NORWALK, Conn. – Vinny Mangiacopra says he wants to improve Norwalk city government’s communication with its citizens and between departments and hints at changes in some key positions should he be elected mayor. He also was the only one of the four Democratic candidates who signed a statement agreeing to stay true to the party platform and ideals.
Andy Garfunkel took a pass.
You asked, and NancyOnNorwalk responded. When the Democratic Town Committee (DTC) asked Norwalk’s Democratic mayoral candidates to respond to a questionnaire, several readers expressed a desire to see their answers. We asked all the candidates to send us their responses. Matt Miklave beat us to the punch – his campaign sent his questionnaire before we sent our request. Harry Rilling’s campaign responded almost immediately. Vinny Mangiacopra came through late last week.
Andy Garfunkel responded with an email saying he refused the DTC’s request for the “pledge” and the questionnaire from the beginning, and that he would be happy to discuss it. Another request to answer the questions – with or without the questions pertaining to the DTC – sent May 14 went unanswered, as did a follow-up phone call Sunday.
Here are a few of the highlights from Mangiacopra’s questionnaire. The complete questionnaire is attached at the end of the article. To see responses from Miklave and Rilling, click here.
Mangiacopra has been campaigning on a platform that includes more transparency in government, and took it a step further in his responses.
“I will enhance the communication to our citizens immensely,” he said. “I want be a mayor who is in dialogue with his city constantly. We will enhance the television viewing so our citizens can listen to a quality meeting. We should consider broadcasting all public meetings live on the Internet. … We will also have active social media portals, e-newsletters, and Interactive online forums.”
The 31-year-old candidate, who would be the city’s youngest mayor ever, said new eyes and new blood is needed in City Hall, specifically mentioning the finance and public works departments.
He also said Mayor Richard Moccia “missed a major opportunity to invest in education this year.
“With the teachers accepting a freeze on their pay – something that this administration has been pushing their union to take for over three years – it would have been an opportune time to at the very least to put those savings back into our schools.”
To download the complete questionnaire, along with some additional items he sent us, click the link below.
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