Thu Nguyen Running As First Nonbinary Worcester Council Candidate

WORCESTER, MA — The 2021 Worcester City Council races will feature several LGBTQ+ candidates, setting up the possibility of the city's first elected Councilor from that group.

On Thursday, Southeast Asian Coalition projects director Thu Nguyen formally announced their run for an at-large seat as the first ever nonbinary candidate in Worcester. On Monday, Deb Hall, an openly gay woman and YMCA domestic violence services director, entered the 2021 field.

Nguyen, a Clark University graduate who came to Worcester at age one as a refugee from Vietnam, said they are running to "to build a stronger and safer Worcester" by strengthening public health. Nguyen highlighted their recent activity with Mutual Aid Worcester raising money to help Worcester residents get through the coronavirus pandemic.

"I love Worcester, this city embraced me, and I’m ready to bring my public service to the next level," Nguyen said in a statement. "We need a Worcester that is safe and strong. As a youth worker, I know that when we invest in our young people with community-based programs, after-school activities, and youth jobs we can prevent violence and make us all safer."

Nguyen is one of seven challengers stepping into the 2021 field. The other candidates include neighborhood activist Johanna Hampton-Dance, who is challenging Candy Mero-Carlson in District 2; political organizer Cory Bisbee; Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance advocacy director Etel Haxhiaj, who ran for a Council seat in 2019; Shirley Konneh, director for career development at Holy Cross; Yenni Desroches, cofounder of the Humanity First movement; and Hall.

The filing period for the Worcester 2021 city races is on now and will conclude on May 11.