BURRILLVILLE – Independent challenger Don Sullivan seemingly achieved a major upset in GOP stronghold Burrillville on Tuesday, coming in ahead of Council President Don Fox by 45 votes with only mail ballots received just before the election still to count. It is believed that there are about 20 votes still to count Wednesday morning.
Four seats on the council were available due to staggered terms, and Sullivan had run in a race with two Democrats and four Republicans to win one of the four seats.
“We did it,” posted supporter Samantha Young. “Thanks to everyone that took the time to come out and vote, and to those that supported Don Sullivan for Burrillville Town Council.”
She added, “we unchecked the box for Fox,” a nod to their strategy of getting people to leave Fox’s name unchecked on the ballot.
The biggest buzz in this race was related to a beer, beehive, and a BB gun.
Fox offered a brief reflection after the results came in.
“Sitting by the fire tonight, with my wife, post election. I am so grateful for the service I have been able to offer this town,” he said. “I am proud of what we have accomplished as a group over my 12 years on the Town Council. Thank you to all who supported me and my fellow candidates. Thank you to all who came out to vote, no matter who you voted for. Go Burrillville!!!”
Republicans David Houle, Dennis Anderson, and Stephen Rawson came in the first three spots, with 2,994 votes, 2,687 votes, and 2,646 votes, and Sullivan came in fourth with 2,587 votes. Fox finished with 2,542 votes, outside of the top four.
Prior to Election Day, Sullivan told The Local Insider that Burrillville is changing for the better, noting that there is more diversity and a desire to do things in better ways. His entire campaign staff consists of women, he said, including one originally from Puerto Rico. All of them would be better candidates than he is, he said, but none had interest in running, instead wanting to support someone else who will be a voice for everyone.
He’s maintained throughout his time in Burrillville since moving here 7 years ago that everyone should be treated equally and every person and voice matters. He said he’s about neighbors looking out for neighbors, staying away from partisan politics and focusing on what’s best for everyone as a community.
He said prior to Tuesday that he’s very proud of everyone who helped him with his campaign to be a representative for everyone and to listen at all times.
“It’s not about what I think, it’s what the community thinks,” he said. Burrillville has a lot of smart people, he said, and solutions can come from anywhere.
Sullivan had said that he didn’t know if he would win or not, but if not, he would be the first to declare for 2028.
Fox had described the three non-Republicans as lunatics, saying he didn’t know what to expect from the election. He said there’s “so much TDS” out there (Trump Derangement Syndrome), that’s filtered down to the local level, with people loving to take every opportunity to attack local Republicans. He said Trump is his own person, and though he doesn’t like the president’s communication style, it works for him and he doesn’t think he’s going to change. Hopefully with the next chapter and people such as Marco Rubio and JD Vance as better communicators, he said, they can continue to advance the same type of good policies.
Under normal circumstances, said Fox before the vote, a GOP sweep would be a safe bet, as Burrillville supported Trump than any other municipality (the town also voted for Helena Foulkes on Tuesday), but there’s been an engaged, vocal minority this year that latched onto the turf field lawsuit situation and the town suing Roberta Lacey over it. The narrative was never accurate, he said, two classes missed out on playing on the field due to falsehoods, and now the town has what he sees as a crown jewel.
