The Public’s Radio

Cranston GOP Mayoral Candidates Trade Accusations of Corruption During Debate

Incumbent Ken Hopkins and challenger Barbara Ann Fenton-Fung faced off to discuss the issues

August 27, 2024

Cranston Mayor Ken Hopkins and Rhode Island state Rep. Barbara Ann Fenton-Fung debated the issues.

The two candidates vying for the Republican nomination in the Sept. 10 mayoral primary in Cranston traded allegations of corruption and debated the finer points of education, homelessness, and the fate of the city’s storied recreational pool on Aug. 26.

Nearly 100 people attended the event as the contentious race between incumbent Mayor Ken Hopkins and the challenger, state Rep. Barbara Ann Fenton-Fung, moved into the home stretch.

The debate was held in the Cranston Public Library’s main branch. It was moderated by John Howell. Isabella Jibillian and Ian Donnis of Rhode Island PBS and The Public’s Radio joined Rory Schuler of the Cranston Herald as panelists.

You can watch the debate on the Cranston Public Library’s YouTube channel here.

This story was reported by The Public’s Radio. You can read the entire story here.

Olivia Ebertz Olivia Ebertz comes to The Public’s Radio from WNYC, where she was a producer for Morning Edition. Prior to that, she spent two years reporting for KYUK in Bethel, Alaska, where she wrote a lot about how the warming climate is forcing local Indigenous communities to change their traditional lifeways.

Prior to her career as a journalist, Olivia worked in film. Her documentaries have screened at festivals worldwide.

Olivia likes to pursue stories inspired by questions from community members.
Ella habla español, lei parla italiano, и она говорит по-русски.

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