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NORWALK, Conn. ‒ The Norwalk Daily Voice accepts signed, original letters to the editor. We reserve the right to edit submissions, but we respectfully ask that you keep your correspondence under 500 words. Please send letters to norwalk@dailyvoice.com.
To the Editor:
We recently were made aware of Councilman Bruce Kimmel’s decision to begin meeting with the Republican Party instead of helping his own party stand up for the citizens who voted him.
Norwalk is divided up into five voting districts. Each district vets its candidates, and the Town Committee usually approves and supports district selections. At times, both parties have openings and scramble to find the most qualified person willing to run. It is not a foolproof system, and heaven knows that as a councilperson begins to serve, their style may or may not fit into city governance smoothly.
In a transparent vetting process in 2011, Kimmel answered the questions and concerns of nearly two-dozen District D Committee members as he sought the nomination to represent our district on the Common Council. The conversation lasted nearly three hours because there were many concerns. At the end, we decided to nominate and support him, thinking that he would be willing to help our party continue to grow.
Unfortunately, Kimmel has since shown no respect for our trust. From Day 1, he decided he wasn’t caucusing with the elected Democrats. He didn’t even give our team a shot. Since then he has written several protest op-ed novels instead of trying to show guidance and leadership to resolve issues with our caucus. He has also voted for privatizing good Norwalk jobs and has been a “take his ball and go home” kind of councilman when things don’t go his way.
This decision, while regrettable, is not surprising, for it continues to demonstrate a pattern of Kimmel's inability to be a team player, which began during the Mayor Alex Knopp administration. As a councilman during that time, he publicly expressed his inability to work with leadership and then later as a member of the Board of Education, he changed his party affiliation midstream, ultimately quitting on our kids. While restructuring our local party, we recognized Kimmel’s potential to contribute to the ticket, however, he has since breached that trust and shown little regard for the public that elected him to serve, thinking he was a Democrat.
This time around, maybe Bruce Kimmel can find a home in Mayor Richard Moccia's administration. We have some advice for our Republican colleagues: Watch when Kimmel is holding the ball. He may take it home with him when he doesn’t get his way.
Norwalk District D Democratic Committee
Vinny Mangiacopra, Chairman
Marilyn Robinson, Vice Chair
Diane Lauricella, Secretary
Joe Tamburi, District D Town Committee Member
Lynne Moore, District D Town Committee Member
Warren Peña, District D Town Committee Member
Shirley Mosby, District D Committee Member
Mike DePalma, District D Committee Member
Anna Duleep, District D Committee Member
Dorothy Mobilia, District D Committee Member
Tony Mobilia, District D Committee Member
Bob Sodaro, District D Committee Member
Comments (7)
I used to be a registered Democrat in Norwalk and almost 30 years ago got fed up with the dysfunction of the Norwalk Democratic "machine". Nothing has changed to make me think twice about my choice. As this letter shows, they are more interested in party solidarity than finding solutions to the issues facing Norwalk.
I have gotten to know Bruce Kimmel and he has shown himself to be intelligent and thoughtful, and in light of the criticism levelled at him, courageous. It is the Democratic party of this town that should be ashamed of themselves. It's no wonder they haven't been able to field a viable candidate for mayor as their main criteria seems to be not what a candidate's ideas or concerns are but rather how well they can kiss their party leadership's butt.
There's some good Democrats in this town, and a few of them signed the letter above. Who knows how they were possibly threatened or cajoled into doing it. I would have hoped for more independence of thought and principle, something the Democratic party leadership clearly lacks.
Bruce, I am proud to have you as the councilman representing my district. Thank you for your efforts to make Norwalk better, despite the petty partisanship of your party's establishment.
This letter comes across as snide, and not much else. I am acquainted with several of the signatories and it surprises me that they would lower their standards of diplomacy by affixing their names hereto.
This quote from the letter is interesting: "At the end, we decided to nominate and support him, thinking that he would be willing to help our party continue to grow."
Is it really the case that he was only nominated to help the party grow? I would prefer if the main reason for nominating candidates would be that those candidates have the good judgement to help NORWALK grow. Ultimately our elected officials are there to serve the public, not to serve a party.
It is so refreshing to see Bruce stand up independantly against the outrageousness of some on the council. Their mind set is and always has been "my way or the highway" mentality. I truly believe it is only a few trying to make a name for themselves but the name they are making isn't one they should covet. Anyone who believes Bruce to be the culprit here should probably go back to Politics 101 and take a refresher course on why people elect you! They elect you to represent them, not your political party and agendas but for what is best for the entire community! So Good for you Bruce! You can caucus with whomever you like but as long as you stay true to your beliefs and do what is best for your constituents don't worry about the petiness and name calling. Perhaps a few can learn from you going forward!.
I have NEVER seen politics in this town stoop to such a level. This is precisely why most educated, intelligent voters in this town vote for candidates regardless of parties. This attack on Bruce Kimmel is downright disgusting. When you look at the list of authors, one has to ask how is it that the committee is run by elected officials? I am, indeed, surprised at the list of the two long-serving Democrats in this town whose names are on this list. I also wonder about some of our esteemed Democrats who have served Norwalk over the years. I would welcome their thoughts on this unproductive shift of power.
I generally do not respond to personal attacks, but in this case I believe it is necessary to make an exception. I believe everyone has a right to express their opinions and members of the local Democratic organization can say what they will about me. That's their right, and I respect that. However, for the record I would like to note that I did not "quit" on our "kids," as the letter states, when I stepped down from the BOE. As the author of the letter knows, and as the signers know, I was forced to step down from the BOE in Feb. 2009 because of an extremely serious illness in my family that required me to be home at night for an extended period. Fortunately, by the summer of 2011, family circumstances had improved enough for me to run for the Common Council. Including that phrase in the letter, and then having it remain there after all of the signers read and signed on to it, reflects poorly on the district D Democratic organization.
Amazing the pettiness. He exhibits some independence and is willing to stand up for it and they attack him for not blindly following them. Reading his account of what's gone on leads me to believe we need to not vote blindly for these people and make them account for themselves and their actions.