Mary Lou Rinaldi
STAMFORD — Mary Lou Rinaldi has served on the city’s elected boards for 40 years, but her reason for doing so goes back farther than that.
It dates to 1899, the year her grandparents arrived from Italy.
“A long time ago, Stamford welcomed my family,” said Rinaldi, a Democrat running to keep her seat on the Board of Finance. “They were able to build a life here. This is my way of giving back.”
She loved her 16 years on the 40member Board of Representatives, including a stint as president, Rinaldi said. But on the smaller Board of Finance, where she has held a seat for 24 years, members are seen “in a brighter light,” she said.
“The finance board has only six people, so each one has significantly more effect,” she said. “You have to know what you are talking about. You can’t hide. You have to know your stuff.”
She brings institutional knowledge to the Board of Finance, including her experience as chairwoman, Rinaldi said. She believes her background in human resources is valuable.
At 66, Rinaldi is a retired senior HR manager for GE Capital. She now does consulting work, focusing on staffing and leadership development.
“What happens in the HR department filters through every aspect of city government,” Rinaldi said. “If the city is not hiring the right people, it certainly affects how the city runs. Good people do good things.”
She hopes to win reelection on Nov. 5 to help ensure that those employed by the city are answerable for their actions, she said.
“To me, accountability is a big issue,” Rinaldi said. “How did we get to this mold situation? Who knew what, and when?
Are those people being held accountable? I’m also thinking of the marina situation.”
Mold found in summer 2018 caused Westover Elementary School to close and is forcing other schools to share space while roofs, windows, floors, walls and equipment are replaced. To do the work, the finance board recently doubled the city’s debt limit to $50 million and plans to do so again next year.
The former supervisor of the city’s public marinas last year pleaded guilty to using a city account to steal items that ultimately amounted to nearly $100,000.
At finance board meetings Rinaldi has grilled officials about who was responsible for overseeing school building maintenance and Marina Fund expenditures.
“We need controls to make sure people are spending taxpayer dollars wisely while still providing essential services to citizens. It’s a delicate balance,” Rinaldi said. “I think accountability has been slipping of late. I understand that the complexity of the city has grown, but internal controls should be there no matter the climate.
“I want people to do a good job. We’re paying them well, giving them good benefits. If they are not doing a good job, we should be told why.”
Finance board members serve for four years on a staggered schedule. This year Rinaldi and another incumbent, David Kooris, are running again, but fellow Democrat Dudley Williams is not seeking reelection. Also vying for the three open spots on the finance board are Republicans Chris Woodside, Andrew Krill and Fritz Blau and Democrat Geoff Alswanger.
Rinaldi said she hopes voters see her “as a hardworking member of the board who takes the oath of office seriously,” and who thinks independently.
“I try not to be a lemming,” she said. “If I think something is good and right for the city, I support it. If I think it’s not, I won’t, no matter who’s in the mayor’s office.”
Mary Lou Rinaldi
Party: Democrat
Age: 66
Incumbent: Yes
Current job: Human Resources Consultant; retired from GE Capital as senior Human Resources Manager-Corporate HR Education: Sacred Heart Academy; University of Bridgeport BA summa cum laude (English/Communications); Certificate in Employment Law-U/Miami); Coursework in Corporate Communications (Fairfield University)
The most important issue in this election: Continuing my efforts to hold the line on municipal tax increases while still providing the high quality, mandated services the citizens of Stamford expect and deserve. These efforts will also entail closely reviewing all city contracts and benefits to ensure that their costs do not threaten city's financial solvency or credit rating; analyzing city departments and their budgets for greater efficiency and productivity.
Other issues: Greater accountability and responsibility. In the recent past, the city has experienced costly problems: theft from the marina fund and the police extra duty account, mold infiltration throughout many of our schools and public buildings. Responsible parties involved should be held accountable but that is often not the case. Greater focus on internal controls, adherence to established city policies, procedures, HR hiring practices, well-structured audits are and will continue to be very important to me.
Family: 3rd generation Stamford resident since 1899; single with one sister also residing in Stamford. Grew up on Stamford's westside and currently residing in Springdale for the last 25 years.
Previous elected offices, community group affiliations: Board of Representatives (16 yrs); Board of Finance (24 yrs); Chair, Stamford CERF Pension Board; Board of CorporatorsFirst County Bank; City of Stamford Investment Committee member; former Mayoral Executive Aide; Board member — Our Lady of Grace School.