ZBA Member David McCarthy Runs for Common Council

Norwalk Zoning Board of Appeals member David McCarthy on Monday announced his candidacy for a District E seat on the Norwalk Common Council

"The work I have begun as a member of the Norwalk Zoning Commission and as one of Norwalk’s Representatives to the Southwestern Regional Planning Agency will serve as the foundation for successive projects that I feel will make our city a better place," Dave McCarthy said in a statement issued Monday.

"I will work as I have in my role as co-chairman of the SWRPA Economic Development Committee to seek to enable the city to add new jobs whether by seeking grant money or by advocating for policies that will make the city even friendlier to business, while safeguarding the character that makes Norwalk great."

Born in New Jersey in 1966, McCarthy received his bachelor's degree in "Regional Science," which he describes as "the economic side of urban planning." He then spent some time in the U.S. Navy, serving on a battleship during the Persian Gulf War. He worked in the Navy's Aviation Supply Office in Philadelphia, then in Naples, Italy as a supply officer.

Afteer the Navy, McCarthy attended Georgetown University graduate school, then moved to Norwalk. He worked for GE Capital for 10 years, and for the last four years has worked for IBM's Global Financing division, most recently in the company's Capital Markets Department. He and his wife, Pam, live in Norwalk with their 12-year-old daughter, Allison.

McCarthy ran unsuccessfully for a seat on the Sixth Taxing District commission, then was appointed to the South Western Regional Planning Agency in April 2010. Along with his chairmanship of the  is chairman of SWRPA's  Economic Development Committee, he serves on the Executive Committee.

He serves on the board of the Norwalk Senior Center, and he and his wife are on the Roton Point board of directors, where he is chairman of the Operations Committee and serves on the Finance and Personnel Committee.

McCarthy became Patch's first local blogger on May 11, with a post about Memorial Day. (Patch blogs are available to nearly everyone, including government office-holders and candidates for office.)

In addition to the more substantial aspects of his resume, McCarthy is also a former contestant on the television program, "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" with Regis Philbin. In 2001, McCarthy won $125,000 on the show.

"I am firmly committed to keeping our property taxes in check and will work tirelessly to ensure that we never raise one dollar more in taxes than we absolutely need to manage the city effectively," McCarthy said in his announcement.

McCarthy said that one of his major goals will be "to ensure there is continued success in the development of transit-oriented, sustainable communities, where people can live, work, play, bike and age in place.  This will define Norwalk far into the future. ...

"I am and will be an advocate for development that adheres to the Sustainable Development Principles, such as mixed use, expanded transportation choices, clean energy and wise resource use as well as, of course, coordinated regional planning."

McCarthy said he wanted the city to make more use of digital technology in its management and decision-making.

"A 21st Century City needs to make data-driven decisions to ensure future success." he said in his announcement. "I have managed projects and budgets from the tens of thousands to the tens of millions and know the ways to incorporate the opinions of others without losing sight of the big picture."