NORWALK, Conn. — The city’s 2025 mayoral race has intensified as candidates Barbara Smyth and Vinny Scicchitano traded sharp criticisms in recent letters to the editor published by NancyOnNorwalk.
Scicchitano, the Republican candidate, accused Smyth of sending a campaign mailer with “divisive messaging” that featured his image. He called the postcard “irresponsible” and said it endangered him and his family.
“As a resident, a dad, a husband, and son, placing my image in what’s being marketed as a pool of divisiveness is not only disheartening—it is incredibly unsafe for my wellbeing and my families,” Scicchitano wrote. “Norwalk deserves leadership grounded in respect, compassion, and progress—not in inciting hate.”
Smyth, the Democratic candidate, defended the flyer, saying it was intended to highlight what she described as Scicchitano’s support for President Donald Trump.
“The graphic on the mailer was meant to remind Norwalk residents of his longstanding and well-known support of Donald Trump, the most divisive, hate-inciting president our country has ever seen,” Smyth wrote. “This is not just some abstract political stance. These are real attacks on real people right here in Norwalk.”
Smyth pointed to federal policies on immigration enforcement, Medicaid, SNAP benefits, and public education, arguing that national politics have direct effects on local communities. She said she has “personally seen the shocking posts [Scicchitano] has scrubbed from his social media” and alleged he displayed pro-Trump materials in his business office.
Scicchitano pushed back, saying his focus is not on national politics but on Norwalk itself. “Just because I am a Republican does not mean I align with every national figure or agenda,” he wrote. “Leadership isn’t about party politics; it’s about people.”
The exchange underscores the growing role of national politics in local races, with both candidates framing the issue as central to leadership in Norwalk. Smyth said she will continue to stand against Trump and advocate for vulnerable communities, while Scicchitano emphasized unity and local problem-solving.
Both candidates’ full statements are available on NancyOnNorwalk’s website.
Editor’s note: A previous version of this article referred to Donald Trump as “former President Trump.” The phrasing was a slip of habit; after four years of writing it that way during President Biden’s term, it’s proven hard to break.
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