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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
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