As a Republican in an overwhelming Democratic city, Mayor Kenneth Hopkins said he knew his reputation and track record would need bipartisan support for him to win a second term, and he is proud that he earned that.

Some supporters may have found election night a bit of a nail biter, with Hopkins winning by a narrow margin over his Democratic opponent, City Council member Robert Ferri. But Hopkins said that the results were in line with his team’s pre-election polling.  “We have only about 9,000 registered Republicans here in Cranston,” he said.  “The results were on track with what our polls predicted — we knew we were going to have to draw broad support and get people to reach across the aisle.”

 The city has approximately 19,000 registered Democrats, according to the Secretary of State’s website, and the majority of voters are unaffiliated with a tally of about 28,900.

Hopkins said he appreciates residents’ support and is looking forward to continuing his administration’s work to provide quality city services and recreational facilities, and supporting capital projects to update the school system’s infrastructure.  He said the city will be moving forward with its next round of improvements in the Knightsville area as well has his plan to replace the outdated Budlong pool located in the Auburn area.  Hopkins announced earlier this year that he plans to replace the outdated pool with a new, scaled-down version that will be fully handicap accessible and include a renovated bath house.  Later on, the project may include other amenities such as a splash pad and pickle ball courts.

(First opened in 1940, the Budlong pool is one of the largest municipal outdoor pools in the country.  It has been closed since the beginning of the pandemic and, according to city officials, is beyond repair.  The new pool in the city’s plans would be about one-third the size of the existing pool, which is larger than an Olympic-size swimming pool.)

Hopkins said that under his watch, the city is in the best financial shape it has been in for years.  It has a structurally sound budget and for the first time in years has posted a surplus — of about $700,000, he said. “We are doing very well,” he said, noting that Cranston is also meeting its annual required pension plan payments. 

Hopkins affirmed his support for constructive, bipartisan work in the city.  “I am the only Republican mayor in the state, so yes, bipartisan work is essential,” he said, adding that he enjoys good relationships with prominent Democratic officials both inside and outside the city.

“I think the main message I got from this election is that the people trust me,” he said. “This is a time to put politics aside.  It’s not about being about a Republican or a Democrat.  It’s about Cranston.”

Dems retain council majority

Last week, Cranston voters sent a clear message of support to City Council President Jessica Marino.

Marino, who holds an at-large seat and has been in office since 2021, was the top voter getter of any city candidate — even outpolling Republican Mayor Kenneth Hopkins in his successful bid for reelection.

Marino garnered 20,402 votes, compared to 19,949 earned by Hopkins and 18,744 received by his close Democratic contender, City Council member Robert Ferri.

Marino says she is humbled by the election results. “I’m grateful that people want me to continue to serve,” she said. “Because that is what it is always about — being able to serve.”
A Democrat and the first woman to serve as City Council president in Cranston, Marino has drawn strong support since she first sought office, but said she made no assumptions about this year’s results.

“I was surprised,” she said over the weekend when she and her husband were out taking down campaign signs. “You don’t take anything for granted, and being an incumbent doesn’t mean you can rest on your laurels.”
Known as a hard worker, Marino brought that same work ethic to the campaign trail – knocking on countless doors. She said she loves meeting constituents and the fact that while campaigning, she often gets to reconnect with people she may not have seen in years.
An attorney and mother of two sons, Marino said that the 2024 campaign trail was heartwarming because of interactions with residents. She and her husband, Joe, have lived in Cranston for more than 20 years, and Marino said her family supports her in serving as a City Council member. Remembering when she first decided to seek a council seat, Marino said the family sat down together to discuss the decision.

She was already an “active” resident at the time, she recalled. She said she was a “frequent flyer” at City Council and other municipal board meetings to advocate for issues that would improve the quality of life of people in the city. The daughter of immigrant parents, Marino said she’s had to work hard in her life so she was not daunted about taking on the added responsibility of being an elected official. “If you care about your community, you are active,” she said.

She’s looking forward to continuing to work on key city issues, which, according to her campaign literature, include city finances, schools, public safety and essential services for residents. Local Republicans picked up an extra council seat this election, narrowing Democratic majority on the council to five-to-four. Marino said that she is looking forward to working with the full council as well as Republican Mayor Hopkins.

She has always believed in reaching across the aisle to do what’s best for the city, she said, and she will continue to do so. “Right now, I think it’s more important than ever to be aware of civility and be respectful,” she said.