I haven’t even been nominated yet and here they are already trying to annihilate me with so many cheap shots that aren’t true. I have a great deal of integrity and care about this neighborhood,” said Lindstrom, who announced her candidacy in March. Remaining involved with the ENNA “shouldn’t even be an issue. As long as you keep your campaigning separate from the business of the ENNA, there is absolutely no conflict of interest regarding the 501(c)3.”

Upon announcing their candidacies, both Park and Lindstrom pointed to their involvement in the neighborhood association. Both have worked to curb speeding in East Norwalk.

source:, The Hour, Clash on roles heats up Council seat contest, by Robert Koch, May 23, 2007

Tags: In the News · Norwalk

114 Responses so far ↓ “Norwalk: District C Candidates Spar Over Neighborhood Groups”


Pages: [1] 2 3 4 » Show All



  • 1 Anonymous // May 23, 2007 at 8:29 am

    OK, David. NOW you can trash Laurel. This thread’s the appropriate spot.

  • 2 anonymous // May 23, 2007 at 9:03 am

    It seems perfectly appropriate to use involvement in a civic group as a platform for running for office. I agree with Turfie that if elected the candidate should step down but what else do we have to judge a candidate during the campaign season other than their words and actions?

  • 3 Anonymous // May 23, 2007 at 9:15 am

    #2. I agree. Besides, how many other Common Council members hold positions or are involved in civic organizations? Half the Common Council would have to resign their positions in the Sons of Italy if that rule were to be applied to everyone who wants to hold a civic office.

  • 4 Michael Radcliff // May 23, 2007 at 9:44 am

    Talk about conflict of interest correct me if I am wrong but is there not a man who is not only on the voting council, but at the same time runs a business that is SELLING CONCERTS to the city of Norwalk?

  • 5 Michael Radcliff // May 23, 2007 at 9:53 am

    David Parks, formally known as “What’s his name.” Is this a real man or just a fictitious character thought up by the Republican party in a pitiful effort to get another Republican on the common council in District C?

    Does Mr. Parks write his is own material?
    Does he have any original thoughts of his own?
    Does he read from a script?

    Inquiring minds want to know.

  • 6 Anonymous // May 23, 2007 at 10:09 am

    #3 is missing the point. An organization that lobbies the city in favor of their neighborhood is different from a social club. Some folks, like Mayor Knopp, asked council members and appointees to land use boards to resign from organizations like the West Norwalk Association and ENNA in order to avoid conflicts in execution of their duties.
    Some chose to resign, some did not and were not appointed. I think that is a reasonable request, but only after being elected.

  • 7 Anonymous // May 23, 2007 at 10:09 am

    Given how he is starting the campaign, he’s probably a creation of “Artie the Scab” Scialabba, despite the mayor’s stated desire to keep the election clean this year. Smells like the same ordure the Repugnicants were dishing out in the last elections.

  • 8 Anonymous // May 23, 2007 at 12:11 pm

    Lindstrom has higher name recognition than Park, which probably accounts for his efforts to discredit her. If he can make enough of a mountain out of a molehill, he gets his name in the media more often.

  • 9 Nemesis // May 23, 2007 at 1:59 pm

    I always find it interesting when the vested political interests start ganging up on an outsider as is the case with Laurel Lindstrom. David Parks in the Hour implies that he is the mover and shaker at the ENNA not Laurel who founded the organization. Here’s an example of his positive input: When the ENNA took a vote on the commercialization of Vet’s Park, Mr. Parks( a misnomer if there ever was one)was the only one to vote for the Golf project. Later when he realized that this was a hot potato, HE CHANGED HIS VOTE and ABSTAINED. This guy is clearly a shill and stalking horse for the powers that be i.e. the Bondi Clique.

    Nemesis

  • 10 Michael Radcliff // May 23, 2007 at 7:02 pm

    The old saying that “Actions speak louder than words” is something that seems to have been lost in Mr Park’s case. He is 95% words and 5% action.

    I am not so sure about that 5% right now myself

  • 11 anonymous // May 23, 2007 at 7:22 pm

    David Park has some nerve questioning whether Laurel Lindstrom should be on the ENNA. He may desire a political career but knocking one of the few people who actually has done something to better Norwalk is bad politics. He’s not running against her but should be running for himself.

  • 12 outraged east norwalk resident // May 23, 2007 at 9:18 pm

    Laurel Lindstrom has a conflict of interest and should leave the board. Period. End of discussion. She is casting the appearance of an impropriety and conflict of interest and should remove it, by at a minimum, taking a leave of absence during the campaign season.. That is until she loses to Mr. Parks when she can then take her seat again. She should stop using her position in a civic association for her own personal gain. That is just plain wrong.

  • 13 itsridiculous // May 23, 2007 at 9:33 pm

    Why all the Park/Lindstrom bashing? Bondi, Poruban, Romano and Kydes can lay claim to what accomplishments? If the race is heating up already, then let’s get ssues on the table, and let the incumbents defend their records: not what they PLAN to do, rather what they HAVE done the past 2 years. And challengers, if you plan to address what the incumbents have or have not done, please explain what you would have done differently and what your own plans for the future of this city are. This district needs leaders, not political puppets, so let’s see some innovative and independent ideas out there.Thanks very much.

  • 14 Anonymous // May 23, 2007 at 10:26 pm

    I would say that some of the incumbents have alot of accomplishments to boast about. Apparently itsridiculous doesn’t seem to think so. so it looks like he/she will be voting for a whole new cast of characters.

  • 15 itsridiculous // May 23, 2007 at 11:00 pm

    Anon #14- Do tell. If you know of any accomplishments, spill the beans. Asking the question doesn’t doubt the existence. I’d just like some hard facts on the blog once in a while.

  • 16 Anonymous // May 23, 2007 at 11:19 pm

    itsridiculous -Why don’t you start by telling what you think their accomplishments or lack there of have been and perhaps others will chime in.

  • 17 Disgusted non-partisan voter // May 23, 2007 at 11:57 pm

    I am not certain whether to blame The Hour or Laurel Lindstrom. Regardless of which bears the blame, the facts are clear and simple.

    And Laurel Lindstrom’s assertions that she “hasn’t even been nominated yet” are ridiculous. Laurel Lindstom has announced her intent to run numerous times, and DTC executives have stated that will endorse her. She has made it quite clear that she is a “candidate”. She can’t suddenly try to act the part of the doe-eyed innocent. Laurel Lindstrom used (and The Hour allowed her to use) a column in the paper which is intended as a means for ordinary citizens to discuss local topics, as a means to further her campaign. She did not discuss any topic whatsoever, she used the column solely to state her own accomplishments and further her candidacy. She used it as a political “ad”.

    There are strict laws which mandate that ANY column, advertisement, or media of any kind (even a political cartoon) used by a candidate or his/her party is required to state on its face that it is meant as a political ad. She went way over the top in what she did. I presume that The Hour only gave David Park a responsive column because it realized it had allowed her to violate state law and had to “compensate” him.

    I am disgusted with both parties at this point. The town committees both write letters to the editor of The Hour and ask committe members to sign them. Kimmel used to have his wife write in regularly under her maiden name (Kay Anderson) all the time. And I could go on and on.

    So as far as I am concerned Laurel should just “suck it up”. She’s not being “picked on” She earned this one.

  • 18 outraged east norwalk resident // May 24, 2007 at 7:20 am

    Have you ever met Laurel Lindstrom. She is strange. Maybe if elected she will recommend more speed bumps as a traffic calming measure.

  • 19 high road // May 24, 2007 at 7:35 am

    I have never seen Laurel act without getting the facts first — no matter what the issue. She has a balanced aproach and deep knowledge of how the various city departments work gained over years of working on issues to try to make life a bit better in this city. David Park has learned a lot in his time on the ENNA board but has nowhere near the depth of knowledge that Laurel has. I guess he has to resort to slamming her to cover up for his own lack of positive accomplishments.

  • 20 Anonymous // May 24, 2007 at 8:03 am

    #17 - If you were to apply your criteria impartially, then Joanne Romano couldn’t publicize her Memorial Day “Operation Adopt-A-Platoon” nor could The Dick appear in those CL&P ads. Both parties are benefiting from the exposure. Same goes every time one of them is published in “Another View.”

    Oh, yeah, speaking of ethics: Moccia allowed Romano (and another candidate for state office, Rick McQuaid, I believe) to use the City of Norwalk letterhead in her campaign mailings when she was running against Chris Perone last fall.

    Your argument smells of partisanship. Get over it, or painting all the parties with your broad brush.

  • 21 Anonymous // May 24, 2007 at 8:04 am

    #16 - Lame attempt to punt. If you’re going to make accusations, bring some goods to the table.

  • 22 high road // May 24, 2007 at 8:23 am

    #18 — I don’t think “strange” eliminates one from being on the Common Council. Have you ever met Nick Kydes? Or listened to him. Talk about “strange”.

  • 23 Anonymous // May 24, 2007 at 8:33 am

    Hmm. Kydes. Isn’t he the one who was sitting next to Chris Handrinos, owner of the Norwalk Inn, at the Historical Commission’s public hearing last fall? He scurried away pretty quickly once Handrinos started ranting and raging, though.

    Kydes also wrote a rebuttal letter (can you say ghost write, #17?) to the Editor excoriating someone who had dared write in to suggest that as an immigrant, Handrinos had a lot of gall to try to demolish a symbol of American patriotism and history.

    Kydes even attacked the non-profit historical organization to which the offending writer was a member, indignantly suggesting that all City funds be withdrawn from supporting that organization.

    A piece of work, that one.

  • 24 David Park // May 24, 2007 at 12:31 pm

    In Response:
    I became involved with local politics in 1995. First with the Third Taxing District Commissioners in East Norwalk then with both the Mayoral and Common Council elections.
    I’ve been writing letters for many years on many topics to many newspapers..
    I have always supported and defended Lindstrom over the past two years.
    As far as Vets Park is concerned, I thought that it be best that the ENNA not take a position for two reasons: The public in general had not seen a presentation (as I have with Rec.& Parks) and since both of us were running for Common Council the topic had become too political for a non-partisan organization. Those are my beliefs and I stand by them no matter how anybody twists my words. I signed a petition oppossing the “commercialization” of Vets Park that originated from Art Santella.
    My integrity remains intact and I have learned to take a position and stand by it.
    No fear is signing my name:

  • 25 Frontpage stunts must stop // May 24, 2007 at 12:51 pm

    David Park is a political hack! Attacking Laurel is a sign that you sir are a dirty campaigner. Debate the issues and keep it clean!

  • 26 anonymous // May 24, 2007 at 1:28 pm

    Glad you are here David. More open dialog instead of anonymous criticism is good.

  • 27 AnyOneIsBetterThanPoruban // May 24, 2007 at 3:00 pm

    Both Lindstrom and Parks would be better than Poruban. KP has done nothing, zero, nada for the district or the city. He likes to talk, brag, attack and come up with conspiracy theories. No results after all these years. No wonder he came in fourth out of four candidates last time.

  • 28 Katherine W. // May 24, 2007 at 3:08 pm

    I believe that it is a conflict of interest for Ms. Lindstrom to still preside as President of the neighborhood group. IT enables her to wear two hats and that just simply does not seem fair in the game of politics. Also, it allows for residents to become involved in political bickering regarding issues come campaign time. I think that Dianna Paladino and Kelly Straniti had it right when they both stepped down as chair of their groups. It is not good to mix politics with non partisan issues… Lindstrom needs to recognize this and step down or I think that it will hurt her in the end.

  • 29 East Ave // May 24, 2007 at 5:34 pm

    Kevin who? I know who all the rest are but I couldn’t identify Kevin if he were in a lineup. Thanks to all of you who decided to run, even those who come in last.

  • 30 Joanne // May 24, 2007 at 6:21 pm

    To #17-First of all, I have been collecting for the troops for way longer than I have been an elected official. I started this in 2003 and intend to continue until the soldiers come home from Iraq and Afganistan, whether or not I get re-elected.

    If you feel I am not effective and not doing my job as a council person please by all means don’t vote for me. But don’t use my fundraising for what I believe is a worthwhile cause to attack me in a political manner.
    I do not do this for accolades and a pat on the back, I do it because I truly believe in what I am doing and I support our troops.

    Second, I never used City Hall Staionary for any campaign. I designed my own letter head, had it printed by The Bishop group in stamford and it was paid for through campaign contributions. Please get your facts staright before you accuse me of wrong doings. Here is what it said!

    Romano*2006
    BALANCED & RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT
    Your Voice In Hartford

Pages: [1] 2 3 4 » Show All