2 More Worcester City Council Candidates Announce For 2021 Race

WORCESTER, MA — Two more locals in recent weeks announced plans to run for City Council in 2021, bringing the total of non-incumbents running for seats to five.

Deb Hall, director of domestic violence services at the Central Massachusetts YWCA, and Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance advocacy director Etel Haxhiaj — who ran for a seat in 2019 — are the latest to enter the race. Both are running for at-large seats.

Hall filed paperwork with the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance on Nov. 30. Haxhiaj announced her run over the weekend on social media. In 2019, Haxhiaj came in 8th in total votes in a 13-way race for six at-large Council seats.

"I am ready and exit to build on the strengths and successes of that campaign with you all," Haxhiaj said in her campaign announcement.

In 2021, five district seats, six at-large seats and the Worcester mayor's seat will be up for election.

In other races, Johanna Hampton-Dance is challenging incumbent District 2 Candy Mero-Carlson. Yenni Desroches has filed to run against incumbent District 5 Councilor Matthew Wally, and Thu Nguyen is running for an at-large seat.