Worcester 2021 Election: 31 Candidates Pull Papers To Run

WORCESTER, MA — With just under two months until the filing deadline in May, 31 people have pulled papers to run for City Council and School Committee races in Worcester so far. That figure includes all but three incumbents, and many potential challengers.

The City Council At-Large race has the largest field so far with 12 potential candidates. There are six At-Large seats are up for election in 2021, including the one held by retiring Councilor Gary Rosen. District 5 Councilor Matthew Wally is looking to grab that open seat.

There are several notable challengers who have pulled papers for the At-Large race, including Southeast Asian Coalition projects director Thu Nguyen, who would be the first nonbinary Councilor, YMCA domestic violence services director Deb Hall and Holy Cross administrator Shirley Konneh. All three have also registered campaigns with the state.

In the School Committee race, four incumbents have pulled papers to run again, but members John Monfredo and John Foley had not as of March 17, according to the City Clerk. Two familiar names have pulled papers to run for seats: Coghlin Electrical Contractors owner Sue Mailman, and Jermoh Kamara, who ran for City Council in 2019.

Apart from the At-Large City Council race, there are two possible primaries coming in the City Council District 1 and District 5 races, with the latter being a wide open contest. To trigger a primary, you need 13 or more candidates in either the City Council At-Large or School Committee races. District City Council seats require at least three candidates for a primary.

Candidates have until the close of business on May 11 to return papers. Candidates who do not return the required signatures will not be on the ballot — that means this list is not final until candidates return papers to the City Clerk.

Here's the latest list of candidates who have pulled (but not necessarily returned) papers:

City Council At-Large

• Donna Colorio (i)
• Jonathan Rodriguez
• Mayor Joseph Petty (i)
• Shirley Konneh
• Morris Bergman (i)
• Diallo Frys
• Thu Nguyen
• Kate Toomey (i)
• Deborah Hall
• Matthew Wally (i)
• Khrystian King (i)
• Peter Stefan

City Council District 1

• David Shea Jr.
• Sean Rose (i)
• Samantha Martin

District 2

• Johanna Hampton-Dance
• Candy Mero Carlson (i)

District 3

• George Russell (i)

District 4

• Sarai Rivera (i)
• Ethan Lutz

District 5

• Etel Haxhiaj
• Wayne Griffin
• Yenni Desroches
• Porcha-Marie Williams
• Stephen Quist

Worcester School Committee

• Tracy O'Connell Novick (i)
• Molly McCullogh (i)
• Laura Clancey (i)
• Jermoh Kamara
• Dianna Biacheria (i)
• Sue Mailman