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Petrini says ‘no’ to mayoral run, will do ‘what’s good for Norwalk’

January 31, 2015
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Nancy Guenther Chapman
Norwalk Common Council President Jerry Petrini (R-District D)
Norwalk Common Council President Jerry Petrini (R-District D), left, and Mayor Harry Rilling consider the Board of Education proposed operating budget Wednesday in City Hall.

NORWALK, Conn. – Republican Councilman Jerry Petrini will not be challenging to Democratic Mayor Harry Rilling this fall.

“After much consideration he is declining the offer but he’s keeping his options open for the future,” Norwalk Republican Town Committee Chairman Pete Torrano said.

Petrini, who was recently elected Common Council president, said the community support he received from the recent NancyOnNorwalk story about his possible candidacy was very touching, but cited his family and his desire to the right thing for Norwalk in his decision not to run for mayor.

“Quite honestly there are so many things that are going to be coming down to the Council that I think I can really better serve the city (as Council president) as opposed to having the mayor looking over his shoulder,” Petrini said. “… I want to put it all to rest. Whatever I do as the Council president, it’s going to be for the benefit of the city, nothing with any political needs.”

The Council has the mall issue to deal with, and “hopefully the rebirth of Wall Street,” in addition to the normal cycle of intense budget discussions, Petrini said. “I think I can do more for the city in the capacity I am in right now than I would be as a candidate for mayor,” he said, explaining that it would be “very dicey” trying to get those things done while opposing Rilling.

“Looking at it from what the undertaking would be, I have to tell you, I’m going to be 60 years old in April, I’ve got a great family, I’ve got a loving wife of almost 33 years, I don’t want to change that at this point,” Petrini said. “I’m out an awful lot, but I think to be the mayor would really change things around. Quite honestly, I’m not ready for that step.”

In addition, there’s his business. “I’ve got some exciting things we might be doing down at My Three Sons. I’m contemplating doing something really huge. That’s all playing into it, too,” Petrini said.

Petrini said he hasn’t even made up his mind if he’s going to run for the Council again.

“We’re waiting to see what is going to happen with that, but I anticipate him running,” Torrano said.

As for a mayoral candidate, Torrano said, “We are going to be calling a meeting of the district leaders very shortly, probably within a week or two. We’re going to sit down and hammer it out. We do have some other names which I would prefer not to reveal right now and we’re going to be discussing those options.”

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20 responses to “Petrini says ‘no’ to mayoral run, will do ‘what’s good for Norwalk’”

  1. Big Tex

    Too bad. Let’s keep our fingers crossed and encourage the Common Council President to lead the council to reject this mall development. A chance to really make a difference and encourage more suitable projects that will help alleviate the strain on residential taxpayers.

  2. Rod Lopez-Fabrega

    If Mr. Petrini manages to accomplish what he suggests “for the good of Norwalk” as Common Council President (including rejecting the mall), I would say that he has a promising future in Norwalk politics.

  3. John Hamlin

    Norwalk needs more sensible, intelligent, and principled politicians like Mr. Petrini who aren’t all about themselves and don’t always approach every civic issue and debate with the question “what’s in it for me and my little fiefdom and special interests and my political power?”

  4. Piberman

    With 3 major GOP heavyweights – Cafero, Moccia and Wilms – in favor of the mall its a done deal in the best Norwalk tradition. So the Council is largely “at rest.” Reportedly
    Mayor Rilling has skillfully suggested the City’s tax hike will be around 2% with a major assist from the GOP lead BOE. That surely takes the steam out of any GOP challenge. The able and courteous Mr Petrini knows that City voters always give new Mayor’s 2 terms. And that the City’s GOP is “rebuilding.” Time for Mayor Rilling to take his much earned but long delayed “honeymoon”.

  5. Mike Mushak

    Thank you Councilman Petrini and all Councilmembers for your continuing service to Norwalk. The Council takes up a ton of time as we all know but the mayor’s position takes a full commitment of every waking moment, pretty much the same as running a large business but with arguably much greater responsibilities. . It seems impossible for any human to do both at the same time. No doubt your decision will disappoint many and was difficult but you obviously needed to weigh all the factors including many personal ones in such a big commitment. There’s only so much time in a day.

    Since the last two commenters have made a special effort to urge Councilman Petrini to “reject the mall” in their comments, allow me to switch that around to suggest the smartest decision any Councilperson could make including Mr. Petrini is to keep an open mind about it for now.

    It will be very hard for anyone concerned about Norwalk’s future to reject 2,800 permanent jobs at diverse income levels, millions in increased tax revenue to the city, tens of millions in free national and regional marketing to Norwalk, increased convenience for local and regional shoppers (including everyone from Norwalk), support for a frequent trolley linking Sono and Wall St, and a bike share program and increased pedestrian and bike connectivity.

    Why would any smart official reject all of that, especially based on weak arguments by a few armchair economists that somehow this site might be better used for corporate office space (currently a dead market) and even more housing (we are approaching saturation with thousands of new units)?

  6. Mike Mushak

    Correction, second paragraph, “last” two commenters should be “first” two commenters.

  7. Piberman

    Can Mr Mushak make available his cost benefits analysis supporting the mall ? Or the developers ? We’re curious.

  8. Get a candidate who won’t waste tax dollars on police promotions for no reason

    The current mayor is creating supervisor positions in the police department that aren’t needed at a cost of $200,000.00 to $300,000.00 per year in raises and overtime. These positions didn’t exist two years ago. Why are they needed now? The only reason I can think of is to get a few extra votes this election year. The chief of police even said these positions weren’t needed when the position was called captain. Now if they call the positions lieutenant and sergeant the positions will suddenly need to be filled? Check common council minutes from a couple years ago to see the quotes yourself.
    Please republican party—Find us a mayor who cares about the city and won’t waste our tax dollars for a few votes.

  9. Lisbeth Blue

    The “mall” is a good idea, N Y Times article notwith standing. Move some of those apartments planned for Washington Village to the Mall. There should be some consideration for spreading the publiically financed housing into areas all around Norwalk. Never mind that the people who get subsidizes have lived there forever…

    The Connecticut governmental model could definitely use some 21st Century influence…government is expensive, let’s try to modernize it! Taxes. Taxes. Taxes.

  10. Mike Mushak

    Can Mr. Berman please make available his cost benefit analysis that has him convinced the mall is such a bad idea, and that corporations are somehow beating down the doors to relocate to huge new office buildings in Fairfield County if only developers would take that huge risk and build spec office buildings again? Where did Mr. Berman get his sudden commercial real estate expertise? We’re all curious. Lol!

  11. Wineshine

    Is this the new Democrat stance on every issue; to rebut every request for proof that something exists with the demand to prove it doesn’t? Again, the best defense is a good offense.

  12. Mike Mushak

    Wineshine, who said anything about political affiliation? I don’t speak for any party. I speak for myself, and I have listened carefully to the arguments for and against the mall.

    So far, I have heard the argument that it will bring thousands of jobs, increase our tax base by millions every year, is supported by market research which is why one of the smartest retail firms in the country has decided to invest $300 million here, and the applicant will protect their investment by making sure their project will be easy to access by transit, on foot, by bike, as well as by car. They have already announced support for a downtown circulator trolley system that we need desperately, and a bike-share program that cities all over the country are installing.

    The arguments against all seem to be based on some internet articles that malls are dead (they are where poorly designed and in weak markets), that bricks and mortar retail is dead (fiction), that retail jobs are somehow “bad” for the economy (lol!), and one or two folks keep insisting on the obsolete notion that Norwalk just needs to build new office buildings and commercial tenants will miraculously appear with high-paying white collar jobs. The last reason is laughable as the spec office market (build it and they will come) died decades ago in our area, that has the highest office vacancy rate in the country. And our housing supply is approaching saturation with thousands of new units coming on line in the next few years.

    Mr. Berman, a well-known expert on everything in Norwalk and the world, has decided he knows more than all the retail experts at GGP and in the country. He challenged me for my “cost benefit analysis” even though I had just given it to him in the previous comment above and just now.

    So I challenged him to offer his cost benefit analysis that supports his position to be demanding public officials reject the mall before they have even seen the application, a reasonable request I think. Where is Mr. Berman’s data to support his position that office space is the highest and best use of this site?

    And what does any of that have to do with my political affiliation, Wineshine? I’m curious now!

  13. Big Tex

    Sorry Mike but Mr. Berman is right on here and Caveat Emptor if Norwalk is foolish enough to believe all the GGP hype without performing its own qualitative due diligence. Don’t the citizens deserve this and not depend on retained resident politicians cheer-leading this or dangling gimmicks such as NCC satellite offices to get a buy-in? Let’s not get fooled again with false promises of big retail as we’ve seen this movie play out before. Are taxes any lower? Au contraire.

    One also has to wonder what Governor Malloy is thinking now that a potential new mall within a stone’s throw from his beloved hometown has been proposed which ultimately could uproot Stamford’s mall existence. Will Stamford then “retaliate” and revamp its retail center to one up Norwalk’s proposed development? From a state centric standpoint, this makes no sense. Why would we compete and cannibalize market share from our neighbor to the south when other opportunities exist outside saturated/overbuilt retail.

    The pie is not unlimited in retail.

  14. jlightfield

    @mushak I’m curious as to why you think we desperately need a downtown trolley system. There are no supporting transit studies, Norwalk has attempted one twice in the past, and the base market for such transit systems are either tourists or daytime business trips.

    I suspect that there is a need for a senior circulator that can transport our healthy senior population around to all the places that they fear to visit because they can’t park right at the door.

    Of course real state of the art trolley systems are abundant in Europe and not only include dedicated single purpose lanes and stops, but are managed by a centralized automated computer systems that are tied to traffic.

    Norwalk is such a challenge for mass transit. Maybe there’s hioe that the Norwalk Transit district will lol at routes that don’t rely in a “pulse point” system that makes any cross town trip average an additional 45 minutes.

  15. Wineshine

    Mike, I know your ideals, and values well-meaning. That I don’t dispute, and I’d defend you against anyone who would assail you. But, there’s a difference between ideals, and idealistic. You say “one of the smartest retail firms in the country” is at the helm here. That’s a hollow statement, and anyone who things objectively should realize that. Did they win a “smartest” award? Were their collective SAT scores perfect? I submit to you, et. al, that this is a business decision. They bought the site, and retailing is their industry. What else would they do with this? I contend that this mall will be built, and that GGP will exit the scene at the first sign of a qualified buyer of the mall. They’re selling and closing more malls than they’re building (ok, prove that they’re not!!) which should be indicative.

    It’s also fantasy to believe that the “thousands” of jobs will have a profound impact on the Norwalk economy. How many employees of Stamford Town Center are Stamford residents? I don’t know, but I’d bet you that it’s a rather small number.

    Could this mall succeed. Yes, logically speaking, of course it could. Flying machines were fantasy up until the mid-19th century also.

  16. Mike Mushak

    I am living in a fantasy world no doubt! You should try it sometime. In my world of make believe, Norwalk actually succeeds as a popular destination and a great affordable place to live and work, with lots of jobs and a stable tax base and abundant alternative transportation choices where you might be able to get around without a car. Silly me for dreaming all that might exist someday!

    Go Patriots! (Oh wait, where did I put that darn cost benefit analysis supporting such an outrageous statement?)

  17. Michael McGuire

    @ Big Tex,

    The test for highest and best use is simple. For Mr. Berman’s office scenario you need rents greater than $42/sf which is well above the highest rents we have in Norwalk of Class A office space. Plus you would need 50% preleasing to attract the necessary capital, another non-starter since business is moving to RED states. Finally, the simple laws of supply and demand hold sway here. With a Class A office availability rate well above 20% locally and climbing the excess supply will hold the rents down well below new development thresholds.

    Retail development is less costly than office development and the rental rates that can be achieved at 95/7 for a GGP like development will more than cover the cost to build. Plus the vacancy rate for retails is less than 5 percent. When you add that to rents at all time highs coupled with a highly fragmented retail market in lower Fairfield County you have all the ingredients necessary for a successful development.

    Norwalk does not need high prices consultants to state the very obvious that any average commercial real estate professional could tell you.

    You should focus more on Norwalk’s lack of planning skills which has resulted in a local government that has been incapable to reflecting the obvious fact that retail development is the highest and best use for the site and the quicker we get moving on it the better off we all will be.

    Time kills deals – Norwalk delays at its own peril. And I hope Mr. Petrini adds in getting qualified planning along with Charter Revision.

  18. Big Tex

    OK what’s the disconnect here, “business is moving to red states” yet we can expect a retail mall here to thrive with multiple shopping centers all around Fairfield and Westchester Counties yet no companies around here to fuel job growth and spending? Is this the new economy? Scary thought. You can also put the mall aside and argue that Norwalk has enough retail and adding a mall would be overkill to the city and surrounding areas let alone a nightmare for traffic on the city roads. Unlike Stamford, Norwalk has only several four lane roads and while it could be a straight shot from I-95, think about all the other traffic and congestion this would add to ex-I-95 routes . We call this a cluster you know what from where I’m from.

    Further, how soon would it be before Stamford, Danbury, Trumbull or Westchester one ups Norwalk in the losing mall business should this be developed? To think the existing mall centers would just rollover and concede to Norwalk is wishful thinking. It would also be interesting if Norwalk took a poll from its existing retailers and solicit their opinions on a mall development. I think we know the answer

    What needs to be stressed is CT is barely out of the great recession and Norwalk needs strategic planning not a bandage approach to thoughtful development. A mall may be a short-term fix but at what cost? And while I agree that there are many office vacancies, there are just as many that need to be torn down given their age and obsolescence. Here’s a chance to exert some patience and not be regretful when the economy here gains traction and modern/built to spec office space is back in demand.

    I’ll keep my fingers crossed that time buries this bad idea sooner than later.

  19. Wineshine

    Big Tex, don’t forget, this is fantasyland, and it’s okay to dream, to stare reality in the face, and shout, “We are Norwalk, and darn it, we believe, and so it will be.” You should be thinking about couples, and families, with little bursts of sunshine over their heads, skipping their way down West Avenue, arms full of shopping bags, with glee in their eyes at the very prospect of the wonders of the world of cuisine that await them in South Norwalk, the only delays ahead, being stopped on their way by bicyclists asking for recommendations on where to get a good cup of hot cocoa. I say, the bistro that puts marshmallows in those cups of cocoa will be sure to get us on the world map of “it” destinations.

    When interested parties say, “time kills deals” it means, that “this is steamrolling in the direction we want, we have the Common Council bamboozled with facts and figures they are just starting to understand, and we should not be held up by those ignorant natives who can’t think for themselves, and are “incapable to reflecting the obvious”. “Deal” is the operative word here.

  20. Piberman

    Let’s get back to the original theme here posted by NON. Kudos to Council President Petrini for sticking to his knitting. Major issues historically have been resolved (or not) by our Council, not by our Mayor’s orbiter dictas. Our Council could stand tall by focusing their energies on restraining tax increases and seeking well qualified expert opinion on the pros and cons of the mall project.
    And demanding couteous behavior by Council members. There was a time when our Council was highly respected. Mike Lyons has done the impossible with the BOE. No reason the able Mr Petrini couldn’t achieve similar stature. But it won’t be easy and may require some divine intervention on occasion. To those who think Mayors can single handedly resolve any or all the decades old issues facing our beleagured City suggest some history study. Our best Mayors
    were not firebrands but pleasant, relaxed and accommodating souls who went out of their way to avoid taking enemies. And went about their business without being in the press. Incoming Mayors ordinarily have at least two terms. So no reason to expect a serious challenge next fall. Just a “going through the motion campaign.” Especially if the 2% tax hike is achieved. That would be a major achievement. In any league.

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