Cranston mayoral candidates clash over housing, economy in bitter debate • Rhode Island Current

Things got personal during a debate between Cranston’s Republican mayoral candidates Monday night.

Acting Mayor Ken Hopkins and Assemblywoman Barbara Ann Fenton-Fung discussed a number of issues in Rhode Island’s second-largest city, including housing, economic development and a lack of parking for residents.

There were also light-hearted moments, such as when the candidates named their favorite books: Hopkins favors John McCain’s “Character is Destiny”; Fenton-Fung likes “Tuesdays with Morrie.” But the debate was mostly tense, and even political issues became personal. When Fenton-Fung raised the need to create more affordable housing for seniors, Hopkins responded that he had moved into a granny flat originally built for his mother-in-law after she and his wife died. Hopkins specifically thanked Fenton-Fung for “taking such good care of me.”

Fenton-Fung also took aim at Hopkins’ family, noting: several members have worked in public service in the city: “There are 38 other cities and towns that could probably use their talents,” she said. “If he had shown real leadership, he would have told them to go to other cities until he was no longer mayor.”

A Ethics complaint The claim that Hopkins was paternal dismissed in July. But it was still a sensitive issue for the mayor.

“Mr. Congressman, attacking someone’s family and children is the lowest form of government there is,” he replied.

The hour-long debate was hosted by the Cranston Herald and moderated by John Howell, the newspaper’s former publisher. Panelists included Rory Schuler of the Herald, Isabella Jibilian of Rhode Island PBS and Ian Donnis of The Public’s Radio.

A large crowd had come to watch the candidates battle it out in the library’s central branch, but people who arrived too late to get one of the 50 or so seats lined the walls instead.

Fenton-Fung’s campaign team, meanwhile, has begun to portray the mayor as an unreliable leader; a recent mailer uses images of Pinocchio to characterize Hopkins’ tenure, with the wooden toy’s nose getting ever larger.

In the debate, Fenton-Fung described Hopkins in the same way: “Every time I hear Ken talk, he blames someone else or something else for even the smallest problem. It’s never his fault. He’s never to blame.”

Power struggles within the Republican Party

Infighting among Republicans is unusual in Rhode Island’s electoral landscape. Republicans are in the minority at the state level, with only nine Republicans in the House and five in the Senate in the 2024 legislative session. Two of those representatives – Representatives Fenton-Fung and Patricia Morgan – are running for other offices, while Representative Brian Rea is not running for office at all.

Cranston, on the other hand, is something of an anomaly: The city hasn’t had a Democratic mayor since 2009. Republican Allan Fung, Fenton-Fung’s husband, served from 2009 to 2021. When Hopkins ran in 2020, he received Fung’s endorsement and subsequently defeated Democratic challenger Maria Bucci.

“You used to be political allies. And now you’re not. Why?” asked Jibilian.

As Hopkins put it, “The team fell apart.” Hopkins claimed the turning point was a breakfast with Fung, during which the former mayor tried to get Hopkins to hire his private firm to provide legal advice to the city of Cranston.

“Did you report this breakfast with the former mayor to law enforcement or the Ethics Commission?” asked Schuler, the current publisher of the Herald.

“Back then, I was a team player,” Hopkins said.

“Excuse me, when was that?” Jibilian continued. “Were you mayor then?”

Hopkins said the breakfast took place while he was mayor. In her response, Fenton-Fung called the story “utter nonsense” and said her husband’s former employer, the Johnston law firm Pannone Lopes Devereaux & O’Gara, had done work for the council, although it was not immediately clear what that work consisted of.

Tax protection

The City Council is also at loggerheads with Hopkins. The mayor filed a complaint against the council over the use of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, the Herald previously reported. The council should take up the matter in Board meeting at its regular meeting, which took place immediately after the end of the debate.

Fenton-Fung promised to work with the city council and named flood protection, a perennial problem for the city, as one of her top three concerns.

“I find it interesting that my opponent wants to work with the council, even though they have not been able to solve this problem for the last 50 years,” Hopkins said. “We need to work with the federal government.”

On the economic front, Fenton-Fung said she would like to see a biomedical and health sciences sector – an industry also emerging in Providence – on the city’s east side. Hopkins said he would continue his efforts to streamline the city’s budget.

When asked if they would raise taxes, both were cautious. Fenton-Fung said the city needs to stabilize taxes.

“That’s a good question,” said Hopkins. “Let’s see what the future brings.”

Before their closing remarks, each candidate was given a minute to say a few kind words about their opponent. Fenton-Fung spoke kindly about the mayor’s reinstatement of the Veterans Day parade. Hopkins called Fenton-Fung “passionate” and “vibrant” and said she makes him “work hard to win this re-election.”

Fenton-Fung’s concluding remarks were not so generous.

“The city is held back by resentment, chaos, out-of-control spending and a mayor who is a day late, a dollar short and two steps behind on absolutely everything,” Fenton-Fung said. “On September 10, we begin the journey back to the days of Fung here in Cranston.”

Early voting lasts until September 9, with the primaries taking place one day later, on September 10. The winner of the Republican primary will face Democrat Robert Ferri, a former Republican.

Even though they traded verbal blows, both Hopkins and Fenton-Fung seemed aware that their split might please their rivals.

“We continue to have problems with the council because they like to see us fail because they have ambitions to take over the office,” Hopkins said.

Fenton-Fung said her opponent delighted in their disagreement: “Mr. Ferri is actually standing right outside the room laughing and shaking his head. It’s kind of ridiculous.”

Hopkins’ campaign fund for the fight against Ferri was $205,686, according to the most recent campaign data filed on August 12. Fenton-Fung had $141,800.