Stamford Candidate Profile: Mary Lou Rinaldi For Board Of Finance

STAMFORD, CT — Election day in Stamford is getting closer and there are plenty of candidates running for various positions in town. To help residents make an informed decision on Nov. 5, Stamford Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as the big day draws near.

Democratic incumbent Mary Lou Rinaldi, 66, is running for a seat on Stamford's Board of Finance. Other candidates for the position include Geoff Alswanger (D), David Kooris (D), Andrew Krill (R), Chris Woodside (R) and Fritz Blau (R).

A third-generation Stamford resident, Rinaldi has 40 years of experience in corporate human resources. She currently works as an independent human resources consultant for GE Capital.

She currently serves as vice chair for the Board of Finance.

Are you running for office in Stamford? Contact RJ Scofield at rj.scofield@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Stamford Patch.

The single most pressing issue facing our town/district is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Long-term structural costs which are unsustainable at the current rate and need to be adjusted. These structural costs include pension benefits, OPEB (other post-retirement employee benefits) and healthcare. While we must honor our commitment to our municipal employees, we must also address the impact this existing and future debt will have on the city coffers.

As a current and hopefully returning member of the Board of Finance, I will continue to work with the administration in their efforts to reduce cost by supporting union contracts that more equitably share healthcare costs and employee pension contributions. I will also support efforts to fully-fund existing pension and post-employment commitments through prudent investment. A well-run and diverse portfolio steadily making capital gains will take some of the financial burden off the shoulders of the city.

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

For my entire adult life, I have been honored to offer my service to the citizens of Stamford. I have served 16 years on the Board of Representatives - 14 years on its fiscal committee and six years as its chair. Elected by my 40 peers, I served as President of the Board of Representatives.

Since 1995, I have served on the Board of Finance, twice as its Chair and currently as its Vice Chair. Professionally, my 20+ years with GE Capital, the financial services arm of General Electric, has given me a broad range of finance, human resources and leadership experience. I believe my long tenure, my unique knowledge of municipal government and my proven ability to get things done make me a very well-qualified candidate for the Board of Finance. No other candidate brings this breadth of experience to the job.

List other issues that define your campaign platform:

• Reasonable/affordable taxation to keep citizens living in Stamford
• More funding for infrastructure: local roads sorely need to be repaired and repaved; our schools and government buildings need serious attention
• Organizational review of government departments to create greater efficiency and reduce cost

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

• Elected 14 times to municipal office by the citizens of Stamford
• Have held numerous leadership roles in business and government
• Served as Executive Aide to former Stamford mayor

The best advice ever shared with me was...

"Your word is your bond." This has been particularly true in my political life. People must know that, once you give your commitment on an issue, you will stand by your word.

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

Voters should know that I am not afraid to fight or to stand alone on a given issue if I think it is the right thing to do. I follow my conscience and try to do what is best for the citizens of Stamford.