NORWALK, Conn. – Upbeat Norwalk Democrats met Monday night, ready to take aim at boasts made by their opposition and forming strategies to get out the vote in the fall election.
Norwalk Democratic Town Committee Chairwoman Amanda Brown touched a lot of bases, offering advice to the four mayoral campaigns, information to help the campaigns avoid election complaints and explaining efforts to avoid the discord that has marked Democratic political discourse since the last municipal election.
“We do want to be a very well prepared, organized group,” she said. “ … It is very important that if our messaging is more sexy and not so heady, we have a better chance of connecting to the public and making them vote for us.”
The committee’s new candidate vetting process includes a questionnaire; Brown said she expected a response from three of the four mayoral candidates. District D Chairman Vinny Mangiacopra already turned in his 15-page response, but Brown said Andy Garfunkel’s campaign didn’t seem responsive.
Someone suggested there had been friction between Brown and the Garfunkel committee; Brown said she had already reached out to mend that fence.
With answers in hand from the mayoral candidates, the committee will turn to the underticket.
“We need to know what the mayors are going to support … so we can also try to recruit people to get underneath those tickets and push that same vision, so when we win a full slate our people will all be on the same page,” she said. “We don’t want to have all this discord like we’ve been accustomed to.”
That underticket is already expected to include Shirley Mosby as a Board of Education candidate. Fire Marshall Broderick Sawyer has filled out a questionnaire to run as an at-large candidate for Common Council, Councilman David Watts (D-District A) said. John Kydes was described as a “spectacular” council candidate for District C by chairman Ari Disraeli.
District E Chairman Bill Krummel said he thought Councilman John Igneri would run for re-election. “He’s been feeling yes/no, but I think he’s committing,” he said.
Brown touted the money raised by Democratic mayoral candidates in the first quarter – more than $76,000, as compared to the $7,725 raised by incumbent Republican Mayor Richard Mocca – but said, “With money comes problems,” and she warned against missteps regarding campaign finance laws.
“Dick Moccia will absolutely slay us if we do anything wrong, even though he does things wrong all the time,” she said.
Guest Dianna Kulmacz of Political Accounting Consulting Services, a former member of the State Elections Enforcement Commission (SEEC), offered five ways to avoid elections complaints, and talked about the importance of a good treasurer, which is not as easy a job as it appears to be, she said.
Other developing plans in the mayoral campaign include forums for community outreach. Brown said campaigners will “focus on people who are not normally engaged” in a grassroots effort. She is looking for a South Norwalk location for a meet-and-greet that will feature three-minute campaign stump speeches.
District E has already planned a forum for May 23, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Roton Middle School, Krummel said. That will include questions and answers from the public.
The campaign has already begun at places like the New York Bakery and Overton’s Seafood, members said. Impassioned Dems are spreading the word, they said, sitting outside Overton’s for several hours to engage people in political discussions and debating Republicans at the bakery.
Zoning Commissioner Mike Mushak said letters to the editor can provide inspiration, in an “attack their strength” way.
“When they claim something that they are doing well, read that, it gives you fodder,” he said. “Respond.”
An April 7 letter to the editor from Republican Town Committee Chairman Art Scialabba spoke of successful efforts to streamline the zoning process.
“They’re streamlining the zoning process,” Mushak said. “Give me a break.”
Mangiacopra, the only mayoral candidate present, seconded that.
“There are plenty of things going on in the city that everyone should feel very free-willed to go out there and have an opinion on,” he said.
No matter who wins the primary, it will help, he said.
“We can’t let people forget about the things that have happened,” he said. “… Call me if you’re looking for some tips.”
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