Rilling begins fourth two-year term

Correction, 2:37 p.m.: Rick McQuaid is beginning a fifth term. 

NORWALK, Conn. — Mayor Harry Rilling and Town Clerk Rick McQuaid were sworn in together, Tuesday in City Hall.

“Six years ago, we started this journey together. And there were some pretty choppy waters that we had to navigate, but we got through. And I think we did so together,” Rilling said in the City Hall community room, in front of political leaders and staff members.

Video by Harold Cobin at end of story

Rilling won reelection on Nov. 5 with 55.5 percent of the vote. “The voters have spoken,” he said. “And I believe that the voters recognize that Norwalk is a city on the rise, a city that’s moving in the right direction, a city that other people are looking at and saying, ‘Wow, that’s a city I’d like to be a part of.’”

Rilling’s speech echoed many of his campaign comments, stressing the teamwork involved in the accomplishments he was listing, the investment in school infrastructure and the Board of Education’s strategic operating plan, and “the first restructuring of our City Hall.” He touted the data-laden Mayor’s Dashboard and support for the police and fire departments.

“Well, where are we going now? We know that the City of Norwalk is working on a library expansion, a 25,000 square foot expansion of the Norwalk Public Library, and hopefully make that area… a downtown anchor for the Wall Street area,” he said. The YMCA will open at 98 South Main St., hopefully this year, he added.

State Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-25) gave Rilling the oath of office.

“Mayor Rilling has worked so hard and tirelessly for the city of Norwalk,” he said. “He has shown the ability to make tough decisions, long term decisions, decisions to secure and invest in our infrastructure, to help our schools, to continue to move the city of Norwalk forward.”

McQuaid was sworn in by his wife, and offered no comments.