Meet the Candidates: Tax "Watchdog" Viveiros Seeks Charter Change

Viewed from one angle, Antone C. Viveiros, a Republican candidate running for Middletown Town Council for this, his sixth attempt at office – "I'm a glutton for punishment" – is a modest man with a self-effacing sense of humor.

But seen from another vantage point, Mr. Viveiros, 67, a retired supervisor of building operations and maintenance for New England Electric, is a well-informed and committed citizen politico, reminiscent of a character the famous director Frank Capra might have created. A mix of Jimmy Stewart in "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," or Gary Cooper in "Meet John Doe."

During an interview, and listening to Viveiros speak in detail about town council meetings, points of law and decisions dating back twelve years ago, it's difficult not to wish the man who refers to himself as "Tony No Baloney" his first political success.

But then one realizes political engagement can take place with or without the advantage of an elected or appointed political seat. Such as when Viveiros founded The Island Watchdogs Association (IWDA), a non-partisan, non-profit organization of taxpayers committed to monitoring and advocating policy on matters pertaining to taxes and public spending. Viveiros launched the organization as a vehicle of protest and opposition to the Middletown Town Council implementing legislation, including property tax increases, which, according to Viveiros, hadn't been presented to the voters before becoming law.

When the issue was brought to the attention of then RI Attorney General Sheldon Whitehouse, Viveiros and his organization were told it was a local matter outside of the state's jurisdiction. The IWDA is seeking to enact changes to the town's charter to restore budget approval to Middletown voters, which Viveiros claims the town council has willfully circumvented on a number of occasions, if not as a matter of course.

As an example, Mr. Viveiros cited the passage of the split property tax rate, which assesses one set of tax rates for residential, and another for commercial property.

"They [the Middletown town council] got the okay from the state, but it should have been presented on a ballot," stated Viveiros.

While the admittedly conservative candidate's position toward government at times seems ultra-liberal, if not populist in ideology, when I asked him why he didn't consider running as a Democrat, Viveiros had this to say: "Everyone tells me you have to be Democrat to be elected in this town. I say, 'Why do I want to be a sneak and belong to the back-room party to get elected?' That's not what I stand for."

Later in the interview, with regard to partisanship, Viveiros identified Democrat incumbent Edward J. Silveira Jr. as, "Someone I could work with. We don't always agree. But he listens." But as for the other current town council membership, he lamented, "They're controlled by the party." And he agreed with another council member's position that local government should move to becoming non-partisan.

With respect to the local economy and jobs, Mr. Viveiros offered a counterpoint to conventional wisdom.

"This country has lost its minor leagues," stated Viveiros. "Everyone wants to make two-hundred to two-hundred and fifty thousand dollars a year. Hotel jobs? You can have all the hotels you want. High-tech. You can have all the high-tech jobs you want. There's no manufacturing jobs. What about the guy who can put together an engine and take it apart? Where do they go to gain vocational skills?"

Regarding the budget, Viveiros viewed current spending as irresponsible.

"There's more foreclosures and shuttered businesses in Middletown than ever before and yet we're not cutting spending," Viveiros stated.

A father of two children and two grandchildren, Viveiros, in particular, cited both the RI Department of Education and the Middletown school committee as operations fraught with "backroom dealing" that are run like "bad businesses" representing little concern for fiscal responsibility.

Asked to assess his chances for success for his sixth run at the town council, Viveiros conceded that he did not have the name recognition of other candidates. However, he hoped the voters make their decision based, "Not because you knew their grandfather."

"But what do they believe in? What they are."