The political strategist who coined the battle cry Redemption and Opportunity for Ernie Newton’s comeback attempt for state senate last summer will try to place his own name on the ballot this year as a Democratic challenger to Republican Mayor Dick Moccia in Norwalk. Newton, the self-proclaimed Moses of his peeps, came up short, but one thing Vinny Mangiacopra won’t be short on is rhetoric. He knows how to turn a phrase. Can he add the substance?
Mangiacopra, a Norwalk resident, is no stranger to Bridgeport politics. He’s been involved in several races including for Probate Judge Paul Ganim and Congressman Jim Himes.
Politics takes hard-headed determination. Mangiacopra in Italian means “eating coconut”–eating dried coconut, anyway, so his entry into what could be a large Democratic field trying to take out Mayor Moccia will certainly add some spice, and few head knocks as well.
Mangiacopra, 31, provided Newton a nice tagline for his senate race in which Newton finished a close second to Andres Ayala in the Democratic primary. “The message of redemption and opportunity was always bigger than one person, one individual and one politician,” says Mangiacopra. “It is a community message aimed to shine a brighter light on our neediest citizens, those that are most vulnerable and consistently at risk.”
Newton’s involved in some risky court business right now trying to fend off state charges he manipulated $500 in campaign contributions to secure roughly $80,000 in public campaign funds.
Hmmm. Will Moses campaign for Vinny in Norwalk?