To the Editor,

I am sorry to see that my former colleague on the City Council has been reduced to an attack dog for my opponent. Steve is smarter than the questions he poses but given his active political and financial support for my opponent I understand his role.

His characterization of me is so undignified that I will not honor it with a specific answer. The lawsuit involving the car is a political hit-piece prompted by my opponents. At the September 10th primary the voters sent a clear message that they knew it was politics in its worst form. The voters of Cranston know me and my integrity and understand that I would never harm my family name or my reputation.

The matter is now in the Federal District Court and the facts will come out as the litigation proceeds. The allegations by the plaintiff have or will be rejected by me and the other defendants.

As to his second line of partisan attack, Mr. Stycos fails to acknowledge that the city spent approximately $71,000 defending the Planning Commission on its solar project vote. Their action to reject the plan was overturned by Judge Joseph Montalbano, and they were ordered to approve the master plan. That just happened on October 1st. A petition for a writ of certiorari had already been filed asking the Supreme Court to review the Superior Court ruling. If the Supreme Court chooses to hear the appeal, I will direct the city lawyers to join in the matter.

Cranston residents and voters know that things are going well on all fronts in the city. I pledge to keep Cranston going in the right direction and welcome their support for another term as Mayor on November 5th.

Kenneth J. Hopkins, Mayor

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Hopkins campaign was afforded the opportunity to respond to Steven Stycos’s letter, so that both the letter and the response could appear together in print.