Rilling, McQuaid, sworn into office

Updated, 1 a.m.: More information.

NORWALK, Conn. — Déjà vu – For the third time, Mayor Harry Rilling and Town Clerk Rick McQuaid have been sworn into office.

“My journey started (four) years ago, right in this room, with the governor administering the oath of office,” Rilling said Tuesday morning, after Gov. Dannel Malloy performed the honors. “At that time, I kind of, you know, a little nervous, a little apprehensive. You don’t know where the journey is going to take you but I will tell you that the last four years… have been remarkable.”

Video by Harold Cobin at end of story

Rilling won a four-way mayoral race with 55 percent of the vote, while McQuaid was unopposed. Rilling quipped, “I know Rick McQuaid had an easy election. Mine was a little more difficult.”

The ceremony, not quite as crowded as the previous two, featured a mild debate about whether or not Norwalk is the greatest city in America.

State Sen. Bob Duff (D-25) kicked that off with a list of things to be thankful of, from the firefighters to those who step up to serve, from “a governor who cares so much about our city” to a mayor who “works hard 14-16 hours a day to improve our city,” making many lives better.

“We have so much in this week of Thanksgiving to be thankful for and sometimes we just need that reminder from time to time. What a great community, how special it is, how we care for each other and how this is one of the, if not the, best cities to live in in the United States of America.”

“I can’t really endorse that this is the greatest city in America. I live in a pretty good city and I was mayor of another pretty good great city for 14 years,” Malloy said. “ … But I will say it is one of the great cities, one of the  great communities of the United States and you should be very proud of what you have accomplished over the long run, and most particularly, most recently over the last few years.”

“When I’m out in the streets and I hear some wonderful remarks about where the city is going, what is happening in our community, Norwalk is a destination,” Rilling said. “I might take issue with the fact that we are not the best in the state of Connecticut and the best in the country because I really think we are.”

Rilling promised that he and his team will continue to work hard, and said, “It’s been an honor and a privilege for me to have the blessing of not only the people in this room but the citizens of the city of Norwalk people, who have put their trust in me, put their trust in my team, to make sure that we can get things done.”