About Bernard Hawkins
Bernard Hawkins is a lifelong Smithfield resident who represents our shared values of fiscal responsibility, personal responsibility, and fair treatment for everyone as State Representative. Hawkins attended Smithfield’s public schools and is proud that his son recently graduated from Smithfield High School forty years after he did. During high school, he worked at Tudino’s Family Restaurant, eventually as a cook. Those long hours taught him the value of hard work and, much to his surprise, the taxes the government takes out of your paycheck.
As State Representative, Hawkins has been an independent voice who stands up for taxpayers against wasteful spending. He opposed every tax increase proposed in the last legislative session and supported suspending the gas tax. Hawkins also disagreed with his party on giving driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants because access to licenses would make it easier for them to commit welfare fraud or vote in our elections. He has also been a leader on public education, securing record funding for Smithfield’s public school system and making sure our schools stay focused on education instead of politics.
Hawkins is running for re-election to continue giving back to Smithfield and to make our community an even better place to live, work, and raise a family.
As State Representative, Hawkins has been an independent voice who stands up for taxpayers against wasteful spending. He opposed every tax increase proposed in the last legislative session and supported suspending the gas tax. Hawkins also disagreed with his party on giving driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants because access to licenses would make it easier for them to commit welfare fraud or vote in our elections. He has also been a leader on public education, securing record funding for Smithfield’s public school system and making sure our schools stay focused on education instead of politics.
Hawkins is running for re-election to continue giving back to Smithfield and to make our community an even better place to live, work, and raise a family.
Priorities
Cutting Middle Class Taxes
A taxpayer and homeowner himself, Hawkins votes to let you keep more of your hard earned money. In the last legislative session, he voted to suspend the gas tax, opposed an income tax hike, and expanded tax credits for parents and seniors. He also supported eliminating the car tax a year ahead of schedule and increased tax exemptions for retirees.
In his next term, Hawkins will continue to fight for taxpayers. He will oppose any attempt by far-left extremists to raise the gas tax, sales tax, or any other tax. Instead of raising taxes, Hawkins will support responsible budgets that remove wasteful spending.
In his next term, Hawkins will continue to fight for taxpayers. He will oppose any attempt by far-left extremists to raise the gas tax, sales tax, or any other tax. Instead of raising taxes, Hawkins will support responsible budgets that remove wasteful spending.
Supporting Law Enforcement
Hawkins has always supported the police and first responders who keep our neighborhoods safe from crime. As State Representative, he has stood up to members of his own party who wanted to “defund the police.” Hawkins instead supports increasing funding for local enforcement, so they have the training and equipment they need to keep us safe. Specifically, he made sure last year’s budget included money for Smithfield police to buy new protective equipment.
Expanding Mental Health Treatment
Mental health treatment is just as important as other forms of medical care and Hawkins is proud to have expanded access to mental healthcare. In particular, there are record rates of teenage suicide and depression, which has harmed many families here in Smithfield. As State Representative, Hawkins voted to increase funding for mental health treatment, created a suicide prevention headline, and streamlined licensing requirements for mental health professionals.
Improving Public Schools
Hawkins knows that every child deserves a high quality public education, which requires good teachers and modern school buildings. As State Representative, Hawkins supported a budget that expanded funding for teacher training and school construction. He also fought to make sure schools reopened quickly after the pandemic, since remote learning is not a substitute for classroom education.
In his next term, Hawkins will continue to fight for public schools. He will also fight to increase funding for school security, which includes school resource officers and also security measures like reinforced doors.
In his next term, Hawkins will continue to fight for public schools. He will also fight to increase funding for school security, which includes school resource officers and also security measures like reinforced doors.
Helping Small Businesses
Small businesses were crushed by the COVID-19 pandemic and are only beginning to recover. Hawkins has been a vocal supporter of small businesses, fighting to cut red tape and unnecessary regulations to make it easier for businesses to open and expand here in Rhode Island. He opposed the attempt to tax Paycheck Protection Program loans for small businesses and voted to expand funding job training programs to increase the skills of our workforce.