Nepotism claims against Cranston Mayor Hopkins dismissed

The Rhode Island Ethics Commission on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, dismissed a complaint against Cranston Mayor Kenneth Hopkins filed by a former city worker accusing Hopkins of nepotism in the hiring and promotion of his son-in-law at the city’s fire department. (Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current)

The Rhode Island Ethics Commission on Tuesday dismissed a complaint against Cranston Mayor Kenneth Hopkins accusing him of nepotism in the hiring and promotion of his son-in-law at the city’s fire department.

The complaints were filed in April by a former city employee, John Psilopoulos, who served as deputy director of administration under former Republican Mayor Allan Fung. But after a closed door session, Chairwoman Marisa Quinn announced the commission voted 5-0 to dismiss the case, finding no probable cause that Hopkins broke the state ethics code  — which bans elected officials from hiring or overseeing family members if they benefit professionally or financially. However, officials who first receive permission from the commission are granted an exemption.

Commissioner Hugo Ricci recused himself from the vote, while Matthew Strauss and Emma Peterson were not present.

Hopkins, a Republican mayor first elected in 2020, said in a statement said he was grateful for the commission’s ruling, saying he had no role in his son-in-law Jacob Shackleford’s hiring or promotion.

“I am not and have never been involved in the hiring/selection process for firefighters,” he said. “I leave those functions to the city’s personnel department and our fire department leadership in accordance with the City Charter.”

Hopkins suggested his accuser may have been disgruntled. After he was elected mayor, Hopkins said he chose not to retain Psilopoulos.

Psilopoulos declined to comment for this story. 

“The filing of this ethics complaint by John Psilopoulos was an unwarranted attempt to besmirch me and my family,” Hopkins said. “Shame on him as he clearly was acting as a political tool for my primary opponent and her husband, for whom Psilopoulos worked for when he was mayor.”

Hopkins faces a fierce primary battle against Republican Rep. Barbara Ann Fenton-Fung, whose husband is Allan Fung. Fung served as Cranston mayor for two terms prior to Hopkins and endorsed Hopkins in the 2020 mayoral race.

A written decision explaining the commission’s reasoning will be issued in a couple of weeks, Executive Director Jason Gramitt said after the meeting.

The commission’s investigative report notes Hopkins acknowledged Shackleford’s application during conversations with then-Fire Chief James Warren but told the chief to treat his son-in-law the same as any other candidate and not give him any special consideration.

In the spring of 2021, the Cranston Fire Department posted a job announcement at City Hall and online for 15 expected firefighter vacancies. Shackleford was one of 68 applicants and ranked fifth based on his oral interview and written examination scores. He moved up to fourth after an applicant withdrew. 

All four members of the oral interview board, including Warren, told the commission’s attorneys that they were aware Shackleford was Hopkins’ son-in-law, according to the commission’s report.

“However, they further represented that they never had any discussions with the Respondent during the hiring process regarding Mr. Shackleford, nor did the Respondent reach out to them in this regard,” the report states.

As for Shackleford’s promotion, the commission’s report states Shackleford was given the rank of lieutenant after other potential candidates either refused an advancement or rescinded their applications.

However, the commission said if future allegations of nepotism arose, Hopkins should either recuse himself from those decisions or seek guidance from the state panel.

“While I am pleased that this matter has been favorably resolved before the Ethics Commission, I am troubled by the undeserved attack on my family, our good name, and my reputation,” Hopkins said.

More fuel to the political fire

Fenton-Fung in a statement Tuesday said the commission’s decision “opens the floodgates for mayors and other government officials around the state to start hiring their children and family members with not a concern in the world.”

“Rhode Island’s reputation for insider politicians acting badly and getting away with it just got served another punch in the gut with this erroneous decision that ignores that the Mayor is the appointing authority,” she said.

Hopkins fired back, saying Fenton-Fung has used ethics complaints as a campaign tactic since announcing her candidacy in 2023 “and she continues to try to prop up her lagging campaign with lies and falsehoods and attacks on my family.”

“Her groundless charges against me have backfired on her, and anyone who knows me and my children, knows that I would never use my public position to benefit a family member,” he said. “My opponent owes my family an apology.”

But Fenton-Fung has not stopped lobbing allegations of nepotism at Hopkins’ administration. On Monday, she issued a statement claiming the girlfriend of the mayor’s nephew was hired as a police dispatcher despite handing in her application two days late.

Fenton-Fung said the personnel posting for the civilian radio dispatcher listed the deadline for applications at 4:30pm on May 7, 2024. But the application for Jennifer Mallowes was received on May 9.

Mallowes could not be reached for immediate comment.

Cranston Police Chief Michael Winquist told Rhode Island Current Tuesday afternoon that Mallowes was hired and that the application deadline was May 9, which was noted in an April Facebook post.

He added that the mayor at no point contacted him throughout the hiring process.

“I honestly didn’t know Miss Mallowes was dating someone related to the mayor,” Winquist said.

Even if he did initially know, Winquist said Mallowes was more than qualified, as she previously worked as the city dispatcher from 2018-2021. She resigned to take a similar job in North Smithfield, Winquist said.

“When she came back she at the bottom again — lost all seniority and back at the base level,” Winquist said. “If there were any undue influence, she probably would have started higher.”

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