Council Majority Leader Kelly Straniti Won't Run for Re-election

Common Council Majority Leader Kelly L. Straniti of District D announced late Tuesday morning that she won't run for re-election because she wants to spend more time with her son and husband.

"It's definitely a difficult decision, because I do love public service," the Republican said in an interview. "I really want to spend more time with my 16-year-old son, who's going to be a senior next year—and my husband, too, who's missed me.

"My son will be off to college in one year, and this is his last year at home," Straniti said. "I also have a real passion for cooking, and I'm already thinking of trying more recipies."

Asked about her possible successor on the council, Straniti said there are at least two possibilities: "I believe that there is somebody ready to fill my spot. It hasn't been made official yet, but we have a great candidate already lined up, if that person does take on the challenge. There's also the possibility that Doug Hempstead would go back to (representing) the district instead of being a citywide candidate again."

Straniti is in her fourth term on the Common Council, having been first elected in 2005. She served as minority leader for two years. When the GOP took over the council again in 2009, she became chairman of the Ordinance Committee. For the past year she has been majority leader, working with nine other Republicans and Mayor Richard A. Moccia's Republican administration.

When asked for her proudest accomplishments on the council, she brought up the massage parlor ordinance, which mandated that anyone providing massages be licensed annually by the city Health Department. The department orders criminal background checks on each licensed massage provider and inspects massage establishments as well.

Straniti said that in crafting the ordinance, the committee got advice not only from people concerned about prostitution at Norwalk's massage parlors, but from reputable massage therapists as well, so that the law both made it harder to conduct prostitution in the businesses but didn't become too onerous, especially on legitimate massage providers. The ordinance went into effect in December.

"I think I have helped to make Norwalk a better place by working with this administration to promote low tax increases, fixing the city's infrastructure, preserving open space and advancing quality-of-life issues in neighborhoods," she said in a news release.

Straniti said she hasn't ruled out running for office in the future. "At this point, I'm keeping all doors open. I'll still remain active in the community in the next couple of years, and I'm a member of other boards and agencies."

She remains vice chairman for her district on the Republican Town Committee. "I do plan to stay active in the party as well," she said.

Before she was elected to the council, Straniti founded and served as president of the Broad River Neighborhood Association, which helped beautify its neighborhood near New Canaan Avenue and held neighborhood social events.

Straniti works from her home as an independent real estate paralegal, working with attorneys in Fairfield County to help close transactions.

"We fully understand the time constraints needed to run a successful campaign and respect Kelly's decision," said Norwalk Republican Town Chairman Art Scialabba in a news release. "I know how much she enjoys working to make Norwalk a great city. Despite this disappointing news, I am confident that we will field a complete slate of candidates in District D this fall."

In the next two years, Straniti said, the Common Council's biggest challenge will continue to be keeping taxes low while providing necessary services.

"There's always the issue of the budget and the economy," she said. "Hopefully, it (the economy) will not get any worse, but I'm not sure it's going to turn around and get better anytime soon."