Brinton finishes master’s degree in public administration

NORWALK — Lisa Brinton, who is running as an independent candidate for mayor, announced this week that she had completed her master’s degree in public administration and policy.

Brinton officially graduated from American University on Saturday, May 11. She said she was inspired to go back to school after her oldest son enrolled at George Washington University.

“This master’s degree will complement my decade-long service in Norwalk, which to date has been primarily focused on the interdependent relationship between public education expenses and land use revenues,” she said.

Brinton said that her studies, along with her past career of over three decades in corporate life, will help her as a candidate and potentially the next mayor.

“My diverse private and public sector background uniquely positions me to tackle inefficiencies at City Hall, as well as pave a new way for Norwalk, based on national best practices of cities looking to attract small business and balanced growth, directed at increasing median household income and property values,” she said.

Brinton is running against Mayor Harry Rilling, a Democrat.

Rilling highlighted the team of professionals he put together as a part of the city’s reorganization earlier this month and said he believed his work over the past five years showed his dedication to making Norwalk the best city to “live, work and play.”

“I think we’ve done a really good job in the city over the past five plus years,” he said. “I’m proud of these achievements and I’m proud of the team we’ve assembled.”

Darnell Crosland, a former Democrat, changed his party affliation in April to Republican and said he was planning to run for mayor. As of Wednesday afternoon, Crosland had not yet filed his paperwork to run with the Town Clerk.