Hopkinton Democratic Town Committee

06/02/2026

Hopkinton Democratic Town Committee Official Statement Regarding June 1, 2026 Town Council Meeting

The Hopkinton Town Council has shown us exactly who they are.

Councilor Sharon Davis brought a resolution before the full council asking them to express support for H8334/S3143, the Rhode Island Voter Rights Act, a bill that would remove an outdated 30-day residency requirement, allow same-day voter registration, and put both changes directly before Rhode Island voters to decide through a constitutional amendment. Not a new law. Not a mandate. A question for the voters. They couldn't even do that.

The Republican-led council's response was a disgrace.

While Councilor Davis spoke, Councilor Jasmin Roy sat visibly slumped in her chair, shaking her head in contempt. She interrupted Councilor Davis repeatedly. She questioned whether voters who don't speak English should be able to vote at all, ignoring that language assistance at polling places has been federal law since 1975, and that the United States has no official language. She read the bill's language about racially polarized voting out loud in a mocking, condescending tone. To a Black colleague. Who had just cited the gutting of the federal Voting Rights Act. And when Councilor Davis said plainly, "It's 2026 and we still have racism," Councilor Roy changed the subject.

She had nothing. So she moved on.

Sharon Davis grew up in an America where the Voting Rights Act didn't exist yet. She lived through the fight to pass it. She watched it get gutted. And she sat at that table Monday night and had to listen to her white colleagues mock the concept of racially polarized voting and question who deserves to vote.

Newly appointed Councilor Phil Scalise, who was not elected by Hopkinton voters but appointed by this same council, used his time to tell a story about Haitian refugees overwhelming a town in Ohio and a board of canvassers losing control of its voting system. The story was false. The town he described has a population of nearly 60,000 people, not the 20,000 he claimed. The number of refugees he cited was more than double the actual figure. Those refugees cannot legally vote in Rhode Island or anywhere else in the United States under federal law. And the broader story was nationally investigated and debunked during the 2024 presidential campaign. The entire premise of his story was wrong. He brought debunked racist fearmongering to a Hopkinton Town Council meeting and used it to oppose Councilor Davis's voting rights resolution.

Vice Chair Bob Burns was so afraid of Connecticut that he spent his time warning the council that people would drive across the border on election morning, claim Hopkinton residency, and vote. This has never happened. Not in Hopkinton. Not in any of the 22 states that already have same-day registration. It cannot happen under this bill because voters still have to prove Rhode Island residency with documentation. Bob Burns did not have a single fact to support his claim. He made it up, said it with confidence, and used it to oppose Councilor Davis's voting rights resolution. Hopkinton has shared a border with Connecticut for over 350 years, Bob. Nobody is coming.

Council President Mike Geary's job is to run a fair meeting. On Monday night he let his colleagues spew racially motivated lies at a Black colleague and did nothing. He did not call them to order. He did not ask them to let her finish. He just sat there. That is not a one time failure. That is who Mike Geary is as council president.

When Councilor Davis made her motion, not one of her colleagues would second it. Think about what that means. A no vote would have required them to go on record. It would have required them to attach their name to their position and defend it. They couldn't even do that. Instead they sat in silence and let the motion die without a word. No debate. No explanation. No accountability. Just silence.
Every single one of them.

You can watch all of it yourself. The June 1st, 2026 Hopkinton Town Council meeting is on YouTube. The timestamps don't lie.

The Hopkinton Democratic Town Committee stands fully and without reservation with Councilor Sharon Davis. What happened last night was not a policy disagreement. It was not a difference of opinion. It was a collective display of contempt for voting rights, for the democratic process, and for a Black colleague who has lived through every chapter of this country's struggle to make democracy real -- and who deserved better from every single person at that table.

This is who is running Hopkinton. And November is coming.

Hopkinton deserves better.

Here is what you can do right now:
Contact the Town Council and tell them you expect better: [email protected]
Show up at the next Town Council meeting: June 15, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Help us build a council that represents everyone in Hopkinton, contact us at [email protected]

04/29/2026

Our Hopkinton representatives haven't shared this info, but Thursday's School Committee meeting has been moved up to 4pm at the High School Library (originally scheduled for 7pm). Please consider attending if you're able!

There is Special Meeting of the Chariho School Committee on Thursday, April 30 at 4pm in the CHS Library and Conference Room. The Vice-Chair is currently acting as the Chair because the reorganization vote was tabled at the last meeting. She called this special meeting to comply with the Superintendent's contract language.

As I stated at the April meeting, the SC had not evaluated the Superintendent, which is a necessary step in due diligence and contract compliance. In previous years, there was also a discussion on the executive session agenda before the contract renewal came up. In addition to quoting directly from the contract, I shared a quote from the SC principles and ethics, which are guided by state legislation, which state that the SC must "recognize their critical responsibility for selecting the superintendent, defining his or her responsibilities, and evaluating his or her performance regularly without directly engaging in administrative processes."

The SC is tasked with evaluating the top leader in our school district, therefore, we must also exemplify leadership skills like accountability, clear and transparent communication, and adherence to rules. Although there was much discussion about revising the evaluation process, and a rubric was developed, a slim majority of the SC voted against contract extension before providing an evaluation, and apparently before reviewing the contract.

The evaluation discussion will be held in Executive Session, but any votes will occur in Open Session.

*REPOST WITH AMENDED AGENDA, new time and location*

04/08/2026

The Chariho FY27 budget passed today. 1,741 to 1,324.

Hopkinton voted no — but 971 Hopkinton residents showed up. That's up 111% from the last referendum. Senator Elaine Morgan has been posting across various social media pages telling voters they should be ashamed for not showing up — which is an interesting take from someone who has consistently supported making voting harder. But what do we know.

We'd also like to give a special thanks to Hopkinton School Committee members Dianne Tefft and Larry Phelps, whose votes advanced this budget - without cuts - to the ballot. Without them, Hopkinton voters never would have had the chance to weigh in at all. Members Hopkins and Lowe voted against sending it forward without massive cuts.

Hopkinton is paying attention. So are we.

04/07/2026

The Hopkinton Democratic Town Committee urges Hopkinton residents to vote YES on the Chariho school budget today.

Public schools are the foundation of a strong community. They are where kids learn, grow, and prepare for whatever comes next. Investing in them is one of the most important things we can do as neighbors and as a town.

The Chariho FY27 budget supports working families, keeps quality educators in our classrooms, and protects the programs that give every student a real shot at success. Chariho already spends below the state average per pupil. This budget is responsible and it is necessary.

Democrats believe in public education. We believe in community investment. And we believe that the students in Hopkinton, Charlestown, and Richmond deserve a school district that has what it needs to do its job well.

Polls are open until 8 PM tonight at Hopkinton Town Hall. Show up for our kids and vote YES.

04/03/2026

So Long, Farewell

Word has it that Louise Dinsmore has resigned from the Chariho School Committee. Her Richmond home hit the market this week at $829,900.

Convenient timing.

Dinsmore co-founded the Forgotten Taxpayers PAC, spent years railing against school spending, signed the Moms for Liberty pledge, and then maneuvered herself into the Chair of the very school committee she had spent years trying to defund. In that role, she voted against the FY27 budget. Twice. She refused public comment at meetings. She pushed a code of conduct that critics said could have residents escorted out for applauding.

Her whole brand was the burdened taxpayer. The humble Richmond homeowner just trying to keep costs down.

That same homeowner is now asking $829,900 for a 3,100 square foot colonial on a half-acre cul-de-sac, complete with a custom in-ground pool featuring a tanning ledge and what the listing calls "high-end, extravagant finishes" and a "beautifully designed oasis backyard." The property has nearly doubled in value since she bought it in 2016. Her annual property tax bill is $7,868. Apparently that was manageable.

The Forgotten Taxpayers tagline is "We pay for it. We should have a say." Dinsmore built her identity around that idea. Then she became Chair and periodically blocked public comment, pushed a code of conduct designed to restrict what residents could say and how they could react, and made clear that "having a say" had limits. Turns out those limits depended on whether she liked what you were saying.

Now she is leaving. The budget she voted against twice goes to Chariho voters on April 7. The schools she worked to starve of funding are still here, still serving the students and families of Charlestown, Hopkinton, and Richmond.

We wish her well in whatever comes next. Presumably something with a very nice pool.

03/21/2026

📣 Hopkinton Democratic Town Committee: Vote YES for the Chariho Budget 📣

On April 7, voters across Hopkinton, Charlestown, and Richmond will decide whether to support the Chariho School Budget.

A YES vote is a vote for students, stability, and responsible governance.

Here’s why:

✅ This budget protects what matters most — our students
Chariho delivers strong academics, career and technical programs, athletics, and essential student supports. Cutting the budget means cutting real opportunities for kids.

✅ It reflects real, unavoidable costs
Transportation, special education, contractual obligations, and day-to-day operations are not optional. This budget maintains services—not excess.

✅ Rejecting the budget creates uncertainty
If the budget fails, decisions don’t just disappear—they shift away from voters and local leadership. That creates instability for students, staff, and taxpayers.

✅ Strong schools strengthen our community
Quality public schools protect property values, attract families, and support long-term economic health across all three towns.

This is a responsible, student-centered budget that maintains programs while managing rising costs.

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🗳️ Vote Tuesday, April 7
🕗 8 AM – 8 PM
📍 Hopkinton Town Hall

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👉 Support our students. Support our community. Vote YES for Chariho.

10/30/2025

Our community needs each other more than ever. Please consider making a donation in any capacity you can.

Tri-Town Drive to benefit RICAN.

10/15/2025

We're thrilled that our friend Councilor Sam Wilcox will be running for RI State Senate 34! Join us in supporting progress for our communities!

Thank you to all who have reached out with positive vibes and encouragement!

I’ve received a few great questions lately, and here are two of the most common:

💬 Q: Can you still serve on the Council?
A: Yes, for now! In 2026, I won’t be able to run for both Council and State Senate. Until a new Council is seated in Dec 2026, my focus remains on serving our community as a Richmond Town Councilor.

💬 Q: How can I help?
A: Join us at the campaign kickoff fundraiser or sign up to join the team here 👉 linktr.ee/SamWilcoxRI

Let’s do this together!

09/11/2025

Today we remember the lives lost on September 11, 2001, and honor the families, first responders, and countless others whose lives were forever changed.

Nearly a quarter century later, we reflect not only on that tragedy, but also on the divisions and pain our nation faces today. From recent acts of violence to the heated rhetoric that too often defines our politics, it is clear that our communities are hurting.

On solemn day of remembrance, let us recommit ourselves to compassion and empathy. Let us remember that our strength has always come from standing together, across differences, and choosing unity over division.

May the memory of those we lost guide us toward a future rooted in peace, justice, and care for one another.

08/26/2025

Check out this opportunity for local residents!