Joe Trillo’s Record Of Backroom Deals and Ethical Issues Would Only Mean More Of The Same For Rhode Island

Democrat Governor Gina Raimondo isn’t the only incompetent political insider running in Rhode Island’s gubernatorial race this year. Joe Trillo, who spent years in the state legislature helping Democrat leaders pass tax hikes and backroom deals, has tried to cast himself as an alternative. In reality, he’s just another typical politician who would only bring more of the same.

While in the Rhode Island House of Representatives, Trillo broke a “No Tax” pledge he signed in 2009 to vote for Raimondo’s tax hikes and even openly admitted that closed door deals hidden from the public were commonplace for him. Trillo has also faced ethical questions over hosting a cable TV show while serving as an elected official and over his decision to submit legislation that would have penalized yacht club owners in what was seen by some as a retaliation for his expulsion from the East Greenwich Yacht Club.

Trillo wants voters to believe that he’s a different kind of politician, but in truth he’s just another political insider with a history of cutting backroom deals while refusing to answer for a litany of ethical questions. Rhode Island already has a governor with these problems, Joe Trillo would only be more of the same. Here are just some of the reasons why Trillo is wrong for Rhode Island:

Closed Door Meetings

The Providence Journal’s political columnist Edward Fitzpatrick wrote a column in 2008 on Trillo imploring the House leadership to schedule an executive session that would be closed to the public, lobbyists and the press. Trillo said he was not talking about a formal session but “a rap session, an exchange of ideas.” “Say it ain’t so, Joe… ‘Tell me Rep. Joseph Trillo, R-Warwick, didn’t just implore the House leadership to schedule an executive session, which would be closed to the public, lobbyists and the press… ‘Tell me he didn’t call for a brainstorming session so legislators can toss around ideas for solving the state’s economic and budget crises. Tell me he didn’t say, The presence of any outside influence would have the potential to limit the free exchange of innovative and potentially unpopular ideas… Oh yeah, he did. And I don t mind telling you that Trillo, who owns an alarm company, had me alarmed. But he quickly put my mind at ease. I’m not talking a formal session, Trillo said. I’m talking about a rap session, an exchange of ideas.” (Source: Edward Fitzpatrick, “The answer to secrecy is not more secrecy,” Providence Journal, Nov. 25, 2008)

Trillo said “The hard reality of government is that a lot of what happens, happens behind closed doors.” Fitzpatrick responded by writing “All of that might be true, as far as it goes. But it doesn’t go very far because the answer to secrecy is not more secrecy. If decisions are being made behind closed doors, the answer is not to close more doors.” “Trillo said, The hard reality of government is that a lot of what happens, happens behind closed doors. You don t stop it with the Open Meetings Law. The budget is put together every year by the House speaker, House majority leader and House Finance Committee chairman. Plus, legislators have contended they don t have to adhere to the Open Meetings Law… All of that might be true, as far as it goes. But it doesn’t go very far because the answer to secrecy is not more secrecy. If decisions are being made behind closed doors, the answer is not to close more doors. If elected leaders have ideas, they ought to have the guts to propose them in front of the press, the lobbyists and the voters who elected them.” (Source: Edward Fitzpatrick, “The answer to secrecy is not more secrecy,” Providence Journal, Nov. 25, 2008)

Tax Hikes

On his candidate facebook page Trillo said he NEVER voted to raise taxes, and signed a no tax pledge in 2009.

(Source: Joseph A Trillo, political candidate facebook page, about section, accessed Sept. 14, 2018)

As a state representative Joe Trillo praised Governor Raimondo’s 2015-2016 state budget. “Rep. Joe Trillo, a Warwick Republican known for his fiery opposition to budgets in years past, captured the spirit of the debate as he lavished praise on Mattiello in a speech at the end of the debate… ‘Is everybody happy with everything? That is never going to happen,’ Trillo said. ‘The bottom line is, when you look at it as a whole it’s a great budget. It’s great for the state of Rhode Island because the state of Rhode Island is headed, finally, in the right direction under your leadership.’” (RI House passes $8.67 state budget unanimously,” Ted Nesi, WPRI, Jun 16, 2015)

The budget increased the cigarette tax and expanded the 6% hotel-room tax to cover vacation home rentals. “With Rhode Island state government’s 2015-16 fiscal year set to start on July 1, lawmakers are spending this week putting the final touches on a new state budget… The $8.67-billion tax-and-spending plan – which won unanimous approval in the House Tuesday night and heads to the Senate on Wednesday – contains a host of provisions, some big and some small. The budget blueprint has been changed in a number of ways since Gov. Gina Raimondo introduced her initial proposal in March – sometimes at her request – but still largely reflects her priorities and proposals.” (Source: Ted Nesi, “12 things to know about RI’s new state budget,” WPRI, June 16, 2015)

Ethical Questions

In 2002, an article in the providence Journal questioned if local and state cable channels featuring talk shows hosted by elected officials gives incumbents an unfair exposure during election season. “And around the state, a range of local and state cable channels featured talk shows hosted by elected officials — including the governor, two state senators and a state representative… All of this helps voters become familiar with their elected leaders and their work. But when the campaign season hits, does that exposure also give these incumbents an unfair edge?” (Source: Liz Anderson, “Incumbent politicians with an edge: Their familiar faces on cable TV,” Providence Journal via nexis, July 5, 2002)

Trillo was a frequent user of public-access television, a world where anyone – not just incumbents, but also their opponents — can make arrangements to tape and broadcast a show, with Cox  Communications picking up the tab. Trillo spent $30,000 of his own money to up to three shows a week at his alarm company, rather than trek to Cox’s studios. Trillo said Obviously there’s a benefit to getting the name of Joe Trillo out there, but I don’t do anything but feature the guests,’ he said.” “Trillo, perhaps the most financially invested of the lot, said he spent $30,000 of his own money last year on a camera and other equipment so he could tape up to three shows a week at his alarm company, rather than trek to Cox’s studios. Recent guests have included candidates for governor and Congress, members of a program for troubled youths, and the Warwick mayor… ‘Obviously there’s a benefit to getting the name of Joe Trillo out there, but I don’t do anything but feature the guests,’ he said.” (Source: Liz Anderson, “Incumbent politicians with an edge: Their familiar faces on cable TV,” Providence Journal via nexis, July 5, 2002)

Questions of Corruption

Trillo was suspended from the East Greenwich Yacht Club after two incidents with the yacht club manager. He subsequently  submitted legislation that would have potentially taken moorings away from yacht clubs all over the state. This prompted news outlets to question whether the bill was submitted in retaliation. “State Rep. Joe Trillo, of Warwick, was suspended from the East Greenwich Yacht Club last year. This year he submitted legislation that would potentially take moorings away from yacht clubs all over the state… Is the bill retaliation?… ‘No way, absolutely not,’ replied the longtime Republican lawmaker… He said he’s seeking his redress in court, through a $500,000 lawsuit in Kent County… His membership in the yacht club was revoked after two incidents with the yacht club manager last summer. They are detailed in a police report… He is quoted as telling a friend of the yacht club manager, when Trillo ran into them on Block Island in August, that “He’s garbage! He’s a (expletive deleted) jerk. He’s scum!… Then, ‘Guys from the yacht club don’t belong out here, they don’t have the (expletive deleted) money to be out here. This isn’t over yet! I’m not done with you.’… More vulgarities followed, according to the police report.” (Source: Bill Rappleye, “Only on 10:  Mooring bill motive?” NBC 10, Feb. 26^th)

A WJAR-TV Channel 10 news report also questioned whether the mooring fee legislation was retaliation for Trillo’s expulsion from the club. “A WJAR-TV Channel 10 news report in February questioned whether the mooring fee legislation was retaliation for Trillo’s expulsion from the club. The original bill, H-5257, would have given Rhode Island residents preference over marinas, yacht clubs and out-of-state residents during the mooring application process… Trillo said Tuesday there is no connection between his lawsuit and the legislation, which was re-filed March 12.” (Source: Chris Keegan, “Trillo suing EG Yacht Club for nearly $500K,” The RI Independent, March 20, 2015)

Tax Lien

Trillo had a state tax lein in 1998, a search for Joseph Trillo in the Rhode Island Judiciary portal also lists a lawsuit with the city of Warwick the case type listed as “Excessive Tax”

(Source: Joseph Trillo V City of Warwick, Rhode Island Judiciray Public Portal, file date 5/21/1998)