Norwalk Candidate Profile: Lisa Brinton For Mayor

NORWALK, CT — Election day in Norwalk is drawing closer, and there are two candidates running for the city's mayoral post, unaffiliated challenger Lisa Brinton, who is running as a Republican, and Democratic incumbent Harry Rilling.

To help residents make an informed decision on Nov. 5, Norwalk Patch asked the two candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and the issues in the city.

Brinton, 59, is retired and has two sons who are both graduates of Brien McMahon High School.

She has a Master’s degree from American University, in Public Policy & Administration, and has never held elected office. Her campaign website is www.lisafornorwalk.org.

The single most pressing issue facing Norwalk is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Unbalanced growth and increased density are reshaping Norwalk into an expensive and transient city. New leadership is needed for a livable community that works for residents, not just special interests. We must preserve our historic character, while growing small business. Residents can’t afford City Hall be Norwalk's most lucrative employer.

We may have a small-town personality – but we’re seeing the strains of being a bigger city and need a city government that acts accordingly. This means more inclusive, stronger leadership and better financial management to safeguard quality of life and ease homeowner’s financial burden. Norwalk’s mayor must more strongly advocate for residents, so Norwalk remains an affordable and livable city.

Below will be my top priorities:

Review all land-use projects (No to POKO, Walk Bridge, No development with negative ROI).
More funding from the state, grants, and foundations.

Reform city hall – Ordinance improvements and enforcement, review zoning and third-party agencies.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

Our backgrounds are strikingly different. My opponent has always been in the public sector and never lived anywhere but Norwalk. My background is in business and advocacy and I have lived abroad extensively. I’ve advocated for students and homeowners for 13 out of my 21 years. My corporate career was cut short by illness, but I found fulfillment in public service. I first got involved in our schools helping to close the achievement gap in a variety of capacities, then in neighborhood quality of life over planning and zoning issues.

I’m frustrated with our mayor, who I feel is more responsive to special interests than residents and he lacks the financial skills to lead and advocate for Norwalk during the state’s challenging times. We’re experiencing growth, but not necessarily the corresponding revenues needed to service the increased population density. We approach the city in piecemeal, lacking a vision for our downtown and negotiate poorly with developers. We’re squandering our future, as residents are left with higher taxes and lower quality of life.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I have a managerial and business background - 20 years with AT&T and Lucent Technologies building networks around the world and five more as a management consultant to Fortune 500 companies. I recently obtained a master’s degree from American University, in Public Policy & Administration. I’ll draw on colleagues and national best practices.

I was a teacher in Norwalk’s schools and housing authority for 12 years, helping close the achievement gap and worked tirelessly as a land-use advocate. This has provided a unique understanding of the two largest areas affecting Norwalk’s budget- our schools (54 percent of expenses) and land/real estate (90 percent of revenues).

I’ll bring financial management, operational savvy, negotiating and fundraising skills to the mayor’s office. Our budget must be managed effectively for residents and small businesses. We must recognize Norwalk’s value and aggressively pursue our share of state funding and private grants to lessen the burden on taxpayers.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

This election is not about party; it's about our city, our future, and giving residents a voice. As an unaffiliated voter, I have pulled a coalition of NURDs; Norwalk Unaffiliated, Republicans, Democrats.