Cranston swears in Mayor Kenneth J. Hopkins; council elects Jessica Marino president and confirms staff, judges

Kenneth J. Hopkins was sworn in as mayor of Cranston during the city's 60th inaugural ceremony, where members of the newly constituted City Council and School Committee also took oaths and the council selected its leadership and approved a series of staff and judicial appointments.

The ceremony, led by Anthony Moretti, chief of staff to Mayor Hopkins, included the reading of election certificates certified by the Rhode Island Board of Elections and the oath of office administered to Hopkins by Governor Dan McKee. "I look forward to making Cranston an even better place to live, work, own a business, and grow a family over my next four years," Hopkins said after taking the oath.

The session moved from ceremonial oaths into council organization. The council nominated and unanimously elected Councilwoman Jessica M. Marino as council president in a roll-call vote in which all nine council members present voted yes. Councilman Daniel R. Wall was elected council vice president by a unanimous roll call. Council members then designated leadership positions: Councilwoman Kristin Heroyan was named majority leader by the Democratic members and Councilman Richard D. Campopiano was named minority leader by Republican members.

Following selection of leadership, the council approved a series of administrative and judicial appointments by roll-call votes. The council confirmed Steven Angel as City Council legal counsel. The council voted to take judicial appointments as a block and approved the slate of municipal judges and auxiliaries: Raymond Coia as chief judge; Michael Forte Jr. as senior associate judge; Angeline Cooper, Susan Pires and Emily Vaziri as associate judges; and Robert Ragusta and Kenneth Shriver as auxiliary judges. Cynthia Fogarty was confirmed as probate judge. The council also confirmed Miranda Botello as municipal court clerk, Nicholas J. Lima as city registrar, David DeMaio as council auditor/budget analyst, and Lisa Andosia as council grant writer. All listed confirmations were approved by unanimous roll-call votes recorded in the meeting minutes.

The ceremony included formal acknowledgments and short speeches. Governor Dan McKee praised local leadership and noted state-level partnerships with Cranston, citing municipal participation in a $4,000,000 road-resurfacing program and education support through the state's Learn365RI initiative. Mayor Hopkins highlighted the city's reported fiscal condition, saying the administration recorded a budget surplus "of over $1,500,000" for fiscal 2025 and that Cranston had "replenished our rainy day fund to above state required levels." Those figures were presented as part of the mayor's remarks and are attributed to Hopkins.

Votes at a glance — major outcomes recorded by roll call - Council President: Jessica M. Marino — nominated and elected by unanimous roll-call vote (all present voted yes). - Council Vice President: Daniel R. Wall — elected by unanimous roll-call vote (all present voted yes). - City Council Legal Counsel: Steven Angel — confirmed by roll-call vote (yes by all voting members). - Municipal judges (block): Raymond Coia (chief), Michael Forte Jr. (senior associate), Angeline Cooper, Susan Pires, Emily Vaziri (associate judges), Robert Ragusta, Kenneth Shriver (auxiliary judges), Cynthia Fogarty (probate judge) — all confirmed in a single roll-call block motion; unanimous. - Municipal Court Clerk: Miranda Botello — confirmed by roll-call vote; unanimous. - City Registrar: Nicholas J. Lima — confirmed by roll-call vote; unanimous. - Council Auditor/Budget Analyst: David DeMaio — confirmed by roll-call vote; unanimous. - Council Grant Writer: Lisa Andosia — confirmed by roll-call vote; unanimous (nominee noted as not present on stage when called).

Discussion, direction and formal actions were confined to organizational business and confirmations; no ordinances, budgets, contracts, or policy measures were debated or voted on at the meeting. Several speakers used the occasion for brief remarks: Governor Dan McKee and Mayor Hopkins commented on state-city partnership, infrastructure programs and education funding, and Dominic Fusco, as chair of the school committee, thanked colleagues and pledged cooperation on school capital projects.

The inaugural meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn and a unanimous voice vote. The council scheduled no further business in that session and did not vote on substantive policy items or appropriations during the inaugural meeting.