WITH FLAIR, CROSLAND KICKS OFF MAYORAL CAMPAIGN
“I’m your candidate. I’m the person that can bring healing and reconciliation to Norwalk.”
Darnell Crosland, mayoral candidate
NORWALK — Darnell Crosland’s path to becoming mayor is winding and full of obstacles. He’s the first to admit it.
But on Friday night, as Crosland formally announced his mayoral campaign, he and his supporters walked a path of a different sort — one lined with red carpet and velvet ropes.
Dozens of supporters who turned out to Crosland’s mayoral campaign launch party were greeted by this lavish sight, punctuated further by Crosland’s sleek Maserati convertible parked nearby.
The scene was a stark contrast to the more understated campaign kickoff events of his opponents, Democratic incumbent Harry Rilling and Independent candidate Lisa Brinton. This was by design, though.
“We’re not going for that backroom diner type vibe,” Crosland said. “We’re trying to make this excellent.”
The former Democrat switched to the Republican party nearly six months ago after he tried and failed for a second time to get elected as a local probate judge. He cited the “kingmaker” mentality of his former party as the reason he joined the “Party of Lincoln.”
Under the leadership of Rilling, Crosland said, city Democrats had forgotten their way and, more importantly, the people they are supposed to represent. His campaign, he said, would be aimed at restoring the voice to the city’s people.
“I’m your candidate. I’m the person that can bring healing and reconciliation to Norwalk,” Crosland told his supporters Friday.
Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna Come” boomed in the background as Crosland climbed a small dais to address a crowd that included Connecticut Republican Party Chairman J.R. Romano and party leaders from around the city. Donning his trademark suit and bow tie, the onetime NAACP president then took his place between two television monitors bearing his campaign slogan, “Let’s Fix It,” and launched into a speech where he tore into the incumbent mayor, whom he dubbed “Tired Harry.”
He ripped Rilling for his handling of the Wall Street’s stalled POKO project, as well as his support for the city’s soon- to -be-opened mall. If elected, Crosland said, he would reevaluate the city’s relationship with big developers, and strengthen ties with the community atlarge.
“This time, we’ll include the business owners. This time, we’ll include the employees. This time, we’ll talk to the customers and the taxpayers. This time, we’ll include all of you that are here tonight. This time, there will be no more backroom deals,” said Crosland, a defense attorney.
Though his pointed proclamations were met with a resounding applause Friday night, Crosland’s campaign is still surrounded by uncertainty.
For one, Crosland is quick to admit that he’s “not confident at all” the Republican Town Committee will endorse him as their candidate come Monday night’s convention, and party leaders seem to agree his nomination is a longshot. Independent candidate Lisa Brinton, who is seeking the party’s crossendorsement, appears to be the favorite.
Even if he somehow secured the nod from the RTC, Crosland would still be playing from behind. Over the first six months of campaigning, Crosland received zero donations. Rilling, on the other hand, reported just over $100,000 in contributions; Brinton reported just over $20,000.
Crosland remains undeterred, though.
“If I don’t get the nomination, I’ll just hit the streets that much harder and win the primary,” Crosland said.