Incumbent Mayor Kenneth Hopkins (R) and City Councilman Robert Ferri (D) sparred over their records and outlined their visions for the city at Cranston High School West on Monday night.

Though more cordial than the Republican primary debate between Hopkins and State Rep. Barbara Ann Fenton-Fung, the candidates traded barbs throughout the debate, which was cohosted by the Cranston Herald, The Public’s Radio and Rhode Island PBS. The journalists asking questions included Herald Editor Rory Schuler, Ian Donnis from The Public’s Radio and Isabella Jibilian from Rhode Island PBS. Luis Hernandez of The Public’s Radio was the debate’s moderator.

Throughout the debate, the pair painted two different pictures of Cranston’s finances.

“Mayor Hopkins mentioned that last year, he didn’t use any COVID money, but the previous two years, we used over $30 million of COVID money, and we have not shown a substantial means of replacing that revenue,” Ferri said. “We have created a future structural deficit that will affect the residents of this city.”

Hopkins, meanwhile, said that Cranston’s financial situation and outlook was great, criticizing Ferri for what he characterized as calling the city “a dump.”

“The city, through the Moody bond ratings, has an A++ bond rating,” Hopkins said.

The debate’s most heated moment occurred when discussing affordable housing in the city. Ferri claimed that Cranston had not built affordable housing in 13 years, placing the blame on the mayor’s shoulders and mentioning the project to build a multi-use building on the property of Legion Bowl & Billiards, which would have included at least 15 affordable housing units, according to published reports.

Following that, Hopkins asked Ferri if he “really wanted to get into” the Legion project, saying that Ferri was good friends with Legion’s owner, Marshall D’Ambrosio, and that the project had not moved forward because the owner was looking for a tax break.

Ferri, the former owner of now-shuttered Town Hall Lanes in Johnston, took exception, saying D’Ambrosio was looking to build because bowling alleys were not as profitable as they once were.

“He donated money to your campaign and my campaign, so don’t say he’s only my friend,” Ferri said. “He’s a businessperson that’s trying to build housing in this city, and you have done nothing to help him.”

Later Monday night, the Cranston City Council’s Finance Committee was slated to hold a discussion on a resolution calling for an “independent investigation” of Hopkins’s alleged theft of a classic car from a city man. The incident has resulted in litigation, and in the latest suit, the city, the mayor and a city solicitor have all been named.

Ferri voted with his fellow Democrats in moving the resolution on to the Finance Committee. On Monday night, after an extended executive session, the committee ultimately voted to continue discussion on the matter for another month.

Asked if he believed it was ethical to vote in favor of the investigation of his political opponent, Ferri said that he saw no issue. He told the crowd that he believed Hopkins had acted unethically in some way.

“You either stole the car, or you did a quid pro quo, promised a guy a favor, or you abused your power,” Ferri said. “Which one is it? Because the people deserve to know which one it was.”

Hopkins offered a rebuttal, saying that the accusations were a “political hit piece” by the Fenton-Fung campaign. He also promised to comply with investigations into the matter.

“I did not make a deal with [Davide Broccoli, the accuser] like Mr. Ferri is saying — that will come out in court — but keep in mind that there was a huge amount of tax money on that property that I would not play games with,” Hopkins said.

The two candidates are planning to vote for Question 1, to hold a constitutional convention in Rhode Island.

Both also agreed that the city’s rat situation was not good. Hopkins noted the problem was not unique to Cranston. Ferri said the mayor needed to do a better job of listening to the experts.

Both men also listed two of their three top priorities — should they win — as education and public safety. Hopkins would also focus on infrastructure and Ferri would focus on affordable housing.

The lightning round was a little lighter, including questions on the best pizza in the city (Hopkins chose Tony’s Pizza Palace, and Ferri chose Lou Umberto’s Italian Kitchen). When asked for their most admired elected official in the state, Ferri chose Sen. Jack Reed, and Hopkins chose Gov. Dan McKee.

Hopkins’s and Ferri’s final pitches to the voters gathered and listening online were focused on the future.

“I have a clear track record of bringing people of different viewpoints to the table to create policies that improve lives for everyone,” Ferri said. “I will work beyond political fighting. I will make the city work for all of us by listening and telling the truth.”

“I look to make Cranston an even better place to live, work and raise a family,” Hopkins said. “While we have more to do, I’m very proud of the improvements we have made in city finances, schools and the business climate. Cranston is on the right track, and I want to be a part of moving Cranston forward. I believe I am a clear choice to continue to be Cranston’s mayor.”