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Norwalk: Mayors Race Update


by turfgrrl


June 4th, 2007 · 168 Comments

Despite the comments posted, the only candidates who have filed to run as mayor of Norwalk are Dick Moccia as a Republican and Scott Merrill as an Independent party candidate. Other candidates who have officially filed with the Town Clerk’s office include:

Diana Palladino for Common Council in District A
Mike Geake for Common Council at large
Laurel Lindstrom for Common Council in Distirct C
Scott Merril for Sherrif

The rules according to Andy Garfunkel, Norwalk’s Town Clerk require that each candidate file with the Town Clerks office. Those filings are then sent to the Secretary of State. The Secretary has set a deadline of September 12th as the deadline for the Town Clerk filings if a candidate is a party designee. Without such designation, a petition needs to be submitted with at least 171 signatures, which represent about 1% of the registrants.

Currently the only parties that exist in Norwalk that can run candidates in this years municipal election, include the Democratic Party, the Republican Party and the Working Families Party. There are no records for the Communist or Anarchists party.

In terms of fundraising, there’s much talk of who has raised significant money, but until a candidate officially files, I can’t confirm anything. From what I’ve observed though, this will be a very expensive campaign, as it seems that money is easier to give to candidates than time. I wish it were the other way around.

Tags: In the News · Norwalk

168 Responses so far ↓ “Norwalk: Mayors Race Update”


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  • 1 moderate voter // Jun 4, 2007 at 6:11 pm

    Turf, if people believe in a candidate, the best thing they can do is speak to friends and let them know why this or that candidate is a good choice. Fundraisers are attended by those who can afford to help financially. For those who are not in that position, offer your help to your candidate of choice. Volunteers are hard to come by and are always welcome by the candidate. I have volunteered for many a campaign and the time spent with the candidate and their committee is very rewarding especially if they are right for the position.

  • 2 L'arlequino // Jun 4, 2007 at 6:11 pm

    Scott Merrill came by and knocked on my door the other day. A true thorn in the side of the status quo, that one. I signed the petition to get him on the ballot.

    I am sick of the pols that we’ve got running this town, the do-nothing Republicans and the eternally bickering Dems.

    Whether he gets elected is another story but it’s time for an alternative to business as usual.

  • 3 DEMO // Jun 4, 2007 at 7:23 pm

    The democratic field is wide open. This could be the year- the dems go deep to the bench. Do they decided to go younger or older? Only time will tell. The two names that are ruled out by the DTC -is Knopp and Coffey.

    If they dont pick soon- Moccia will run away will this election. What a shame? He is heading into his third fundraiser- word is he raised 75,000 K.

    The Republican team is praying Moccia has a big day- so he could sweep them into office.

    Knopp did this in 2001. Will Moccia in 2007?

  • 4 dem4life // Jun 4, 2007 at 7:39 pm

    The DTC is irrelevent. Many Dems, like me, are FED UP. Moccia won’t sweep, but Dems will lose at least 5 seats, and the 10-5 council will stand, but flipped to Republican control. This time, with no leverage. What a wasted opportunity. Thank you Alex Knopp for destroying any hope of Dmeocratic unity. I hope your’re happy.

  • 5 Anonymous // Jun 4, 2007 at 7:47 pm

    Does anyoine know who the candidates will be who are endorsed by their perspective parties/

  • 6 Live Free // Jun 4, 2007 at 8:25 pm

    I really hope that Walter Briggs runs.

  • 7 Anonymous // Jun 4, 2007 at 9:39 pm

    The word is -Walter Briggs has the votes for the Democratic nomination.

  • 8 anonymous // Jun 4, 2007 at 9:54 pm

    Who cares if Walter Briggs has the votes. Mike Coffey will handily beat Mr. Briggs when he runs.

  • 9 Anonymous // Jun 4, 2007 at 9:57 pm

    #7 you mean they are conceding that they have no one else. Big deal “has the votes”. Duh there is no one else so they will go to the wheel chair set…again. Well the cocktail set is going to try to run the city. Big Whoop!

  • 10 Anonymous // Jun 4, 2007 at 10:35 pm

    #9 I dont think it is a matter of having “no one else” Knopp deciding not to run- has the party leaders- thinking of new leadership.

    Mike Coffey had a real chance- however, he handed his power to Moccia. Now, the base is looking for raw meat and Coffey cannot deliver that.

    It looks like Briggs and Moccia will fight for the top spot.

  • 11 anonymous // Jun 4, 2007 at 10:57 pm

    Mike Coffey is the Dems best chance for Mayor. Unfortunately he has stood up to the party leaders and won.

    The Common Council has done many good things in the past two years under Coffey’s leadership. The dems stand their best chance with him running for mayor. He is only candidate who can unseat Moccia since he will also be able to run of the WFP line.

    It will be interesting to see if the democratic party will actually endorse Coffey for the fall campaign or if he will have to conduct a primary that he will definitely win.

  • 12 Anonymous // Jun 4, 2007 at 11:04 pm

    Moccia and Coffey have the same record. I am sorry- but the voters are not that dumb.

    WFP line will not go to Mike Coffey. The WFP will work with Galen and/or other dems- they are not interested in a bad relationship with the Norwalk Dems.

    They will endorsed Briggs or nobody at all.

  • 13 itsridiculous // Jun 4, 2007 at 11:05 pm

    I thought Mike Coffey was the REPUBLICAN’S best chance to win….just shows to go ya! I have to pay more attention at those Council meetings. LOL.
    Wouldn’t hurt for the R’s to get that much-anticipated website up and running. Then we neophytes could figure out who is who in the political arena!

  • 14 anonymous // Jun 4, 2007 at 11:34 pm

    Anon 12 what are you smoking. Coffey was the WFP only winning council candidate in 2005. If Coffey wants, he will be the WFP candidate in 2007.

    A bad relationship with the Norwalk dems, who cares ? All 5 of them are really irrelevant.

    Mr. Briggs wife has voted against three separate union contracts in the past several months. No union will be endorsing someone who does not support unions. The record speaks for itself. The Brigg’s are clearly anti-union.

    Coffey has a pro labor record and has written the city’s living wage ordinance. The labor leaders will be strongly in his corner this year, if he runs for Mayor.

  • 15 anonymous // Jun 4, 2007 at 11:42 pm

    I will be supporting Mike Coffey if he runs for mayor. He is one of the only politicians that stands up for the little guy. Eminent domain reform, ethics reform, living wages, project labor agreements, tax relief for seniors, and holding the line on taxes, he is the only democrat who stands up and is fighting for us middle class residents of the city. He has also continuously fought the part leaders and won at the state level when they disenfranchised residents of the city. The city needs more elected officials like him.

  • 16 Anonymous // Jun 4, 2007 at 11:47 pm

    I am sorry but the working family party is not interested in fighting with the Norwalk Democrats. The WFP only runs candidates in safe democratic or republican districts. They will not help Mike Coffey steer democratic votes away from Briggs- if they do that- the working family party will catch heat and their issues will be ignored.

    Sorry,Coffey supporters- Galen closed that down one a long time ago.

  • 17 Anonymous // Jun 5, 2007 at 7:10 am

    There’s much misinformation here. The WFP is not associated with the Democratic party. They run candidates when there is no candidate running that supports the rights of working people, including fair wages, workers rights and affordability issues. The Norwalk Democratic party has fought against the living wage contracts, fought against union contracts, fought against affordable housing, fought against responsible budgets, fought against lower property taxes, fought against ethics reforms, fought against holding schools accountable. The WFP will hold the Norwalk Dems accountable, and will not be supporting anti progressive candidates. Mike Coffey, for all you Dems who think he’s a Republican, has delivered on all the issues the WFP cares about. Voting records don’t lie. Turf, why don’t you put up a chart of who voted for what and put the sunshine on the Democratic weasels who vote against hard working middle class families. http://www.ct-workingfamilies.org/

  • 18 Anonymous // Jun 5, 2007 at 7:48 am

    Anon 17- Mike” the waterboy” Coffey is not going to run for mayor- he is only using this as a stunt to win his seat back.

    The members of district E are united against him- not one member is going to support him. On the DTC - he has a few supporters but not enough to get a nomination. Remember the 5 to 5 split ? Now - the waterboy and one other councilman are on their own. Go see if Moccia needs something to drink, waterboy.

  • 19 Anonymous // Jun 5, 2007 at 7:53 am

    Nice flip-flop on the Ethics Commission, Mike! Truly in character with your two-faced nature.

  • 20 anonymous // Jun 5, 2007 at 8:03 am

    Anon 18

    Please explain why Gwenn Briggs, Matt Miklave, Kevin Poruban and Bill Krummell have voted against three AFSCME contracts in the past two months. ?

    Please explain why Matt Miklave is opposed to the union police contract that will be voted on at the next meeting ?

    Please explains why Poruban, Briggs, Miklave and Poruban will be voting against the revisions to the ethics code ?

    Please explain why Bruce Kimmel left the party ?

    Please explain why Miklave, Poruban, Briggs, Krummell and Sutton all voted against a responsible budget and instead wanted to raise the residents taxes 7 percent ?

    Please explain why Miklave was against a living wage ordinance ?

    Please explain alot of these crazy things that Galen Wells and her “Stepford Councilmembers” do to the detriment of the residents. I am waiting to her a rational response.

  • 21 anonymous // Jun 5, 2007 at 8:10 am

    Anon 18

    The District Committee’s are wholly irrelevant. All 3 people that show up who are controlled by Wells and her husband really represent the residents of this city.

    Anon 16

    The WFP ran a mayoral candidate last time that scored 200 votes. That would have been enough to secure a Knopp victory. They were not interested in Knopp since he did not support a single progressive initiative. I do not think they are part of Galen Well’s little click.

  • 22 Anonymous // Jun 5, 2007 at 8:12 am

    The waterboy made a few mistakes- he forgot his base. You could do a lot of good things but if you holding a cup for the current mayor- you are not going to win anything.

    He could have been Mayor but he sold out!

  • 23 Anonymous // Jun 5, 2007 at 8:18 am

    Knopp turned that line down- it was a dump thing to do- but hey, hindsight is 20/20.

    Sorry the WFP is not going to be used as a arm of the GOP. Mike is boxed in like a trapped rat.

  • 24 Anonymous // Jun 5, 2007 at 8:19 am

    How did Coffey sell out? I came here looking for information.

  • 25 anonymous // Jun 5, 2007 at 8:23 am

    Coffey forgot his base ? You are crazy. He has held the line on taxes, pushed for eminent domain reform, pushed for ethics reform, pushed for living wages, pushed for the creation of the minority set aside committee, pushed for project labor agreements, pushed for bipartisanship, and for many other positive things.

    The only thing he did not do was sell out to Galen Wells and her cronies.

  • 26 Anonymous // Jun 5, 2007 at 8:25 am

    Thank you Number 25 for responding. But there must be some things that others view as being part of some “sell out”? I am eager to see both sides of this issue.

  • 27 Anonymous // Jun 5, 2007 at 8:29 am

    Coffey started pressing Moccia suits and voting with the GOP 92 percent of the time.

    No democratic member of the council suppports him except the Jazz for hire man.

    He had a real chance and he gave it to Moccia to be mayor for a day. Very sad.

  • 28 Anybody but Morris // Jun 5, 2007 at 8:31 am

    Many Democrats think Mr. Moccia is doing a fine job as mayor. The real bad guy in our government is Sal Corda. And he’s not elected. But the BOE are. And frankly, its an embarrassment to be a Democrat and watch people you worked hard to elect act like nincompoops.

  • 29 Anonymous // Jun 5, 2007 at 8:32 am

    I didn’t know track suits needed pressing…

  • 30 Anonymous // Jun 5, 2007 at 8:32 am

    Please point to what votes Coffey made that are GOP votes. 92%? You must have a chart. That would be helpful.

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