Mayoral Candidates Focus on Worcester’s Challenges and Priorities

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Matthew Wright and Patrick Sargent, GoLocalWorcester Contributors

From left to right: William Coleman, Michael Gaffney and Mayor Joe Petty (Photo: Matthew Wright)

On Monday night, the three candidates running for Mayor of Worcester took part in a forum at Mechanics Hall to discuss the city’s safety issues, concerns and economic priorities.

The debate, put on by The Worcester Regional Research Bureau and Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, took place at Mechanics Hall on Main Street.

In his opening statement, incumbent Mayor Joe Petty, said “I really believe the city is going in the right direction. There are a lot of great things here. For me this campaign is about Worcester’s future, not mine. This campaign is about building our city up. To lead this campaign is about working together to grow our city.”

Michael Gaffney focused on the city’s economic development and said, “We continue to rely in the same old failed ideas. Which includes this trickle out economic theory that has not trickled out. All these great projects we have going on here in Worcester are not trickling out to our residents or our small businesses. Our empty storefronts on Main Street are evidence of that.”

From left to right: William Coleman, Michael Gaffney and Mayor Joe Petty (Photo: Matthew Wright)

William Coleman challenged the way Worcester’s government runs. “I’m running for city council as a community activist to make sure our city has the government that it needs. Independent thought and the concept of having a city the reaches beyond thinking in a box,” Coleman said.

Coleman also added that the city’s leadership could use more diversity. Coleman said. “I want you to look at that the city that you have. I want you to realize the challenges that are in this city. I don’t want to talk about diversity, but it would be great to have a city that represented some population.”

Worcester’s Priorities and Worcester Public Schools

Much of Monday night’s discussion focused on safety in and around the city and safety in Worcester’s schools.

One question asked of the candidates was to list the top five priorities facing the city and what services would they cap or reduce to help fund Worcester Public Schools.

Councilor Gaffney responded, “We need to first our prioritize safety in our streets...and then from there safety in our schools. Then we need to get more economic incentive for our small businesses to be able to compete.”

Gaffney added that a major priority would be to expand the budget of Worcester’s police department.

Mayor Joe Petty (Photo: Matthew Wright)

“It’s called prioritizing,” said Coleman. “The way I would prioritize is with the issues that are most important to the growth of our city and what’s going to be most sustainable. We can’t hold back, we need to listen to our people.”

Coleman noted that there are grants available for Worcester’s school that the city should be taking advantage of.

“This year we have one of the better budgets in the Worcester Public Schools..,” Petty responded. “We have hired more teachers than ever this year because we have prioritized that during the budget process. We put more money into building infrastructure. It’s not about we we can subtract, it’s about looking at the budget as a whole.”

Petty added that public safety is a big issue in Worcester and in his first two terms as mayor it has been a priority - noting that he asked for new fire and police classes which the city received.

Candidates Disagree on FY2016 Budget

“We do have a safe city,” said Coleman. “The one thing I do want to say about our concern about crime is that we have high employment. When people are working, crime is down in our community.”

Gaffney responded to Mayor Petty’s claim that the city had added $1 million the Worcester Police Department and opposed Petty’s view that the city was responsible for going out and hiring more teachers.

Gaffney said, “We did get to hire more teachers this year with the 2016 budget...that’s only because of an increase in Chapter 17 funding. The budget for...police increased by $154,000. It’s a fact. It is what it is.”

In response to Councilor Gaffney, Mayor Petty said, “Worcester is a good city, it’s a safe city. I’m tired of people tearing it down. You want to talk about bringing business to the city? Keep on targeting Worcester Public Schools, keep on targeting safety in this city...We have issues. We’re an urban city with 180,000 people in this city. We’re going to have issues. We address the issues, we put plans into place and they are working,” Petty said. “They’re actually working.”