Michael Vieira Takes His Seat on Livingston Township Council – TAPinto.net
LIVINGSTON, NJ — Members of the Livingston community, including township employees, former mayors, representatives from various service organizations and more, joined the Livingston Township Council in supporting Michael Vieira as he was officially sworn into his new seat on Monday night.
Surrounded by family, friends and co-workers, Vieira addressed the residents of Livingston and expressed his hope that he will gain their confidence over the next few months so that he can continue his “dream and desire to serve the residents of Livingston as Council Member Michael Vieira.”
“I would like to say how humbled I am to not only have been chosen to fill the unexpired term of council member, but also tonight to have been sworn in,” said Vieira, who went on to thank his wife, Gabriela; his children, Michael and Samantha; his mother, sisters, aunt and nephews; members of the many committees he has served on, such as the zoning board and the Livingston Transportation Advisory Committee; and several other community members, including the Livingston Democratic County Committee (LDCC) for selecting him.
Vieira was recently elected by the members of the LDCC after the township council deferred the vote back to the committee. For the remainder of the year, Vieira will fill the vacancy left by Michael Silverman, whose term would have expired on Dec. 31, 2020. In order to continue serving for the final year of Silverman’s term, Vieira would need to run in a general election to be held in November of this year.
“The process wasn’t easy, and for most of you, this is the first time you experienced the steps necessary to fill a vacant council seat,” he said to the LDCC. “There are some on the county committee—and you know who you are—I just want to say thank you for your continued words of encouragement and advice and the many hours we spoke on the phone or texted.”
Vieira specifically expressed gratitude to LDCC chair Patricia Sebold and her late husband, Burt, who have been good friends of Vieira’s since the day he moved to town. He thanked Sebold, who is also an Essex County Freeholder, for taking him under her “Livingston wing” and introducing him to so many people throughout the township and the county.
Personal shout outs were also extended to residents Alan Karpas, a well-known figure among Livingston’s volunteer committees, and John Alati, to whom Vieira said, “It’s not over, there are a lot more miles to travel.”
Vieira added that he looks forward to working with and learning from the current mayor and council as he begins his term. He vowed to catch up on and support the existing projects while also bringing forth new ideas, such as bringing back the Livingston Citizens Institute—a former community project that Vieira was once a member of and is willing to spearhead in the future.
“I know each and every one of you and I know that you love Livingston just as I do,” he said to his fellow council members. “I am extremely excited to help move your and Livingston’s agenda forward.”
To the community, Vieira promised to “work for the entire town of Livingston.”
“I bring to this council a new set of eyes, a fresh voice and fresh ideas,” he said. “These council members have always been open and transparent, and I promise you I will be the same…
“While I stand in this room, work in this room, represent you in this room, I say it again, I represent the entire town of Livingston. I will not play politics in this room. I promise you that every decision I make and every vote I cast will be because I believe it will make our entire town stronger.”
Several members of the public congratulated Vieira and expressed their confidence in his ability to serve the township during the public comment portion of Monday’s council meeting. Mayor Al Anthony and his fellow council members also joined in the congratulatory comments.
Stating that “other towns want to be like Livingston,” Vieira said he looks forward to being a part of keeping it that way.