Patch Candidate Profile: Josh Goldstein, Norwalk Common Council

NORWALK, CT — The 2023 municipal election is heating up in Norwalk and there are plenty of local races with candidates eager to serve in elected office.

Norwalk Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as Election Day draws near.

Democrat Josh Goldstein, 33, is a Norwalk resident running for the Common Council at Large.

Education

I earned a law degree and a master's in public administration from Syracuse University and a BA from George Washington University.

What is your occupation?

I am a partner with the law firm of Adelman, Connors & Krevolin LLP. I represent people who have been injured due to negligent or reckless actions.

Do you have a family? If so, please tell us about them.

My wife Lizzy and I got married earlier this year!

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No.

Have you ever held a public office, whether appointive or elective?

I am currently in my first term on the Common Council. I was previously a member of the Norwalk Zoning Commission.

Now we'd like to ask a few questions about your reasons for running and your general views on politics and government. First, why are you seeking this office?

Two years ago, I ran because I felt younger Norwalkers needed representation on the Council, especially when it comes to long term policies such as making Norwalk more affordable and mitigating the effects of climate change. Now, I am running to continue the progress our team has made and because I want to keep working to make Norwalk a thriving community.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ___, and this is what I intend to do about it.

One issue Norwalkers consistently face is the effects of climate change, namely flooding, both because Norwalk is a coastal city as well as substantial rainfalls. With the help of our state and federal partners, we have already made strides to mitigate flooding and are exploring both nature-based solutions as well as engineering-based solutions such as raising street height and improving drainage. I intend to keep building on this progress by implementing effective (and cost-effective) local solutions and working with all levels of government to help make Norwalk a more environmentally-safe city.

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

I, and Norwalk Democrats, believe Norwalk should strive to become a more livable, sustainable, and equitable city. Our actions match our rhetoric — we have made significant progress toward all of those goals and will continue to do so if elected. I choose not to speak ill of my opponents, but I believe our record of progress and a well-managed city speaks for itself.

If you are challenging an incumbent, in what way has the current officeholder failed the community?

I am an incumbent.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

There are many, but here are some really important issues that I intend to address:

Business growth: we need to continue to encourage innovative ideas for locally-driven economic growth and provide support for small business through programs such as the Kiva micro-loan program.

Education: we need to continue building a world-class education system in Norwalk by ensuring affordable, nondiscriminatory funding of public education and high quality school construction projects.

Enhancing quality of life: we need to continue to improve and increase green spaces, tree coverage, bike lanes and sidewalks as well as a diverse array of housing options that allow people who work here to afford to live here.

Charter Reform: everyone should vote in favor of the ballot measure this November. It will make City government much more efficient and easier to understand.

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

One aspect of this job I take incredibly seriously is listening to constituents and being responsive. If someone expresses a concern on social media, for example, I will many times try to provide helpful information or give that person my contact info (my email is jgoldstein@norwalkct.gov, by the way). Showing up and being available are really important aspects of being on the Common Council. I will continue to do just that.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Happy wife, happy life.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

In my free time, I love playing sports (especially tennis) and am an avid reader — I most recently enjoyed Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver.

To learn more about me and my campaign, please visit joshfornorwalk.com or feel free to give me a call at 203-548-7604.