Norwalk Dem says he’s running for mayor

NORWALK, Conn. – Let Norwalk’s mayoral jousting begin.

Democratic Council Member Matt Miklave (District A) is the first to announce that he would like to run for mayor in next November’s election. Miklave, a four-term council member, says he has has filed papers with the town clerk for an exploratory committee for his candidacy.

“It is no secret that I have had serious disagreements with the Moccia administration’s handling of the Board of Education, city budgeting, economic development and the treatment of city workers,” Miklave said in an email. “I want to do more than simply criticize the current administration. I want to be part of a larger discussion about what we can do to change the trajectory of our city – reforming the budget process to end the yearly fight over funding for our schools; partnering with city employees to improve the quality of services we provide to our community; refocusing economic development to create long-term, high-wage jobs for the 21st Century; working with all stakeholders to build a more vibrant, livable community; and working to make our city’s government more accessible and accountable to the public.”

First elected to the Common Council in Nov. 2001, Miklave served on the council and as chair of the Planning Committee from 2001 until 2007, when he lost his bid for re-election bid by 10 votes. As a freshman council member, Miklave was selected by his peers to serve as council president in 2002 to 2003.

Miklave was again elected to the council in 2011.

Miklave has also been active in the community for many years, serving on the Schools for the New Millennium Committee (1999-2000), participating in the Norwalk Chamber of Commerce Leadership Institute, and serving on the Boards of Directors of the United Way of Norwalk and Wilton from 2001 to 2008, and the Norwalk River Rowing Association (2008 to 2011). Miklave and his family have lived in Norwalk for more than 20 years. He and his wife, Sandra, have three children, two of whom attend Norwalk Public Schools and one of whom is in college.

Miklave works a labor, employment and civil rights attorney with Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. in New York City and Stamford, Connecticut. Miklave says he graduated “with distinction” from the American University with a B.S. in political science (1981), and earned a Juris Doctorate with honors from the University of Notre Dame (1984). He has been recognized by LawDragon and HR Executive Magazine as being one of the “Top 100: The Nation’s Most Powerful Employment Lawyers,” (2010, 2011 and 2012) and as one of “New York Area’s ‘Best Lawyers’ (Labor and Employment)” (2005 to 2012).