{news} Rolf Maurer in Stamford Advocate

[David Bedell]

http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/ci_13479872

Green Party candidate hopes to broaden scope of race

By Devon Lash
Staff Writer
Posted: 10/03/2009

STAMFORD -- Rolf Maurer wanted to widen the debate in the mayoral 
campaign, so he joined the ticket.

Maurer, 47, will be the city's second Green Party candidate to make a 
bid for mayor.

The Green Party has 52 registered voters, compared with the Democrats' 
24,219 voters, the Republicans' 12,809 and 603 Independent voters, 
according to data from the town clerk's office.

"I feel it should be more of a participatory process, so that [voters] 
don't feel committed to two choices," Maurer said.

He has worked in the publishing industry for the past decade, first as 
an associate editor at "Folio" magazine, then at Media Ventures in Norwalk.

Now Maurer, a lifelong Stamford resident, is working as a free-lancer 
writing online about various topics, such as pop culture.

He said he doesn't have any experience in city government but has 
organized local events, including a series of lectures and panel 
discussions on the Patriot Act as former co-chair of the Unitarian 
Universalist Society.

His lack of familiarity with city hall won't be hindrance, he said, 
because of his lifelong residency and knowledge of how city policy 
affects the public.

He said he aims to champion issues, such as improving public 
transportation and bolstering the local economy.

Since Maurer sold his Plymouth Horizon for $1 in 1999, he has been 
relying on public transportation.

He says the experience has given him unique insight into what mass 
transit users need in Stamford -- namely, better bus stop markings, 
shelter from the elements and crosstown routes.

"The neat thing about using mass transit is not so much how much time it 
takes, but having the freedom to do something, like get to know other 
passengers or read a book," he said.

Maurer said the city needs to end the "cookie cutter appeal" that comes 
with trying to be an extension of New York City.

He said the Downtown Special Services District should concentrate on 
keeping events local, instead of bringing in musical acts such as Sugar 
Ray to attract out-of-towners.

"Various arts outlets originated to promote local art, now it's a venue 
to sell big ticket acts," he said.

Maurer said he is in favor of another task force, similar to Mayor 
Dannel Malloy's Sustainable Stamford, which would work with local 
companies to keep office buildings energy efficient and continue to 
check on the efficiency after their initial certification.

"I want to change their culture regarding 'going green,'" he said. 
"Conventional wisdom says you have to sacrifice profits by going green, 
but that's not true."

To promote his platforms in what he calls his "do-it-yourself" campaign, 
Maurer has started a blog to discuss the issues and will participate in 
the mayoral debate sponsored by SoundWaters with Republican candidate 
Michael Pavia and Democratic candidate David Martin on Wednesday at the 
Stamford campus of the University of Connecticut.

The Green Party measures victory in other ways, said Fairfield County 
Green Party secretary David Bedell .

After the 2005 mayoral race campaign, Green Party candidate Darek 
Shapiro worked with Malloy to implement the "20% by 2010," in which the 
city made a commitment to using a more renewable energy.

"We'd be really happy if some of the other candidates pick up on issues 
or proposals," Bedell said. "Historically, that's where third parties 
have had the biggest effect. Even when they don't get into office, they 
raise ideas, and later those ideas get put into effect."

Staff Writer Devon Lash can be reached at 964-2242 or devon.lash@ scni.com.


 		 	   		  
_________________________________________________________________
Hotmail: Free, trusted and rich email service.
http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/171222984/direct/01/
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://pairlist10.pair.net/mailman/private/ctgp-news/attachments/20091006/ca612f46/attachment.html>