Worcester Municipal Elections: Petty Wins Second Term As Mayor

Wednesday, November 06, 2013

GoLocalWorcester News Team

Worcester residents spoke loud and clear on Tuesday, re-electing Democrat Joseph M. Petty to a second term as Mayor. Petty received more than sixty-percent of the votes, defeating his closest opponent, Konstantina Lukes, by a wide margin.

“In regards to Mayor Joe Petty, he deserves it.” Said political expert David LeBoeuf. “He put on a real campaign in a time when he was clearly safe and truly earned those votes.”

Read The Complete Worcester Municipal Election Report Here

There weren’t very many surprises in the Councilor-At-Large election, as four of the six current Councilors will be returning to their seats. Michael Gaffney and Morris A. Bergman represent the only newcomers, as three-term incumbent Michael Germain was ousted. Current Councilor-At-Large and one-time Mayor, Joseph C. O’Brien, did not seek re-election.

In District 1, Tony Economou retained his seat, receiving 57 percent of the vote and defeating challenger Christopher Rich. Philip P. Palmieri edged out Jennithan Cortes in District 2, with 55 percent of the vote. After a short layoff, Gary Rosen will return to the city council after defeating the incumbent, William Eddy, in District 5.

There were two uncontested races; in District 3 and District 4, allowing George J. Russell and Sarai Rivera to return to their respective seats.

Related Slideshow: Worcester Municipal Elections 2013: The Winners

The results are in. Joseph Petty retained his seat as Councilor-At-Large, and will remain Mayor of New England's second largest city. Let's take a look at the rest of the Worcester City Council following the completion of the Municipal Election.

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Mayor & Councilor-At-Large

Joseph M. Petty

Votes Received: 8,854 Mayor, 8,451 Councilor-At Large

Mayor Joseph M. Petty was elected to his ninth two-year term as Councilor-At-Large and his second term as Mayor of the City of Worcester. He is a graduate of Holy Name Central Catholic High School in Worcester, studied at Nichols College in Dudley, and received a law degree from New England School of Law in Boston.

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Councilor-At-Large

Kate Toomey

Votes Received: 8,133 (13.80%)

Councilor Toomey was elected to her fifth term, earning the second most At-Large votes. She has served as Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Public Works, which considers all matters pertaining to streets, water, sewers, sanitation, recycling, snow removal and the construction of public buildings.

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Councilor-At-Large

Morris A. Bergman

Votes Received: 6,768 (11.49%)

The newly-elected Bergman is a practicing lawyer, a former prosecutor for the Office of the District Attorney-Middle District-Worcester and a past two term member of the City of Worcester Zoning Board of Appeals.

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Councilor-At-Large

Konstantina B. Lukes

Votes Received: 6,520 (11.07%)

Councilor Lukes served as Mayor of Worcester from 2007-2009, and is serving her twelfth two-year term as a Councilor-At-Large.She also served four two-year terms as a member of the Worcester School Committee.

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Councilor-At-Large

Rick C. Rushton

Votes Received: 5,720 (9.71%)

Councilor Rushton will return for a fourth term in the city council. He ha served as Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Economic Development, he which considers all matters pertaining to economic development, neighborhood development, housing development, marketing, workforce development, zoning, planning and regulatory services functions of the City and energy.

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Councilor-At-Large

Michael T. Gaffney

Votes Received: 5,607 (9.52%)

Attorney Michael Gaffney was elected to his first term on the Worcester City Council. He is one of two newcomers to the council

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District 1 Councilor

Tony J. Economou

Votes Received: 2,464 (59.64%)

Councilor Economou will return to his District 1 seat for a second term. He has served as Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Traffic & Parking,which considers all matters pertaining to traffic and parking ordinances and off street parking facilities.

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District 2 Councilor

Philip P. Palmeiri

Votes Received: 1,119 (55.84%)

Councilor Palmeiri will return to his District 2 seat for a seventh term. He has served as Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Public Service & Transportation,which considers all matters pertaining to cable television and telecommunications, public transportation, street lighting, taxis and liveries.

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District 3 Councilor

George J. Russell

Votes Received: 1,454 (100.00%)

Councilor Russell ran uncontested, allowing him to retain his District 3 seat for a second term. He has served as Chairperson of the Standing Committe on Rules & Legislative Affairs, which initiates and reviews proposals for amendments to the rules of the City Council and any other matters affecting or determining the conduct of the City Council meetings.

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District 4 Councilor

Sarai Rivera

Votes Received: 1,100 (100.00%)

Councilor Rivera ran uncontested, and will be serving her second term as District 4 Councilor. She has served as Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Youth, Parks & Recreation, which considers all matters involving youth, parks, playgrounds, recreation activities and Hope Cemetery.

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District 5 Councilor

Gary Rosen

Votes Received: 2,289 (54.08%)

Gary Rosen returns to the City Council after defeating incumbent William Eddy. Rosen had previously served five terms on the School Committee and three terms in the City Council.

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Gaming Proposals on the Ballot

Municipal ballot initiatitives in other regions of the state may have implications local to Central Massachusetts. Voters weighed in on proposals for casions in East Boston and Palmer on Tuesday.

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Palmer

Voters in the Western Massachusetts community of Palmer narrowly rejecting a bid by Mohegan Sun to build a resort casino in town.

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East Boston and Revere

Even though voters in Revere approved the construction of a casino at Suffolk Downs, East Boston voted against the proposal. Support from both communities was needed before the venue could formally apply for a license with the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.