My Memoirs - Citizen of the World

the beginning of 1974, I launched my campaign. I organized a
very good committee, and we worked very hard. We used the
most appropriate advertising we could afford - pamphlets,
newspaper, radio, even some television spots. We visited most of
the homes in Bristol and I talked to a great number of people,
trying my very best to explain my platform. It looked good,
especially because there were so many Portuguese-American
voters in the area. I was really counting on them and I received a
lot of positive feedback.
But I lost in the end, not only because my opponent had been an
incumbent State Representative, from Bristol, but also because it
was during the era of Richard Nixon's scandal. It was a tough year
to run as a Republican. Most Republicans lost in Rhode Island,
even the candidates from our neighboring town of Barrington, who
were traditionally a Republican majority. I remember in 1974 that
there were 46 Democrats and only 4 Republicans in the Senate at
the State House in Providence.
I enjoyed the experience of running for office, though, and I met a
great many nice people. In spite of losing the election, I became
much better known in the community and, consequently, my
business thrived. Although I never ran again, I still love politics a
great deal. I am a passionate student of political science and
continue to admire the Constitution of this great country. (Please
see the photograph and story that brought National Geographic
magazine reporter Louis Mezzatenta to Bristol to write a little bit
about my candidacy for the Rhode Island State Senate. Included is
a large article entitled New England’s Little Portugal in January
1975.
Becoming a Licensed International Travel Agency
After the election was over, and after meeting so many people, I
decided to apply for my own IATA License so that I did not have to
share 50% of my commissions with Piques Travel anymore.
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