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Norwalk: Council Debate Today!


by turfgrrl


October 28th, 2007 · 18 Comments

Today at Mill Hill there will be a debate featuring common council candidates. The format and questions have been sent to all candidates and posted here.
Come on down and hear the answers to:

1. This year’s flooding problems showed that infrastructure should be more of a priority in Norwalk’s spending. Where do you think we should be spending our money?
2. We have several different redevelopment projects planned for the urban corridor. What will you do to ensure that the developers work together so the end result will benefit the city?
3. The past budget cycle was contentious about funding for education. Do you philosophically support funding Norwalk’s education more or less - and why?
4. What will you do to address quality of life issues such as crime, traffic, housing, etc.?
5. If elected, what would you do to reach out to the community?
6. The year is 2030 and aliens from outer space have just landed in Norwalk. How would they describe what they see?

Tags: In the News · Norwalk

18 Responses so far ↓ “Norwalk: Council Debate Today!”



  • 1 Anonymous // Oct 28, 2007 at 9:22 am

    How about one more: 7. Why is the GOP so afraid of participating in this debate?

  • 2 MGeake // Oct 28, 2007 at 9:57 am

    So there is no misunderstanding, if this debate happens, I will be there.

    Who sponsors a forum is immaterial. What is important is being accessible to the voters.

  • 3 Mr Greenpeace // Oct 28, 2007 at 11:18 am

    I have to admit and like I said the other night your there for the residents politics or not MGeake.News sell papers elections sells lawn signs some voters even sell their vote while the rest of us try and address the issues. Suks being concerned doesn’t it?

  • 4 Mike Coffey // Oct 28, 2007 at 11:21 am

    I applaud the sponsors of the debate for having an open forum where issues can be discussed. It is an important part of the process. Thank you and good luck !

  • 5 Bruce Kimmel // Oct 28, 2007 at 11:22 am

    The more discussion the better. Who sponsors a debate and the types of questions are not significant issues. If a question is deemed overly partisan, irrelevant or even stupid, the candidate should say so and handle the situation appropriately.
    We need more free-wheeling, wide-open, give-and-take among elected officials and candidates, and between them and the general public. The more the better. Bruce Kimmel

  • 6 Just Curious // Oct 28, 2007 at 5:04 pm

    So, did anyone make it to the debate today? I was unable to attend, but I’m so curious to know how it went.

  • 7 Anonymous // Oct 28, 2007 at 6:05 pm

    I heard from someone who attended. Republicans and Democrats showed and the debate was run professionally. I hope those that were there add detail.

  • 8 MGeake // Oct 28, 2007 at 6:25 pm

    Democrats: me, Carvin Hilliard, Laurel Lindstrom, Gail Wall, and Steve Serasis

    Republicans: Doug Hempstead, Rich McQuaid, and John Tobin

    All six questions, plus some from the audience.

    No complaints from me as to how it was run &mdash a glitch or two, but all in all it ran very smoothly.

  • 9 Mary Pugh // Oct 28, 2007 at 6:56 pm

    I was very impressed by the candidates- and by the level of dialog and comradeship between the candidates….all facing tough issues and working sincerely on solutions.

    congrats on a well run debate…and it was very nice of Maribeth and Jackie to also give kudos to Diane Lauricella’s contributions (even though she eventually bowed out, apparently her suggestions of fewer questions, how to do the timing and moderation suggestions were well taken and useful to the novice debate organizers.

    Let’s make this an annual event!

    Mary

  • 10 Anonymous // Oct 28, 2007 at 8:36 pm

    Can candidates still submit answers?

  • 11 Watchdog // Oct 28, 2007 at 8:47 pm

    Kudos to Jackie and Marybeth for giving the public yet another chance to meet the candidates and hear them respond to questions about important issues facing our city. The format was more than fair, with excellent questions and the opportunity for rebuttal. Overall, it was refreshing to observe several council candidates transcend party line and exhibit a sense of unity on relevant issues and to openly acknowledge a common focus and shared vision for Norwalk. This outward display of camaraderie, as Mary Pugh so aptly describes it, along with the tell-tale signs of mutual respect, support, and light-hearted humor, is exactly what is needed to work together effectively to get things done.

    Again, wonderful forum, Turfie!

  • 12 anonymous // Oct 28, 2007 at 9:43 pm

    We should hear the excuses from the other candidates about why they did not participate. Maybe we should only vote for those that did participate.

  • 13 turfgrrl // Oct 28, 2007 at 10:25 pm

    Anonymous 10: Yes, candidates can still submit their answers to the questions.

  • 14 anonymous // Oct 29, 2007 at 8:11 am

    The Republicans and Dems who stayed away because of the top of the ticket or their party leaders did a diservice to the residents. Rumor has it that Wells and Konspore read this site, so don’t be cowards, come out of the darkness and explain why you were chickens about this ? Have the guts to post why under your own names. We know that wells frequently calls her dems and tells them to stay off the site and not to write anything, that is one of the worst kept secrets in town.

  • 15 MGeake // Oct 29, 2007 at 8:19 am

    Galen Wells has never once asked me to stay off this site, and I post under my own name.

    Nobody asked me not to participate in the debate; that was left as a personal choice for the candidates. I do know for sure that some of the other Democrats had already scheduled conflicting events — fundraisers, a wedding aniversary (lack of prior planning when that wedding date was set all those decades ago :o), … — but I didn’t poll everybody to find out where they were.

  • 16 Anonymous // Oct 29, 2007 at 8:22 am

    Galen’s worst nightmare will be if you win Mike. For that reason alone I’m voting for you, and encourage others to consider voting for you.

  • 17 Let's be fair // Oct 29, 2007 at 8:41 am

    Your Right Mike, many of the other candidates had prior engagements yesterday. It’s hard enough to have a life when you are a candidate. People don’t realize they have families too. With all the campaigning, fund rasiers, many meetings, etc., the candidates plan in advance so they can squeeze in family time. Especially in the last week weeks before the election, time is so precious. Please don’t assume candidates stood away on purpose if you don’t know the facts. Fro example, I know Kelly Straniti had her son’s birthday party, which had already been moved before, yesterday afternoon. Others I know had anniversaries, weddings, etc. on BOTH sides of the aisle. I’ll sign this post…

  • 18 just a tip // Oct 29, 2007 at 9:01 am

    For thos of you who woke up this weekend and found your front lawns were bare of political signs(some may be relieved) just look to your local high school scavenger hunt and you will find out what happended. You can call the candidates or call the party chairs in order to reclaim your signs. While I think these scavenger hunts are fun and the kids have a great time, I hope they refrain from putting political signs on their lists next time. The signs are expensive and they are a way for all candidates to let us know who is running. Yes, they clutter some areas more than others but then you have to realize that some areas of town are heavily populated with Dems and others with GOP so you will most definately find more of one party in some areas. Then there are those who don’t understand that public property and political signs don’t mix. I have seen way too many signs on public property and hope DPW will be taking them down. So, before you call the sign police check with the candidate or the party chair and your signs will be replaced if you so choose.

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