PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — A former city worker has filed a complaint against Cranston Mayor Kenneth Hopkins, alleging he violated the nepotism clause of the state's code of ethics.

John Psilopoulos, who served as a deputy of former Mayor Allan Fung, filed the ethics complaint last Thursday. He's accusing Hopkins of nepotism in the hiring and promotion of the mayor's son-in-law, Jacob Shackleford, who's a Cranston Fire Department rescue lieutenant.

The complaint comes at the same time Fung's wife, state Rep. Barbara Ann Fenton-Fung, is running a mayoral campaign against Hopkins. Fenton-Fung and Hopkins are both Republicans, and Hopkins replaced her husband after the former mayor exited due to term limits.

Psilopoulos alleges Hopkins has direct influence over the hiring and promotion of firefighters and never sought an ethics opinion when dealing with Shackleford's employment.

"I request the RI Ethics Commission investigate and specifically request any and all records, particularly the personnel action forms, for the appointment and promotion of his son-in-law and household member, Jacob Shackleford," Psilopoulos wrote in the complaint.

Hopkins chief of staff Anthony Moretti told Target 12 the mayor had received the complaint and would review it before commenting on any specific allegation. He also highlighted the political implications.

"It is widely known that Mr. Psilopoulos supported the mayor's Democratic opponent in 2020 while working for Allan Fung when he was mayor," Moretti said. "He was not kept on in the new administration. He is a past political contributor to Barbara Ann Fenton-Fung."

Psilopoulos didn't immediately respond to a phone call seeking comment. Campaign finance records show he contributed $500 to Fenton-Fung's campaign in 2020. He has not contributed to Hopkins' campaign.

In his ethics complaint, Psilopoulos explained he read a Providence Journal article in March that detailed the hiring of Shackleford roughly seven months after Hopkins took office.

Then, earlier this year, the city promoted Shackleford to rescue lieutenant "after another firefighter who had received the promotion earlier rescinded it after only several weeks," according to the complaint.

Hopkins, whose three children have all been employed by the city during his time in office, has called past allegations of nepotism "political hogwash." He told The Journal in March he didn't play a role in his son-in-law's hiring or promotion.

But Psilopoulos called that statement "disingenuous."

In his complaint, Psilopoulos cited a section of the Cranston City Charter dealing with the Fire Department, saying it "expressly vests the power to appoint and remove the fire chief and all other regular and permanent officers and employees of the department in the mayor."

"If Kenneth J. Hopkins participated in the appointment and promotion, he would have in the normal course executed the necessary paperwork, particularly the personnel action form, for the appointment and promotion for his son-in-law and household member, Jacob Shackleford," Psilopoulos wrote in the complaint.

The state ethics code prohibits elected officials from hiring or supervising family members if they stand to benefit either financially or by employment. There is an exception if officials first receive the blessing of the R.I. Ethics Commission. State officials confirmed Friday Hopkins never sought an advisory opinion related to Shackleford since taking office.

Psilopoulos also alleged Shackleford lives with Hopkins, which he argued brings into play another section of the nepotism clause dealing with household members.

"[Hopkins] never sought an ethics opinion from the R.I. Ethics Commission nor did he recuse himself from the promotion of his son-in-law with whom he lives," Psilopoulos wrote.

The Ethics Commission will now consider the ethics complaint and determine whether there's enough probable cause to suggest Hopkins violated the law.

The panel has not yet posted its agenda for its next meeting, which is scheduled for April 30.