Moccia Will Seek Fifth Term

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"I choose to stand and fight, I will seek re-election in November,"

Mayor Richard Moccia made it crystal clear Tuesday night he has no desire to step down as Norwalk's mayor.

"I may not be able to do everything I want to do, but I want to do everything I can do," he said.

Moccia announced he will seek a fifth term as mayor at the Norwalk Inn. His speech was often aimed at the Democratic party. He said personal attacks Democrats made against him ultimately helped sway his decision.

"No one goes through life, especially an elected official, unscathed," Moccia said. "We all go through things. We cannot let people's nasty words become our beliefs about ourselves."

"They've had to pick the most inane issues to bring up," said Republican councilman David McCarthy, regarding his Democratic counterparts. "And they make them into political hay."

Moccia said under his watch he has worked to better public safety, improve education and halt unemployment, which he said is currently at 6.5 percent. He said Norwalk compares favorably to neighboring cities like Stamford and Bridgeport in those areas.

"Compare us to cities," Moccia said. "Don't compare us to Wilton, Danbury, New Canaan and Weston. It's not just apples and oranges, it's apple versus a whole orange grove."

McCarthy said Moccia had proven himself across the board.

"The mayor knows what he's doing, he's proven himself to be a great mayor, and he's going to continue to be a great mayor."

Moccia's campaign site, mocciaformayor.com, is now up and running. In Moccia's way could stand a number of Democrats, including councilman Matt Miklave, former Town Clerk Andy Garfunkel, Vinny Mangiacopra and possibly former Police Chief Harry Rilling.