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?

Sewer and storm drainage issues have certainly focused the spotlight on our Public Works Department, along with the ongoing road paving improvement projects. To fix the flooding, obviously we’ll need to precisely indentify the problems through engineering studies, then redesign, excavate and replace pipes. One way to save a lot of money is to pick the brains of the contractors who have done work for the city. They know the infrastructure as well as anybody and from my experiences are more than willing to share their knowledge.

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?

Be careful giving away city land and tax abatements when only presented with “conceptual” plans. It seems no one builds what they promise, they just come back before the various commissions and get permission to make changes and then sell the property at its new and higher value. It would be nice to see some recreational open space and cultural facilities shown in the plans.

3. The past budget cycle was contentious about funding for education. Do you philosophically support funding Norwalk’s education more or less - and why?

Just about every budget cycle gets somewhat contentious over education and sets the stage for the usual political grandstanding so this year was no different. A good education system is vital to keeping families wanting to stay in Norwalk and to retain our property values. We can only fund what the taxpayer can bear, after that we should expect to get the most bang for the buck. I think this forum had some impact on the process this year, the typical scare tactics didn’t work such as there wouldn’t be money for books or athletics. It doesn’t always have to be a battle, sometimes a thank you can go a long way towards encouraging job performance with both teachers and administrators.

4. What will you do to address quality of life issues such as crime, traffic, housing, etc.?

Public safety is the most important service that a government provides, so we must support our police and fire departments with the equipment, training and manpower required to protect us. Traffic and housing go hand in hand, if we keep jamming in more housing units it will make the traffic worse than it is now. The cycle continues with no place to play and the schools get overcrowded.

5. If elected, what would you do to reach out to the community?

I’m not that hard to find:)… Good representatives don’t just attend their scheduled meetings, they make an effort to learn about different groups and organizations and to talk to individuals to hear their concerns and exchange ideas. Some years ago I was fortunate when Mayor Frank Esposito and the Common Council appointed me to the Human Relations Commission. It was the perfect opportunity to help various groups understand one another.

6. The year is 2030 and aliens from outer space have just landed in Norwalk. How would they describe what they see?

Well we know they won’t land in District A because there won’t be any room. Where can we go ice skating?..Darien. Why does everybody just sit in their automobile on East Avenue? Some guy said they used to be able to eat the clams from behind the islands.