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Elections are held every two years to elect the mayor of Worcester, Massachusetts.
Worcester, Massachusetts held its first direct election for mayor in 1987.[1]
Worcester has a council–manager government in which the mayor's role is to chair both the Worcester City Council and the city's school committee.[2]
Election system
Popular elections for mayor were instituted after the city's voters approved a new city charter in 1985.[3]
In order to be elected mayor in Worcester, a person must place first in the mayor's race and also finish among the top six in the at-large city council election, being also elected a councilor at large. An individual cannot be elected mayor without additionally winning an at-large city council seat.[4][5]
In addition, the candidate elected to the office of councilor at large who receives the second-highest number of votes for the office of mayor will become vice-chair of the Worcester City Council.[5]
1987 mayoral election
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| Turnout | 55.65%[6] | ||||||||||||||||
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The 1987 Worcester, Massachusetts mayoral election was held on November 3, 1987.[7] The first ever popular election for mayor in the city's history, it saw the election of Jordan Levy to a second nonconsecutive term as mayor.
Candidates
- John B. Anderson, at-large City Council member since 1976 and former mayor (1986)[8]
- Gustaf Coontz
- Joseph Diliberto
- Jordan Levy, City Council member since 1975 and former mayor (1980–1981)
Results
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jordan Levy | 23,163 | 63.65 | |
| John B. Anderson | 9,243 | 25.40 | |
| Gustaf Coontz | 2,434 | 6.69 | |
| Joseph F. Diliberto | 1,550 | 4.26 | |
| Total votes | 36,390 | 100 | |
In the at-large City Council election, Levy placed first, Anderson placed fourth, Coontz placed tenth, and Donovan placed thirteenth.[6]
1989 mayoral election
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| Turnout | 39.08%[9] | |||||||||||||
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The 1989 Worcester, Massachusetts mayoral election was held on November 7, 1989.[10] It saw the reelection of Jordan Levy to a third overall, and second-consecutive term (his second term as a popularly elected mayor).
Candidates
- Joseph Diliberto, mayoral candidate in 1987
- Margaret Donovan
- Jordan Levy, incumbent mayor
- Lynne Simonds
Results
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jordan Levy (incumbent) | 19,198 | 70.58 | |
| Lynne H. Simonds | 5,358 | 19.70 | |
| Joseph F. Diliberto | 1,358 | 4.99 | |
| Margaret M. Donovan | 1,285 | 4.72 | |
| Total votes | 27,199 | 100 | |
In the at-large City Council general election, Levy placed first, Simonds placed ninth, Diliberto placed eleventh, and Donovan placed twelfth.[9]
1991 mayoral election
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| Turnout | 44.42%[11] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 1991 Worcester, Massachusetts mayoral election was held on November 5, 1991.[10] It saw the reelection of Jordan Levy to a fourth overall, and third-consecutive term (his third term as a popularly elected mayor).
Candidates
- William S. Coleman, III
- Timothy J. Cooney, Jr., city councilor since 1980 and former mayor of Worcester (1987)[12]
- Jordan Levy, incumbent mayor
- Konstantina Lukes, at-large City Council member since 1990
Results
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jordan Levy (incumbent) | 15,003 | 45.38 | |
| Timothy J. Cooney, Jr. | 8,478 | 25.64 | |
| Konstantina B. Lukes | 7,403 | 22.39 | |
| William S. Coleman, III | 2,177 | 6.59 | |
| Total votes | 33,061 | 100 | |
In the at-large City Council general election, Levy placed first, Cooney placed third, Lukes placed sixth, and Coleman placed eighth.[11]
1993 mayoral election
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The 1993 Worcester, Massachusetts mayoral election was held on November 2, 1993.[10] It saw the election of Raymond Mariano.
Incumbent mayor Jordan Levy did not seek reelection.
Campaign
There were enough candidates in the at-large city council in 1995 that a primary was mandated for it, which was held in mid-September.[13] Due to the laws requiring that a mayor also be elected an at-large city councilor, anyone who wanted to compete in the mayoral race would need to be on the ballot in the at-large City Council primary and advance to the at-large City Council general election if they hoped to be elected mayor.
Ultimately the mayoral candidates on the ballot were John B. Anderson, Austin A. Heath, Konstantina Lukes, and Raymond Mariano. All four had been among those that advanced to the at-large City Council general election from the primary, with Anderson placing first, Mariano placing second, Lukes placing fourth, and Heath placing tenth.[13]
Candidate John B. Anderson, who served many years as a city councilor, had previously served as a City Council-appointed mayor in 1986.[14]
Candidates
- John B. Anderson, at-large city council member since 1976 and former mayor (1986)
- Austin A. Heath
- Konstantina Lukes, at-large city council member since 1990
- Raymond Mariano, city council member since 1982
Results
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raymond V. Mariano | 13,271 | 41.14 | |
| John B. Anderson | 11,389 | 35.31 | |
| Konstantina B. Lukes | 6,105 | 18.93 | |
| Austin A. Heath | 1,437 | 4.46 | |
| Others | 54 | 0.17 | |
| Total votes | 32,256 | 100 | |
In the at-large City Council general election, Mariano placed first, Anderson placed second, Lukes placed third, and Heath placed ninth.[15]
1995 mayoral election
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The 1995 Worcester, Massachusetts mayoral election was held on November 7, 1995.[10] It saw the reelection of Raymond Mariano.
Campaign
There were enough candidates in the at-large city council in 1995 that a primary was mandated for it, which was held in mid-September.[16] Due to the laws requiring that a mayor also be elected an at-large city councilor, anyone who wanted to compete in the mayoral race would need to be on the ballot in the at-large City Council primary and advance to the at-large City Council general election if they hoped to be elected mayor.
Ultimately the mayoral candidates on the ballot were incumbent mayor Raymond Mariano and challengers William Coleman and Robert J. Hennigan. All three had been among those that advanced to the at-large City Council general election from the primary, with Mariano placing first in the at-large city council primary, Hennigan placing fourth, and Coleman placing twelfth.[16]
Candidates
- William "Bill" Coleman III, mayoral candidate in 1991
- Robert J. Hennigan Jr.
- Raymond Mariano, incumbent mayor since 1993
Results
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raymond V. Mariano (incumbent) | 17,571 | 76.20 | |
| Robert J. Hennigan Jr. | 4,077 | 17.68 | |
| William Coleman III | 1,410 | 6.11 | |
| Others | 80 | 0.35 | |
| Total votes | 23,058 | 100 | |
In the at-large City Council election, Mariano placed first and Hennigan placed ninth, and Coleman placed eleventh.[17]
1997 mayoral election
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The 1997 Worcester, Massachusetts mayoral election was held on November 4, 1997.[10] It saw the reelection of Raymond Mariano to a third consecutive term.
Candidates
- Bill Coleman, community activist, candidate for mayor in 1991, 1995
- Raymond Mariano, incumbent mayor since 1993
Results
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raymond V. Mariano (incumbent) | 18,670 | 81.75 | |
| Bill Coleman | 4,169 | 18.25 | |
| Total votes | 22,839 | 100 | |
In the at-large City Council election, Mariano placed first and Coleman placed tenth.[18]
1999 mayoral election
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The 1999 Worcester, Massachusetts mayoral election was held on November 3, 1999.[19] It saw the reelection of Raymond Mariano to a fourth consecutive term.
Candidates
- George A. Fox
- Konstantina Lukes, Worcester City Council at-large member since 1990 and mayoral candidate in 1993
- Raymond Mariano, incumbent mayor since 1993
Results
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raymond V. Mariano (incumbent) | 13,939 | 59.08 | |
| Konstantina B. Lukes | 8,518 | 36.10 | |
| George A. Fox | 1,016 | 4.31 | |
| Others | 121 | 0.51 | |
| Total votes | 23,594 | 100 | |
In the at-large City Council election, Mariano placed first, Lukes placed third, and Fox placed eleventh.[19]
2001 mayoral election
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The 2001 Worcester, Massachusetts mayoral election was held on November 6, 2001.[10] It saw the election of Tim Murray.
Incumbent mayor Raymond Mariano did not seek reelection.[20]
Candidates
- William Coleman, III, community activist, candidate for mayor in 1991 and 1995
- Tim Murray, member of Worcester City Council since 1998
Results
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timothy P. Murray | 18,209 | 81.55 | |
| William Coleman, III | 4,119 | 18.45 | |
| Total votes | 22,328 | ||
Murray also finished first in the at-large city council election.[21] Coleman finished eighth.[21] Since Coleman, the second place finisher, failed to be elected an at-large city council, he was not elected vice-chair of the Worcester City Council.
2003 mayoral election
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The 2003 Worcester, Massachusetts mayoral election was held on November 4, 2003.[10] It saw the reelection of incumbent mayor Tim Murray to a second term.
Candidates
- William Coleman, III, community activist candidate for mayor in 1991, 1995, 1997, and 2001
- Juan Gomez, Worcester City Council at-large member since 2000[22]
- Tim Murray, incumbent mayor
Results
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timothy P. Murray (incumbent) | 10,411 | 72.62 | |
| Juan A. Gomez | 2,043 | 14.26 | |
| William Coleman, III | 1,881 | 13.12 | |
| Total votes | 14,335 | ||
Murray also finished first in the at-large city council election.[23] Coleman finished second, Gomez finished fifth, Coleman finished seventh.[23] Gomez, by rules of the city charter, became the vice-chair of the Worcester City Council.
2005 mayoral election
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The 2005 Worcester, Massachusetts mayoral election was held on November 8, 2005.[10] It saw the reelection of incumbent mayor Tim Murray to a third term.
Campaign
Incumbent mayor Tim Murray most significant challenger was City Council member Konstantina Lukes, who had been a frequent critic of Murray.[24]
While running for mayoral reelection, Murray had already begun his campaign for the 2006 Massachusetts lieutenant gubernatorial nomination.[24]
Candidates
- William Coleman,[25] III, community activist candidate for mayor in 1991, 1995, 2001 and 2003
- Juan Gomez,[25] Worcester City Council at-large member since 2000,[22] candidate for mayor in 2003
- Konstantina Lukes,[25] Worcester City Council at-large member since 1990, mayoral candidate in 1993 and 1999[15][19]
- William McCarthy,[25] college professor, former Connecticut state trooper, executive assistant in the Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control from 1996 to 1999[26]
- Tim Murray, incumbent mayor[25]
Results
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timothy P. Murray (incumbent) | 10,085 | 52.50 | |
| Konstantina B. Lukes | 5,352 | 27.86 | |
| Juan A. Gomez | 1,504 | 7.83 | |
| William J. McCarthy | 1,285 | 6.69 | |
| William Coleman, III | 985 | 5.13 | |
| Total votes | 19,211 | ||
Murray also finished first in the at-large city council election.[25] Lukes finished second, Gomez finished eighth, Coleman finished ninth, and McCarthy finished tenth.[25] Lukes, by the rules of the city charter, became the vice-chair of the Worcester City Council.
2007 mayoral election
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The 2007 Worcester, Massachusetts mayoral election was held on November 6, 2007.[10] It saw the reelection of incumbent mayor Konstantina B. Lukes, who had been appointed to the position earlier that year after Tim Murray resigned to become Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts.
Lukes became the city's first elected female mayor as a result of this election.[27]
Candidates
- William Coleman, III,[28] community activist candidate for mayor in 1991, 1995, 2001, 2003, and 2005
- Konstantina Lukes,[28] incumbent mayor, Worcester City Council at-large member since 1990, mayoral candidate in 1993, 1999 and 2005[15][19][25]
- Gary Rosen, Worcester City Council at-large member since 2006 and 1996–97, former five-term Worcester School Committee member[29]
- Frederick C. Rushton, Worcester City Council member[30] and attorney
Withdrawn candidates
Campaign
Lukes saw two strong challengers, Rushton and Rosen.[24]
Rather than issues, the election largely focused on the personality and the leadership style of Lukes.[24]
Lukes and Rushton were the best-funded candidates.[32] Lukes managed to raise $31,381 for her campaign.[24] Rushton managed to raise $80,000 for his campaign.[24]
Despite the fact that Lukes identified as a Democrat, the city's Democratic Party leaders sought to unseat her.[24] They hoped to coalesce opposition to Lukes behind a single candidate, and ultimately Rushton became their candidate.[24] Rushton would ultimately receive most of the endorsements from major Democratic politicians in the region.[24] Rushton's brother-in-law, Worcester County's new District Attorney Joseph D. Early, appeared at campaign events for him, marking the first time in decades that a District Attorney had involved himself in a political campaign.[33]
There was an unusually large field of candidates running to be at-large city councilors in 2007.[24] This field large enough that a primary was mandated for the at-large city council election, which was held in mid-September.[24][31] Due to the laws requiring that a mayor also be elected an at-large city councilor, anyone who wanted to compete in the mayoral race (whether they had announced yet or not) would need to be on the ballot in the at-large City Council primary and advance to the at-large City Council general election if they hoped to be elected mayor.[24] While it was not at all required that mayoral candidates declare their candidacies before the at-large City Council primary, four candidates already had declared their candidates.[24][31] After the at-large City Council primary, in which Lukes placed second among all candidates, and Rushton placed third, two of the candidates, dropped-out of the mayoral race.[24][31] These were Dennis L. Irish and Mike C. Perotto, who had respectively placed fifth and eighth out of all candidates in the at-large City Council primary.[31] This bolstered the Democratic Party's hopes of coalescing opposition to Lukes around a single candidate, which had emerged to be Rushton.[24]
Rosen declared his candidacy after the at-large City Council primary,[24] in which he had placed first.[31] Rosen's entrance into the race posed an obstacle to the Democratic Party leadership's hopes of coalescing opposition to Lukes behind a single candidate.[24]
As of early October, Lukes and Rushton were the only two candidates with campaign websites.[32]
Finances
| Candidate | Receipts[34] | Expenditures[34] |
|---|---|---|
| William Coleman III | $854.72 | $839.52 |
| Konstantina Lukes | $31,381.00 | $25,406.41 |
| Gary Rosen | $14,631.00 | $15,148.94 |
| Frederick C. Rushton | $78,668.99 | $83,589.73 |
| Total | $125,535.71 | $124,984.60 |
Results
The initial result, seeing Lukes lead by only 105 votes, was narrow enough that a hand-recount was conducted after Rushton requested one.[28][35][36] In the end, only 116 votes separated Lukes and Rushton, with Lukes having seen her lead increase by eleven votes in the recount.[37][28][35] As of 2019, this was the narrowest margin of victory in a Worcester mayoral election since the city started popularly electing its mayors in 1987.[37]
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Konstantina B. Lukes (incumbent) | 7,507 | 36.15% | |
| Frederick C. Rushton | 7,391 | 35.59% | |
| Gary Rosen | 4,552 | 21.92% | |
| William Coleman, III | 1,318 | 6.35% | |
| Total votes | 20,768 | 100 | |
Lukes finished second in the at-large city council election.[28] Rosen finished first, Rushton finished fourth, and Coleman finished twelfth.[28] Rosen, by the rules of the city charter, became the vice-chair of the Worcester City Council.
2009 mayoral election
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The 2009 Worcester, Massachusetts mayoral election was held on November 3, 2009.[10] It saw the election of Joseph C. O'Brien, who unseated incumbent mayor Konstantina B. Lukes.
As of 2019, this is the only time an incumbent mayor has lost reelection in a Worcester mayoral election since they started popularly electing mayors in 1987.[37] As of 2019, it is the only instance in which an incumbent Worcester mayor has lost such an election.
O'Brien was the first mayor to be elected without having first served on the Worcester City Council.[38]
Candidates
Campaign
While there was speculation that Frederick C. Rushton, who had lost the 2007 to Lukes by an immensely narrow margin, might challenge her again in 2009,[44] he ruled it out in February 2009.[45]
The election race was slow to start.[46]
Lukes, as she did in the previous election, saw two strong challengers, the two this time being O'Brien and Toomey.[43]
O'Brien's candidacy was supported by lieutenant governor and former Worcester mayor Tim Murray.[43][40] O'Brien was also supported by congressman Jim McGovern, for whom he served as district director (O'Brien took a leave from this role during his mayoral campaign).[38][43] Many other local Democrats threw their support behind O'Brien.[43] O'Brien also received the support of several employee unions.[47]
Toomey was endorsed by the Worcester County Sheriff and one of the city's two state senators.[43]
The election focused more on the leadership and personality of Lukes than it did on particular issues.[43]
O'Brien and Toomey criticized Lukes for being to inactive a mayor, and argued that she was ineffective at advocating for the city at the state and federal level.[43] Lukes refuted accusations that she was too inactive, arguing that the role of mayor was not intended to be a full-time position.[43]
Lukes argued that she had independence from what she claimed was a Murray-McGovern run political machine.[43]
Lukes argued that O'Brien was simply seeking to use the office of mayor as a platform to seek higher office, and argued that she herself was free from such ambitions.[43]
O'Brien pledged to commit attention to inner-city neighborhoods, and called attention to the fact that he resided in the less-affluent Main South area of the city.[43]
O'Brien aimed to run a movement-style campaign, seeking small online donations and utilizing the internet to organize campaign events.[43]
Lukes raised $33,895 for her campaign.[43] Lukes collected mainly small donations, and solicited her donations primarily by mail.[43] Financially, Lukes ran a low-cost campaign, even using her private law-office to house her campaign headquarters.[43]
O'Brien raised $43,300 for his campaign.[43] O'Brien was additionally supported by the grassroots group Neighbor to Neighbor, which funded $6,000 in mailers for his campaign.[43]
Toomey raised $33,633 for her campaign.[43]
Tsitsilianos did not raise any money for his campaign, and received little attention.[43] However, he did participate in the mayoral debates.[43]
In an interview shortly after losing the election, Lukes would blame the "pro-retire, pro-union" vote for her loss. She would also claim to have been hurt by low turnout, which she claimed O'Brien was able to capitalize on with his campaign's organization efforts. She would also characterize the campaign against her as "very negative...right up until the end".[38]
Results
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joseph C. O'Brien | 10,214 | 50.58% | |
| Konstantina B. Lukes (incumbent) | 5,663 | 28.04% | |
| Kate Toomey | 3,722 | 18.43% | |
| E. Tsitsilianos | 595 | 2.95% | |
| Total votes | 20,197 | ||
O'Brien also finished first in the at-large city council election.[39] Toomey finished second, Lukes finished fifth, Tsitsilianos finished eleventh.[39] Lukes, by the rules of the city charter, became the vice-chair of the Worcester City Council.
O'Brien was the only non-incumbent individual elected to a citywide office in Worcester that year.[48]
2011 mayoral election
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The 2011 Worcester, Massachusetts mayoral election was held on November 8, 2011.[10] It saw the election of Joseph Petty.
On September 16, 2011, incumbent mayor Joseph C. O'Brien announced that he would no longer be seeking reelection, citing family concerns.[2][49]
Candidates
- Bill Coleman, candidate for mayor in 1991, 1995, 2001, 2003, and 2005, and 2007
- Carmen L. Carmona, case worker at Community Healthlink Inc.[50]
- Konstantina Lukes, former mayor (2007–2010), Worcester City Council at-large member since 1990
- Joseph Petty, member of Worcester City Council since 1998
Results
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joseph M. Petty | 9,008 | 48.35% | |
| Konstantina B. Lukes | 6,708 | 36.01% | |
| Carmen L. Carmona | 1,531 | 8.22% | |
| Bill Coleman | 1,382 | 7.42% | |
| Total votes | 18,629 | ||
Petty also finished first in the at-large city council election.[51] Lukes finished fourth, Carmona finished eleventh, and Coleman finished twelfth.[51] Lukes, by the rules of the city charter, became the vice-chair of the Worcester City Council.
2013 mayoral election
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The 2013 Worcester, Massachusetts mayoral election was held on November 5, 2013. It saw the reelection of incumbent mayor Joseph Petty to a second term.
Candidates
- Bill Coleman, candidate for mayor in 1991, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2011
- William Feegbeh
- Konstantina Lukes, former mayor (2007–2010), Worcester City Council at-large member since 1990
- Joseph Petty, incumbent mayor, Worcester City Council member since 1998
Results
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joseph M. Petty (incumbent) | 8,900 | 58.28 | |
| Konstantina B. Lukes | 4,156 | 27.21 | |
| Bill Coleman | 1,325 | 8.68 | |
| William Feegbeh | 302 | 1.98 | |
| Total votes | 14,683 | ||
Petty also finished first in the at-large city council election.[53] Lukes finished fourth, Coleman finished eighth, and Feegbeh finished twelfth.[53] Lukes, by the rules of the city charter, became the vice-chair of the Worcester City Council.
2015 mayoral election
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| Turnout | 20.51% | ||||||||||||||||
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The 2015 Worcester, Massachusetts mayoral election was held on November 3, 2015.[54] It saw the reelection of incumbent mayor Joseph Petty to a third term.
Candidates
- Michael T. Gaffney
- William S. Coleman, III, candidate for mayor in 1991, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2011, and 2013
- Joseph Petty, incumbent mayor, Worcester City Council member since 1998
Results
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
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| Joseph M. Petty (incumbent) | 9,978 | 52.04 | |
| Michael T. Gaffney | 7,859 | 40.99 | |
| William S. Coleman III | 1,335 | 6.96 | |
| Total votes | 19,172 | 20.51 | |
Petty also finished first in the at-large city council election.[54] Gaffney finished second and Coleman finished eleventh.[54] Gaffney, by the rules of the city charter, became the vice-chair of the Worcester City Council.
2017 mayoral election
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| Turnout | 14.74% | |||||||||||||
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The 2017 Worcester, Massachusetts mayoral election was held on November 7, 2017.[55] It saw the reelection of incumbent mayor Joseph Petty to a fourth term.
Candidates
- Konstantina Lukes, former mayor (from 2007 to 2010), Worcester City Council at-large member since 1990
- Joseph Petty, incumbent mayor, Worcester City Council member since 1998
Results
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joseph M. Petty (incumbent) | 11,119 | 70.56 | |
| Konstantina B. Lukes | 4,640 | 29.44 | |
| Total votes | 15,759 | 14.74 | |
Petty also finished first in the at-large city council election.[55] Lukes finished sixth.[55] Lukes, by the rules of the city charter, became the vice-chair of the Worcester City Council.
2019 mayoral election
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| Turnout | 16.56% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 2019 Worcester, Massachusetts mayoral election was held on November 5, 2019.[56] It saw the reelection of incumbent mayor Joseph Petty. Petty became the first-ever mayor in the history of Worcester to receive a fifth two-year term as mayor.[57]
Candidates
- Bill Coleman, community activist,[58] candidate for mayor in 1991, 1995, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2011, 2013, and 2015
- Donna M. Colorio, member of the Worcester School Committee and former chair of the Worcester Republican City Committee
- Joseph Petty, incumbent mayor, Worcester City Council member since 1998
- Owurakwaku Poku Sarkodieh
Campaign
The election was a four person race.[59]
Petty's prime challenger was Colorio, the former chair of the Worcester Republican City Committee and two-term member of the Worcester School Committee.[59][60] Colorio was supported by the Republican Super PAC Massachusetts Majority Independent Expenditure PAC (MMIE PAC).[59]
Results
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joseph M. Petty (incumbent) | 10,194 | 60.55 | |
| Donna M. Colorio | 3,840 | 22.81 | |
| Bill Coleman | 1,439 | 8.55 | |
| Owurakwaku Poku Sarkodieh | 1,363 | 8.10 | |
| Total votes | 16,836 | 16.56 | |
Petty also finished first in the at-large city council election.[56] Toomey placed second, Colorio paced sixth, Coleman placed ninth, and Sarkodieh placed tenth.[56] Colorio, by the rules of the city charter, became the vice-chair of the Worcester City Council.
2021 mayoral election
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| Turnout | 15.94% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 2021 Worcester, Massachusetts mayoral election was held on November 2, 2021.[61] It saw the reelection of incumbent mayor Joseph Petty to a record sixth term.[62][63]
Candidates
- Bill Coleman, community activist and perennial candidate (candidate for mayor in 1991, 1995, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2019)[63]
- Donna Colorio, vice chair of the Worcester City Council and mayoral candidate in 2019[62][63]
- Joseph Petty, incumbent mayor and Worcester City Council member since 1998[62][63]
- Peter Stefan, funeral director[62][63]
Results
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joseph M. Petty (incumbent) | 10,087 | 60.48 | |
| Donna M. Colorio | 4,150 | 24.88 | |
| Bill Coleman | 1,509 | 9.05 | |
| Peter A. Stefan | 931 | 5.58 | |
| Total votes | 16,677 | 15.94 | |
Petty also finished first in the at-large city council election.[64] Colorio paced sixth, Coleman placed eighth, and Stefan placed tenth.[64] Colorio, by the rules of the city charter, became the vice-chair of the Worcester City Council.
2023 mayoral election
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| Turnout | 19.14% | ||||||||||||||||
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 Precinct Results Petty: 30–40% 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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The 2023 Worcester, Massachusetts mayoral election was held November 7, 2023. Incumbent mayor Joseph Petty won re-election to a seventh term in office.
Candidates
- Bill Coleman, community activist and perennial candidate[65]
- Donna Colorio, vice chair of the Worcester City Council and candidate for mayor in 2019 and 2021[66]
- Guillermo Creamer Jr., former chair of the Worcester Human Rights Commission[67]
- Khrystian King, at-large city councilor[68]
- Joseph Petty, incumbent mayor[69]
Endorsements
- Political parties
- Working Families Party (co-endorsement with King)[70]
- Political parties
- Working Families Party (co-endorsement with Creamer)[70]
Results
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joseph M. Petty (incumbent) | 10,087 | 49.86 | |
| Khrystian E. King | 5,877 | 27.42 | |
| Donna M. Colorio | 2,912 | 13.59 | |
| Bill Coleman | 1,009 | 4.71 | |
| Guillermo Creamer, Jr. | 950 | 4.43 | |
| Total votes | 20,835 | 19.14 | |
Petty finished first in the simultaneous election for Worcester's six at-large city council seats, while King placed third, Colorio placed fourth, Creamer placed seventh, and Coleman placed tenth. Petty, King, and Colorio thus held their city council seats, with Creamer narrowly missing out on a seat by a margin of 1.9%. As the mayoral runner-up, King automatically became vice chair of the city council, taking over from Colorio, who won the position in the 2021 election.[71]
References
- ↑ Kotsopoulos, Nick (September 21, 2019). "Politics and the City: And they're off and running for Worcester mayor" (10 August 2020). telegram.com. The Telegram. Archived from the original on April 18, 2021. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
- 1 2 "City Councilor Joseph Petty wins 4-way race for mayor in Worcester". masslive. The Associated Press. November 9, 2011. Archived from the original on April 21, 2021. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
- ↑ Howe, Peter J. (November 4, 1987). "Incumbent mayors win in Lynn and Brockton, trail in Quincy". Newspapers.com. The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
- ↑ Kotsopoulos, Nick (September 21, 2019). "Politics and the City: And they're off and running for Worcester mayor". telegram.com. Archived from the original on April 18, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
- 1 2 "Ordinances & Regulations | City of Worcester, MA". www.worcesterma.gov. Worcester. Archived from the original on April 19, 2021. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
- 1 2 3 "ELECTIONS". Newspapers.com. The Boston Globe. November 4, 1987. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
- ↑ "THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TOWN OFFICERS ELECTED" (PDF). www.worcesterma.gov/. Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 26, 2021. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
- ↑ Kotsopoulos, Nick (March 4, 2010). "'A true inspiration'". telegram.com. Telegram. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
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- ↑ "Tim Cooney". Boys & Girls Club of Worcester. August 10, 2018. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
- 1 2 "PRELIMINARY MUNICIPAL ELECTION - CITY OF WORCESTER SEPTEMBER 14, 1993 ** Summary Report ** Number 11" (PDF). Worcester, Massachusetts. September 13, 1993. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 26, 2021. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
- ↑ "Newsroom | Portrait of Former Mayor of Worcester and Holy Cross Professor John Anderson '57 Arrives at City Hall". news.holycross.edu. College of the Holy Cross. March 5, 2010. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
- 1 2 3 4 "WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS ELECTION SUMMARY MUNICIPAL ELECTION WORCESTER MASSACHUSETTS" (PDF). Worcester, Massachusetts. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 26, 2021. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
- 1 2 "WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS ELECTION SUMMARY MUNICIPAL ELECTION WORCESTER MASSACHUSETTS" (PDF). Worcester, Massachusetts. September 19, 1995. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 26, 2021. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
- 1 2 "WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS ELECTION SUMMARY MUNICIPAL ELECTION WORCESTER MASSACHUSETTS" (PDF). Worcester, Massachusetts. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 26, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
- 1 2 "WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS ELECTION SUMMARY MUNICIPAL ELECTION WORCESTER MASSACHUSETTS" (PDF). Worcester, Massachusetts. November 5, 1997. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 8, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS STATEMENT OF VOTES CAST MUNICIPAL ELECTION WORCESTER MASSACHUSETTS OFFICIAL RESULTS" (PDF). November 3, 1999. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 26, 2021. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
- ↑ "Mariano-Murray Mayoral Contest? Makes You Wonder". Telegram & Gazette. January 21, 2001. Archived from the original on January 25, 2020. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
- 1 2 3 "WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS ELECTION SUMMARY MUNICIPAL ELECTION WORCESTER MASSACHUSETTS" (PDF). Worcester, Massachusetts. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 26, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
- 1 2 Staff, Mark SullivanTelegram & Gazette (August 2, 2015). "Worcester candidate: Council hopeful Juan Gomez touts plan to bring business, jobs to city". telegram.com. Archived from the original on April 18, 2021. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
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- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Atkins, Hannah; Boatright, Robert; Cansever, Baran; Chaudari, Noreena; Cohen, Stefan; Gerhardson, Sasha; Gregoire, Amanda; Kahale, Joelle; Monterio, Jarett; Oldenburg, Colin; Schofield, Emily; Smith, Connor; Tripp, Charles. "Campaign Finance in Municipal Elections: The 2009 Worcester City Council Candidates" (PDF). Clark University. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 5, 2020. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS STATEMENT OF VOTES CAST MUNICIPAL ELECTION WORCESTER MASSACHUSETTS" (PDF). Worcester, Massachusetts. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 26, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
- ↑ STAFF, Richard Nangle TELEGRAM & GAZETTE (August 9, 2007). "William McCarthy - City Council, at-large". telegram.com. Archived from the original on April 18, 2021. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
- ↑ Kotsopoulos, Nick (May 1, 2019). "Konstantina Lukes will not seek re-election to City Council". telegram.com. Archived from the original on April 18, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS STATEMENT OF VOTES CAST MUNICIPAL ELECTION WORCESTER MASSACHUSETTS" (PDF). Worcester, Massachusetts. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 26, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
- ↑ Kotsopoulos, Nick (March 5, 2017). "Gary Rosen setting sights on at-large Worcester City Council seat". telegram.com. Archived from the original on April 18, 2021. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
- ↑ "CITY OF WORCESTER CITY CLERK DEPARTMENT JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL – MARCH 14, 2006 7:00 P.M." City of Worcester. March 14, 2006. Archived from the original on May 12, 2021. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Nangle, Richard (September 12, 2007). "Rosen, Lukes are the top two finishers". telegram.com. Archived from the original on November 8, 2023. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
- 1 2 Nangle, Richard (October 1, 2007). "Lukes, Rushton take campaigns to the Internet". telegram.com. Archived from the original on April 18, 2021. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
- ↑ Sutner, Shaun (June 3, 2007). "Early Returns Are Generally Good New DA Gets Plaudits Some Criticism, by Shaun Sutner, Telegram & Gazette [Worcester], June 3, 2007". Telegram.com. Archived from the original on April 6, 2015. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
- 1 2 "Mayoral Activity 2007" (PDF). Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 4, 2020. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
- 1 2 "New England in brief". Newspapers.com. The Boston Globe. November 27, 2007. Archived from the original on April 24, 2021. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
- ↑ "New England in brief". Newspapers.com. The Boston Globe. November 11, 2007. Archived from the original on August 15, 2023. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
- 1 2 3 Kotsopoulos, Nick (September 21, 2019). "Politics and the City: And they're off and running for Worcester mayor". telegram.com. Archived from the original on April 18, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
- 1 2 3 4 Kotsopoulos, Nick (November 4, 2009). "It's O'Brien for mayor". www.telegram.com. The Telegram. Archived from the original on September 29, 2020.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS STATEMENT OF VOTES CAST MUNICIPAL ELECTION WORCESTER MASSACHUSETTS" (PDF). Worcester, Massachusetts. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 26, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
- 1 2 3 Monahan, John J.; Staff, Gazette (August 19, 2009). "Murray backs O'Brien for mayor; Lukes calls race a replay of 2007". telegram.com. Archived from the original on April 18, 2021. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
- ↑ "Kate Toomey". Ballotpedia. Archived from the original on April 18, 2021. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
- ↑ "Cover Story: 07-27-06". Worcester Magazine. July 27, 2006. Archived from the original on April 18, 2021. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Atkins, Hannah; Boatright, Robert; Cansever, Baran; Chaudari, Noreena; Cohen, Stefan; Gerhardson, Sasha; Gregoire, Amanda; Kahale, Joelle; Monterio, Jarett; Oldenburg, Colin; Schofield, Emily; Smith, Connor; Tripp, Charles. "Campaign Finance in Municipal Elections: The 2009 Worcester City Council Candidates" (PDF). Clark University. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 5, 2020. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
- ↑ Kotsopoulos, Nick (February 25, 2009). "Rushton's decision clouds mayoral landscape". www.telegram.com. Archived from the original on April 18, 2021. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
- ↑ Kotsopoulos, Nick Kotsopoulos (February 24, 2009). "Rushton won't run for mayor". telegram.com. Telegram & Gazette. Archived from the original on April 18, 2021. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
- ↑ Kotsopoulos, Nick. "Mayoral race getting off to slow start". telegram.com. www.telegram.com. Archived from the original on April 18, 2021. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
- ↑ "O'Brien is new mayor". The Telegraph. November 3, 2009.
- ↑ "Worcester Municipal Elections: 2009". Clark University. Archived from the original on April 18, 2021. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
- ↑ STAFF, Nick Kotsopoulos TELEGRAM & GAZETTE (September 17, 2011). "Mayor O'Brien ends re-election bid". telegram.com. Archived from the original on November 8, 2023. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
- ↑ "Carmen L. Carmona". www.telegram.com. October 15, 2011. Archived from the original on November 8, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
- 1 2 3 "WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS STATEMENT OF VOTES CAST MUNICIPAL ELECTION WORCESTER MASSACHUSETTS" (PDF). Worcester, Massachusetts. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 22, 2018. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
- ↑ "Election Results | City of Worcester, MA". Worcester, Massachusetts. Archived from the original on April 24, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
- 1 2 3 "WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS ELECTION SUMMARY MUNICIPAL ELECTION WORCESTER MASSACHUSETTS" (PDF). Worcester, Massachusetts. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 22, 2018. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
- 1 2 3 4 "SUMMARY REPORT CITY OF WORCESTER, MA MUNICIPAL ELECTION 10/03/2015 OFFICIAL RESULTS" (PDF). Worcester, Massachusetts. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 21, 2016. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
- 1 2 3 4 "SUMMARY REPORT CITY OF WORCESTER, MA MUNICIPAL ELECTION 10/07/2017 OFFICIAL RESULTS" (PDF). Worcester, Massachusetts. November 14, 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 2, 2019. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
- 1 2 3 4 "SUMMARY REPORT CITY OF WORCESTER, MA MUNICIPAL ELECTION NOVEMBER 5, 2019" (PDF). Worcester, Massachusetts. November 15, 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 2, 2019. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
- ↑ Kotsopoulos, Nick (November 5, 2019). "Petty wins historic fifth term as Worcester mayor". telegram.com. Archived from the original on April 18, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
- ↑ "Worcester Candidate Profile: Bill Coleman For Mayor". Patch. October 24, 2019. Archived from the original on April 18, 2021. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
- 1 2 3 McNamara, Neal (November 4, 2019). "Super PAC Drops $38K On Worcester Mayoral Race". Patch. Archived from the original on April 18, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
- ↑ "Councilor Colorio | City of Worcester, MA". www.worcesterma.gov. Worcester. Archived from the original on October 16, 2020. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
- ↑ "Election Calendar | City of Worcester, MA". www.worcesterma.gov. City of Worcester. Archived from the original on April 18, 2021. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
- 1 2 3 4 Foskett, Steven H. Jr. (September 22, 2021). "Who's running for Worcester mayor? Four-way race heading into November election". Telegram & Gazette. Archived from the original on August 15, 2023. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Elfland, Mike (September 28, 2021). "What you need to know about the Nov. 2 municipal election in Worcester". Telegram & Gazette. Archived from the original on August 15, 2023. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
- 1 2 3 "UNOFFICIAL ELECTION RESULTS MUNICIPAL ELECTION 11/02/2021" (PDF). Worcester, Massachusetts. November 2, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
- ↑ Cartolano, Marco (August 14, 2023). "William Coleman makes another run for mayor of Worcester". Worcester Telegram & Gazette. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
- ↑ Semon, Craig (October 26, 2023). "'Common sense' Colorio's bywords in race for Worcester mayor, councilor-at-large". Worcester Telegram & Gazette. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
- ↑ "Guillermo Creamer Jr. launches bid for Worcester mayor". Archived from the original on June 29, 2023. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
- ↑ "Worcester city Councilor Khrystian King announces run for mayor". Spectrum News 1. June 22, 2023. Archived from the original on September 6, 2023. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
- ↑ "Worcester Mayor Petty says he plans to run again in 2023". Archived from the original on June 29, 2023. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
- 1 2 McNamara, Neil (November 2, 2023). "Khrystian King Runs For Worcester Mayor In 2023 For 'Change'". Patch Media. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
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