POLLS APART: Hopkins prevails in Cranston. Elsewhere, a slow day for voting in the primary

In a primary race that drew the most statewide attention and the only allegation of car theft, Cranston Republican voters chose to keep Mayor Kenneth Hopkins in the city’s driver’s seat.

As of 8:20 p.m. with 96% of voting results in, Hopkins had 59% percent of the vote compared to his opponent, state Rep. Barbara Ann Fenton-Fung, who had 41%, according to unofficial Board of Elections results.

Looking for local election results? Click for town-by-town primary election results

The hotly-contested battle between Hopkins and Fenton-Fung, the wife of former Cranston Mayor Allan Fung, drew much attention a week before the election after allegations rose that Hopkins took a classic car from a former supporter without paying for it.

The mayor maintained that businessman David Broccoli agreed to sell him the 1975 MG three summers ago but wouldn’t take money for it and didn’t turn over the title or registration. And there was no bill of sale.

Fenton-Fung, along with Cranston Councilman Robert Ferri, who will be the Democratic mayoral candidate in November, called for a criminal investigation.

Speaking Tuesday morning at Hope Highlands Middle School where she had arrived to vote, Fenton-Fung said the car allegation against Hopkins had shifted her campaign into a new gear.

“Most people in Cranston were like, ‘Look, we do not want to have a mayor who has been caught stealing a car,’” Fenton-Fung said. “We’ll never be able to attract businesses to the city.”

Hopkins came into the same polling place a bit later and said he had no regrets “none whatsoever," regarding his campaign.

“I’m glad of the fact that I stayed on the high road,” he said. “Class and dignity are important to me. I could have very easily gotten into the mudslinging but I didn’t, and I’m glad of that."

Results in Woonsocket mayoral race

In Woonsocket the race for mayor was tame in comparison to Cranston, where in the contest for top vote-getter, City Council President John Ward defeated incumbent Mayor Christopher Beauchamp.

With 92% of voting results in, Ward had 55% (1,386 votes) compared to Beauchamp’s 40% (1,009 votes), according to unofficial results.

But both candidates will still appear on November’s general election mayoral ballot since the city holds non-partisan elections and the top two primary vote-getters advance.

The primary eliminated a third mayoral contender, Keith Harrison, who called for a new generation of leadership in the city. But his campaign fell into some doubt after the Board of Canvassers questioned signatures on his nomination papers. Harrison ended up with 5% (or 126 votes).

More: Incumbent Mayor Beauchamp and Council President Ward head for November faceoff

The Woonsocket primary election emerged from a year of political turmoil with the sudden resignation last November of Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt. She abruptly left office following the revelation she approved a $1.13-million purchase of almost 5 acres owned by her former real estate associate without notifying the City Council.

The land purchase, at five times the property’s assessed value, violated the City Charter which requires the council to be informed of such big purchases, concluded an independent report by former U.S. Attorney Aaron Weisman.

Beauchamp, the former City Council president and a long-time friend of Baldelli-Hunt, took over as mayor. And Ward was critical of Beauchamp’s decision to retain several members of Baldelli-Hunt's administration.

In his report, Weisman said Baldelli-Hunt's actions raised questions about whether the transaction was for purposes “other than the best interest of the citizens of Woonsocket.” 

Last month the City Council voted unanimously to forward Weisman’s report on to law enforcement for possible investigation.

Ward ran on a platform of ending what he called a decade of mismanagement under the Baldelli-Hunt administration, with projects left incomplete and animus relations with the City Council.

Beauchamp pledged more transparency and to keep the City Council better informed of city issues, promises he said he has kept since taking over running the city.

Both Beauchamp and Ward said Tuesday's primary was a measure of where they stood with voters.

“For me it’s like a poll, to see how we’re doing,” said Ward in between visits of polling places. “It will give me guidance as to whether I have a significant weakness anywhere or places I need to focus.”

Likewise, Beauchamp, who was out delivering sandwiches in the afternoon to his poll workers, said he hoped Tuesday would help guide him on to November.

“Listen, if I’m ahead of John Ward by 200, 300 votes, you feel pretty good,” he said. “If we’re even or he’s ahead, I’ve got a lot more work to do.”

Results in U.S. Senate primary

In the U.S. Senate race, three-term Democratic incumbent Sheldon Whitehouse soundly beat his long-shot opponent Michael Costa. With 91% of the vote in, Whitehouse had captured 82.2% of the vote (35,815) to Costa's 17.8% 7,741 votes).

Costa, a Bristol resident who described himself as an adviser to nonprofits, a former college professor and an environmental engineer, mounted a series of late television ads introducing himself to voters.

One ad began with: "Stop with the 'F' word." He said "I am talking about politicians who call for fighting as opposed to being a fighter ... How about a different 'F' word? ... Let's Fix things."

More: Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse to face GOP challenger Patricia Morgan in U.S. Senate race

In the Republican primary for U.S. Senate, state Rep. Patricia Morgan beat Raymond McKay, a former administrator for the city of Warwick and a former network and telecommunications manager.

With 91% of votes counted Morgan walked away with 64.8% of the vote (10,232) compared to McKay's 35.2% (5,560 votes).

More: Pawtucket mayoral results: Grebien defeats Segalla in Democratic primary

More: Incumbents rule in General Assembly primaries, but one lost

One of the few clear differences between the Republican opponents involved the question of shoring up Social Security.

Morgan promised to oppose any hike in the eligibility age for future retirees to receive Social Security, while McKay would not rule it out as an option to be considered.

Voting was reported smooth throughout most of the state.  The primary drew the traditional low number of voters on a day where arguably the political highlight began after the polls closed and the presidential debate began. Rhode Island has 719,712 active registered voters this year, according to the Secretary of State. As of 7 p.m. 74,485 votes had been cast, or 9.5%.

With staff reports.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Low turn out results in RI primary sets up November election