BURRILLVILLE – Independent challenger Don Sullivan has achieved a major upset in GOP stronghold Burrillville, beating out opponent and Council President Don Fox, a Republican.
With additional remaining mail ballots counted Wednesday, Sullivan’s lead grew, now at 51 votes ahead of Fox, and another candidate, Democrat Jason Moroney, jumped above Fox as well. With Fox no longer in fifth, he wouldn’t be called on to fill in should something happen to one of the four winners. Moroney is now three votes ahead of Fox for that fifth spot.
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.
Sullivan said his first order of business is having a conversation with each council member, saying he’s open to work with anyone who wants to work with him.
“I am new and have no government experience. My hope is I can work with multiple Town Council members to get up to speed on the job as quickly as possible,” he said. “I believe each member is doing the job for the best of the town. That is my intent. I would prefer to work together. I know there will be differences. We will vote differently and have divergent opinions and ideas.”
The idea will be to do what is best for every resident and the town as a whole, added Sullivan.
“Collaboration will be necessary to accomplish this. We can disagree without having a contentious relationship,” he said.
He added that his Facebook page will remain open as a sounding board for respectful conversation and exchanges of ideas and opinion. He also plans to hold a meeting one night per month at the library, and pledged to serve everyone, regardless of whether they supported him or not.
“You are all residents and matter equally,” he said.
He added, “This is surreal. I am so proud of what we were able to accomplish. This is a win for you. An unknown independent getting elected first time running is a rarity. It speaks to our message. Listening, respect and speaking from the heart. We are neighbors, each and every one of us. That’s what the next four years will be about.”
The biggest buzz in this race was related to a bear, 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.
