Norwalk Mayor 2021 Election: Rilling Vs. Riddle

NORWALK, CT — On Tuesday, Norwalk residents will head to the polls to make decisions on a number of key races in this fall's municipal election.

While many key positions in town are up for grabs this year, including city treasurer and spots on the Board of Education and Common Council, the biggest race is between Democratic incumbent Mayor Harry Rilling and Republican challenger Jonathan Riddle.

As Rilling runs to serve another term, it is clear both he and Riddle bring a wealth of different experience to the table.

On one hand, Rilling has served four terms as mayor of Norwalk, having been elected in November 2013. He is also a former Norwalk police officer and chief of police, as well as a lifelong Norwalk resident, according to his campaign website.

Riddle, meanwhile, does not have experience in government, however he enters the race with an extensive background in finance.

According to the Norwalk Republican Town Committee, Riddle began his career with BNY Mellon in Greenwich before serving as a client advisor in New York City for Bessemer Trust. He has also served as a vice president and lead advisor for the Private Bank of Bank of America in Westport and a director for Altium Wealth Management in Purchase, N.Y.

See also: Norwalk 2021 Local Elections: Candidates, Polling Places, Hours

In his Patch candidate profile, Rilling identified continued coronavirus recovery while keeping taxes down and providing excellent services for residents as the current most pressing issue in Norwalk.

According to Rilling, the city took a leading role in coronavirus response by "supporting small businesses through local grant programs," invigorating "a new community services program to help residents," expanding outdoor retail and dining spaces and "crucially [passing] a budget with no tax increases."

"Through four terms in office, Mayor Rilling has kept taxes and spending under control," Rilling said in his profile. "Norwalk continues to have one of the lowest mill rates in Connecticut among its peers. Our city has strong cash reserves, superb credit ratings and has experienced grand list growth consistently over Mayor Rilling's time in office. Balanced budgets, no tax increases, new development and AAA bond ratings; Mayor Rilling has worked hard to save Norwalk taxpayers money when they need it most."

Riddle, meanwhile, identified in his Patch candidate profile "a lack of balance, efficiency and transparency" within the city's government as the single greatest issue in Norwalk.

Riddle said City Hall "continues to run limited services" while "our mayor is often absent from City Hall."

"For eight years, one party has controlled all of the decision-making ability," Riddle said, "and every non-elected open committee position has been hand-selected by the current mayor. Norwalk is currently run by a partisan agenda and, as a result, the citizens of this city suffer."

In regards to previous accomplishments, Rilling cited, among other things, economic development across the city, which includes the new SoNo Collection mall, improvements to Washington Street in South Norwalk and "hundreds of new businesses with good-paying jobs for residents." He also pointed toward the city's crime levels.

"Crime is down in every neighborhood," Rilling said. "Norwalk is as safe as it has ever been. Serious crimes are at a historic low down by over 1,000 incidents per year, and 911 response times have been improved by more than 40 percent (from 6 minutes to 3.5 minutes)."

Riddle cited his professional career as something that has prepared him to take on the role of mayor with a fiduciary responsibility ingrained in him, along with "a will from Iona College to fight the good fight for the citizens of Norwalk." He also noted the status quo was "not good enough" and vowed to "strive for excellence, not the bare minimum."

"Choosing to run for mayor in a city where it is a strong Common Council and a weak mayor system," Riddle said, "you have to have the ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds and different schools of thought in order to get the job done. This is very familiar to me, as a fiduciary advisor, I work with many different clients from all different backgrounds."

Rilling also noted he has "dedicated his entire professional life to public service," from the U.S. Navy to the Norwalk Police Department, experience which he said has proved to be invaluable in informing his decisions in the face of "the most widespread public health and safety crisis of the last century."

"Mayor Rilling has a record of steady, progressive leadership," Rilling said, "that has grown the grand list each year, ushered in unprecedented economic development, reduced crime in every neighborhood and improved Norwalk's schools to a #1 ranking in the state."

Riddle noted he was flexible and always open to debate ideas, learn new information and have his mind changed. He also emphasized that he was "young, flexible and able to work long hours when necessary to get the job done right."

"As I look forward to the next milestone of my life, starting a family, it is incredibly important to me to make sure this city, the Norwalk Public Schools and our infrastructure improve greatly over the next several years for you and my family," Riddle said. I want to be proud and able to say 'I send my children to the nationally recognized Norwalk Public Schools.' The work for that reality starts with this election."

Note: To read each candidate's answers in full, click over the Rilling's profile here and Riddle's profile here.