NORWICH – After accepting the interim mayoral position following the death of Mayor Robert Raphael in 2006, Joseph Maiurano has only campaigned twice for his current standing as the city’s leader. This campaign season, Maiurano is running unopposed for the second time in his career.

The mayoral election was close in 2007, when Maiurano won by less than 200 votes; yet, no contenders have campaigned since, leaving him with a sense of humility in what has been accomplished during his stint as mayor.

“I think it’s really an honor to be unopposed,” Maiurano said last week. “Someone else could have run, but chose not to. I hope they feel that maybe I’m doing a decent job.”

As the city’s former Ward 5 Alderman, Maiurano was an active member in the political arena prior to being appointed mayor and said he has a well-developed familiarity with the safety and economic needs of city. He went on to say that though he finds esteem in running unopposed, he is not taking it lightly.

“I see it as more of a challenge,” he said, “to do a better job in meeting the expectations of the community ... If people feel that I’m doing a good job, I want to work harder.”

But Maiurano takes little self-credit for his work and claims to recognize his fortune in having good department heads assisting in the efforts of the city and pointed out his need to work closely with them for better results.