Hiring of Cranston Mayor Ken Hopkins' children, son-in-law sparks criticism from rivals

CRANSTON – For Mayor Ken Hopkins, the city is a family affair.

All three of his children have been on the city payroll at various times while he's been in office. His son-in-law was also hired as a firefighter during that period, and recently received a promotion.

In response to an inquiry from the Providence Journal, Hopkins noted that one of his daughters already worked for the Cranston School Department before he became mayor. He said he had no involvement in the hiring or promotion of his other family members, and dismissed questions about a potential conflict of interest as "political hogwash" from his Republican primary opponent.

"I am gravely disappointed that some people in political circles are trying to drag my family into an unwarranted and undeserving political debate in the current mayoral campaign," Hopkins said.

Breaking down the family connections

Hopkins has two daughters, Lauren Ortega and Katelyn Shackleford, and a son, Ken Hopkins Jr., all of whom have worked for Cranston public schools at various points. (Hopkins himself was previously a teacher and the athletic director at Cranston High School East.)

Ortega has taught at Cranston East since 2012, Hopkins and his spokesman, Zachary Deluca, confirmed. Her hiring also predated Hopkins' time on the Cranston City Council.

Hopkins took office at the start of 2021. His son was hired as the director of the Cranston Area Career and Technical Center in August 2022 and resigned in June 2023, according to DeLuca. Prior to taking the job, he was principal of East Greenwich High School, and is now principal of Lincoln High School.

Shackleford "applied to be a substitute teacher in Cranston and was hired on Oct. 24, 2023, as a day-to-day substitute teacher," Hopkins said in a statement.

"Let me be clear – I have no control or input over any hiring of School Department employees," he said.

Hopkins' son-in-law Jacob Shackleford was appointed to the Cranston Fire Department in August of 2021, after a career in the U.S. Coast Guard, according to the mayor.

"He applied, passed the required written exam, the agility test and the oral interview," Hopkins said. "Based on those results, Fire Chief James Warren established a hiring list and Jacob was later selected to attend the Cranston Fire Department’s fire academy. I had no role in his selection."

Deluca confirmed that another firefighter, Gregory Dean, received a promotion to rescue lieutenant this year but rescinded it after several weeks. Subsequently, the promotion was given to Shackleford.

Hopkins said his son-in-law was promoted in February by the Fire Department's new chief, Robert Ryan, "who followed the union contract and established a promotional list."

"That promotion followed the same process that has been in place for many years," Hopkins said. "I will emphasize, I had no role in his hiring or promotion."

Deluca similarly responded: "The mayor does not have concerns of a conflict of interest, as he had no role in Shackleford’s hiring to the Cranston Fire Department nor his promotion."

Two members of Hopkins' extended family also teach in Cranston public schools: His sister-in-law, Alyssa Hopkins, and her daughter, Kirstyn Hopkins. Both were hired before Hopkins became mayor.

Hopkins defends family's civic contributions as opponents raise questions about ethics, nepotism

Hopkins, who is in his first term, faces a hotly contested mayoral election this year – and his opponents both suggested that the hiring of his family members could be unethical.

"Family self-dealing is the worst type of abuse of office," said Rep. Barbara Ann Fenton-Fung, who is challenging Hopkins in the Republican primary. "Beyond the shady timing of his son Ken Hopkins Jr.'s hiring in 2022, just days after the mayor reversed his stance and agreed to support the teachers' contract, Mayor Hopkins admits that his son-in-law and daughter whom he lives with have been put on the taxpayer-funded payroll since he was elected as mayor."

Fenton-Fung added, "As the head of public safety, the mayor’s hiring of his son-in-law to the fire department, followed by the mayor negotiating that union's contract, followed by the mayor promoting him to the rank of lieutenant, is jaw-droppingly unethical."

"For full transparency to the residents of Cranston, I am calling on Mayor Hopkins to immediately release all documents related to his son-in-law's hiring and promotion, and any opinions that the mayor sought from the Ethics Commission relating to the hiring and/or promotion of his family members," she said.

City Councilman Robert Ferri, who is running for mayor as a Democrat, said there "should probably be an investigation to see if any of these hires violate any ethics law."

It would be disturbing if family members "were given favoritism over other qualified applicants," he added, noting that nepotism "undermines the legitimacy of all city workers and decreases morale."

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"As mayor I will always strive to hire the best talent available and promote the most deserving," Ferri wrote in an email.

In response to questions from The Providence Journal about his relatives' hiring and the potential conflict of interest, Hopkins said he was "certain these inquiries were prompted by my opponent" and described them as "another example of desperate attempts to get attention based on false and misleading allegations."

"Sadly, my having to address these matters gives my opponent attention, but I am compelled to knock down her reckless rumors and incredible misrepresentations," he wrote. "As I have said before, I will defend my name, my family, and my integrity against groundless and despicable claims."

The mayor also framed his family's city jobs as a reflection of their commitment to public service.

"Members of my family have made valuable contributions to our state and city in law enforcement, local education and nonprofit organizations," he said. "My family’s dedicated careers in Cranston schools, much of [which] predates my election as mayor, should not be open to groundless political charges."

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Cranston mayor says he had no involvement with hiring of his relatives