
NORWALK, Conn. – Norwalk Democratic mayoral hopeful Vinny Mangiacopra is being endorsed by two labor unions, a press release from Mangiacopra’s campaign, Norwalk’s Future Now, said.
Leaders of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 488 and the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) District Council 11 have given Mangiacopra financial support and say their members will actively campaign for him, according to the press release.
“It’s an honor to have the support of these hard-working union members,” Mangiacopra said in the release. “I grew up in a blue-collar family and I know what these people are going through. Their backing my campaign is personally significant to me and it is a pivotal addition of support to our campaign. The help of these active members is going to make a big difference in this race.”
Mangiacopra is competing against former Norwalk Police Chief Harry Rilling, former Town Clerk Andy Garfunkel and Common Councilman Matt Miklave (District A) for the Democratic Party nomination to challenge Republican incumbent Mayor Richard Moccia. Mangiacopra, District D Democratic Party chairman, has had some early success, coming in second to Rilling in first-quarter fundraising. Mangiacopra raised $25,533 between his campaign kickoff on Jan. 22 and the end of the filing period on March 31, as compared to Rilling’s $30,348 in contributions from Feb. 24 to March 31, according to papers filed with the town clerk’s office. The Moccia campaign had raised $7,725 as of March 31.
The union leaders said Mangiacopra is the best man for the job.
“Vinny is running for mayor because he understands that Norwalk’s future is at stake in this election,” IBEW Local 488 Business Manager Peter Carroll said in the release. “Vinny is a young, bright, energetic candidate who will work with us every day to bring good paying jobs to Norwalk. We’re excited to endorse him and help his campaign as much as we can.”
IBEW 488 has more than 500 active members in Fairfield County, the release said. IUPAT District Council 11 represents 1,600 active members in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts.
“Vinny is running a great campaign and we are excited about a Democrat taking back Norwalk’s mayor’s office,” said Peter Foote, IUPAT District Council 11 Connecticut political director. “We are confident in Vinny’s ability to get all those stalled projects in Norwalk moving again and get people back on the job. The city needs a better advocate and that’s why we are supporting Vinny.”
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