Recommendations for 2024 General Election

For several years now we have written and shared with friends and allies our opinions about candidates running for office and ballot questions.  We began compiling and sharing our recommendations after receiving requests from some of our friends who respect and appreciate our attention to things political and electoral.  It is a continual source of amazement to us that we get such requests, and we acknowledge the tremendous responsibility this confidence places on us.  We emphasize that we offer our suggestions based on our values: people over profits, voting rights, and racial, environmental, gender, and economic justice.  We recognize that you may disagree partially or even completely.  We urge you to do your own research and vote your own conscience.  Please feel free to share our views with your friends and allies as well.  We welcome you sharing your own views with us. 

This year most of our recommendations will be short and sweet, especially because most of the races for our local offices are uncontested.  We are making recommendations only where our chosen candidate has opposition.  We will have a longer focus on the State Senate in the district where we live.

Please join us in voting for:

President/Vice President: Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.  While we are clear that no candidate is perfect, we will enthusiastically vote for this ticket.  We believe they offer a compelling vision of inclusion and compassion.  We are horrified at the prospect of the full totalitarianism that would result from a Trump takeover of the Federal government.

U.S. Senate: Elizabeth Warren.  We have been on board with her since her first run in 2012. We are always impressed by her courage in speaking out against all kinds of injustice and the depth of her understanding of and clarity in explaining economic policy.  It’s important not to take her race for granted because her opponent, a billionaire who can dump millions into his own campaign, is trying to present himself as a moderate, claiming that Warren is the extreme candidate. 

U.S. Congress: Jim McGovern.  We feel very fortunate to have Jim as our Congressman.  He is consistently true to many values that we share with him.  He acts with sincerity and decency and is committed to listening when some of his constituents do not agree with his positions. 

Governor’s Council: Paul DePalo.  The Governor’s Council is charged with approving or rejecting nominees to both judgeships and the Parole Board.  It has a significant role in shaping how people are treated in the criminal legal system.  Currently an attorney and formerly a special education teacher, Paul understands the importance of addressing youth trauma in that system, appointing judges and parole board members who understand this, and getting young people on a path of opportunity rather than incarceration.  He approaches his responsibility in this office with the utmost thoughtfulness and sincerity. 

Now our discussion of our candidate for State Senate: Sheila Dibb

We live in the area along the western and southwestern border of Worcester (about 10% of the city) that is now, as a result of the 2022 redistricting, in the Worcester and Hampshire State Senate district.  We are delighted that Sheila Dibb, former chair of the Select Board in Rutland, is running to challenge the MAGA Republican who won the seat in a low turnout special election last fall.  When no one had filed for the Democratic nomination, Sheila decided to run as a write in candidate.  She needed 300 votes to secure a spot on the November 5 ballot and garnered more than 1,000! 

Sheila is committed to Democratic values across the board.  She has a deep grounding in and understanding of the suburban and rural towns that are essential to securing a win in this district.  She served for 13 years on the Rutland Select Board.  Since the primary she has secured the endorsement of Democratic officials up and down the ballot, labor and environmental organizations and Mass Alliance. 

Although it changed somewhat with redistricting every ten years, the district composed of suburban and rural towns west of Worcester elected a Democrat to the State Senate in every election from 1976 to 2022. We believe that this is a great opportunity to return it to Democratic hands if enough voters learn about Sheila.

Some of you who are getting this message have already heard from us about Sheila, and many of you do not live in this district.  But all of you can help!  We have a very short time to spread the word.  Look at this map to see if you have friends and family in the district, and call them!  (After you do that, you can use this form to let us know how they responded.)  We also welcome donations to help spread the word, and you can sign up to volunteer in various ways. 

This year’s ballot questions: we hope to write a piece dedicated to these issues.  Some of our trusted allies are urging a Yes vote on all five, but we feel we need to do more research on some of them.  For now, please vote YES on Question 2, removing the MCAS test as a graduation requirement while keeping it in place as one of the assessment tools for educational success.  If passed, teachers will be able to focus on teaching critical thinking skills instead of test taking skills.  The website above explains how high stakes are not the same as high standards.  

You have many options for how to vote this year.

• For Worcester voters, you can find all of the information about early voting times and locations, drop boxes, and deadlines on this page.
• Vote by mail: If you haven't sent in a vote-by-mail application yet and wish to do so, you can apply online or download a form here. If you've already received your ballot, you can send it back via mail or find a drop box anywhere in the state. And if you want to confirm receipt, you can track your ballot.
• Vote early in person: Early voting begins on October 19 for a two-week period.  Locations anywhere in the state will be posted here by October 11.
• Vote on Election Day (Tuesday, November 5): As always, you can confirm your polling place at wheredoivotema.com.
• And remember, the deadline to register to vote or update your registration is Saturday, October 26. You can register online here if you need to.

Thank you for your attention and for participating in our voting process.  As we say in the election business, Many Happy Returns!

 Sincerely,

Margot Barnet and David Coyne

Recommendations for 2022 General Election

 Vote on or Before November 8th!

For several years now we have written and shared with friends and allies our opinions about candidates running for office and about ballot issues.  We began compiling and sharing our recommendations after receiving requests from some of our friends who respect and appreciate our attention to things political and electoral.  It is a continual source of amazement to us that we get such requests, and we acknowledge the tremendous responsibility this confidence places on us.  We emphasize that we offer our suggestions based on our values as unapologetically progressive, feminist, and anti-racist.  We recognize that you may disagree partially or even completely.  We urge you to vote your own conscience.  If you so choose, please share our views with your friends and allies as well.  We welcome your sharing your own views with us. 

In our election recommendations for the 2022 general election, we will primarily focus on the initiative questions on your November ballot.  Regarding candidates, we only focus on a few local and regional ones (see below).  We urge you to vote for the Democratic nominees in all of the statewide races.  While most of these candidates were not our first choices, any differences we have among Democrats pale in contrast to the MAGA-aligned candidates that the Republicans have nominated. 

 Local/regional candidates we support:

Jim McGovern for Congress

Jim has been our friend for decades and is a stalwart voice for all kinds of federal policies promoting environmental protection, human rights, worker rights, and reproductive freedom.  It is very important to return him to office.  

 Robyn Kennedy for State Senator in the First Worcester District

Robyn won the Democratic nomination against substantial odds and faces an unenrolled candidate on the November ballot.  She is poised to bring transformational leadership. Robyn's work experience, both in state government where she held several high-ranking policy positions and more recently at Worcester’s YWCA, makes her a highly qualified policy expert.  She is also staunchly progressive and willing to be vocal and serve as a champion on controversial issues, especially those regarding racial justice.

 Paul DePalo for Governor’s Council

Paul is a strong advocate for justice and has served well in this rather obscure office whose charge is approving judges and members of the Parole Board.  He faces a Republican opponent in a district with a lot of “red” areas, so he needs our vote. 

 David LeBoeuf for State Representative, 17^th Worcester district

We have worked closely with David LeBoeuf for many years.  He is a problem solver, a smart, hardworking, and courageous progressive whose re-election would have been a certainty if not for a drunk driving arrest (thankfully, no one was hurt) last spring.  David immediately acknowledged his failings and sought ongoing help (he has gone six months without a drink).  His truly frightening Trumpian opponent and local and state GOP actors have put a target on his back.  David deserves our support and needs our help.   

 Ballot Questions

 Yes on 1: Fair Share Amendment

The Fair Share Amendment – Question 1 on the November ballot – will allow Massachusetts to improve our transportation and public education systems by making very wealthy residents pay their fair share. We believe it is a fair share because for many years, households in the top 1% of income have paid a smaller percentage of their income in state and local taxes than any other income group.

Question 1 would create a 4 percent tax on the portion of a person’s annual income above $1 million and constitutionally dedicate the funds to be spent on transportation and public education. Only people who bring in more than $1 million annually will be impacted; 99% of us won’t pay a penny more. The opposition has raised the specter of a burdensome tax on home sales – but since only the increase in value, not the total value of a property – is taxed, and the tax would only apply to any portion above $1 million, only about 1% of home sales would be affected.

It is a constitutional amendment rather than a simple law because at this point the Massachusetts constitution mandates a flat income tax.  Over the years, this has resulted in more and more tax burden on lower income taxpayers.  To ensure that the amendment continues to apply only to the highest income taxpayers, who have the ability to pay more, the $1 million threshold would be adjusted each year to reflect cost-of-living increases.

And we’ll all benefit from better schools, roads, bridges, and public transportation. Learn more here. 

Yes on 2: Better Dental Care

Current law under Obamacare requires medical insurance plans to spend at least 88% of all money taken in by premiums on health care or efforts to improve the quality of health care delivery. However, no such requirement exists for dental insurance, enabling insurance companies to siphon off as much as they want to line executives' pockets. Question 2 would establish a similar requirement – actually 83% – for dental insurance plans so that dental insurance premiums go toward care, rather than profit, and strengthen financial transparency and regulation of dental insurance companies.  More information here.

We do not make a recommendation on Question 3.

YES on 4: Safer Roads

A victory for YES on 4 will uphold the Work and Family Mobility Act, a bill passed by 75% of the MA Legislature.  It will allow all drivers in Massachusetts to be properly vetted for licenses (by providing proof of identity, date of birth, and residency), pass required tests and buy insurance, regardless of immigration status.  This law means safer roads and better tools for law enforcement to do their jobs. In 16 states with similar laws, passage led to declines in uninsured drivers and hit-and-run crashes. That’s why this measure is endorsed by over 60 law enforcement officials statewide—including most sheriffs, district attorneys, and all 42 police chiefs in the Massachusetts Major Cities Chief of Police Association.  The law helps families and workers by ensuring they can drive legally to school and work. It makes sense for all of us and will not allow non-citizens to vote.

After the bill passed the Legislature in June, opponents of the measure used misinformation and fear-mongering tactics to gather enough signatures to force a question that could repeal it onto the ballot.  However, a YES vote upholds the law.

This is a clear racial justice issue. The opposition is using eye-popping racist rhetoric to sow fear and demonize immigrants.  If this question goes down, it will substantially increase the foothold of such a position in Massachusetts, will keep undocumented immigrants in danger of deportation, and will set back any progress on this issue for decades.  Learn more and get involved at https://saferroadsma.com/.

Worcester’s Question 5: Community Preservation Act

We urge Worcester voters to vote YES on Question 5 to adopt the Community Preservation Act.  The CPA is a state law that empowers cities and towns, by a binding public vote, to impose a small fee on property taxpayers to fund open space, historic preservation, affordable housing, and outdoor recreational facilities. Most Massachusetts communities have opted to participate.  By not participating up to now, Worcester has missed out on millions of dollars in matches from state funds. 

If enacted by the voters, owners of a home assessed at, for example, $400,000 would pay an additional $67.50 each year, and a business assessed at $500,000 would pay an additional $199.98.  The funds collected locally also trigger a state match.  A local board consisting of a wide swath of stakeholders will approve all allocations. You can find more information here.

Some helpful information for voting:

Fortunately, you have options for how to vote this year (and, indeed, you may have already voted!)

For Worcester voters, you can find all of the information about early voting times and locations, drop boxes, and deadlines on this page.

·       Vote by mail: If you haven't sent in a vote-by-mail application yet and wish to do so, you can download a form here. If you've already received your ballot, you can send it back via mail or find a drop box anywhere in the state. And if you want to confirm receipt, you can track your ballot.

·       Vote early in person: Early voting has already started. You can find locations anywhere in the state here.

·       Vote on Election Day: As always, you can confirm your polling place at wheredoivotema.com.

And remember, the deadline to register to vote or update your registration is Saturday, October 29. You can register online here if you need to.

Thank you for your attention and for participating in our voting process!

Why electing Joe Petty to the State Senate is a really bad idea

Usually we don’t write two posts for the same election cycle, but the recent Worcester Patch interview with Joe Petty demanded a response. 

 When asked about whether he would step down as mayor and the consequences of that, Donna Colorio stepping up into the mayor’s chair, he said this: “This is a democracy. People voted her in. In the [2021] mayor’s race, she came in second.” 

 Let’s parse this.  Worcester’s charter, in our opinion, has a major flaw in it.  In the event of a vacancy, the person who was not elected to the position, who has the next highest number of votes to the one or ones elected, assumes the vacant position.  This might make sense in the case of City Council or School Committee, with multiple seats all elected together.  (There are inherent problems with this arrangement, but that is another discussion).  However, in the case of an election for a single position, be it for Mayor or for a district seat, it is significantly undemocratic.  It means that the person, in this case Donna Colorio, who 75% of the people who voted in 2021 did not want to be mayor will assume the powers of that office.    

The office of mayor is not entirely ceremonial.  The mayor appoints members and chairs of City Council committees, and the mayor also holds a voting seat on the School Committee and serves as its chair.  75% of Worcester voters in 2021 did not want Donna Colorio in these roles.  Her assuming them would likely wipe out the modest positive gains we have seen in policy since the last election.  Joe Petty is betraying those voters, who voted for him, by allowing this to happen.  Colorio is not just “more conservative.”  She has participated in voter suppression, has supported outspoken opponents of sex education in our schools, and tried to keep Worcester from affirming our city as a safe place for transgender individuals, and has led the local MAGA-Republican Party.  Petty’s casual dismissal of what her ascendency could do is self-serving and breathtakingly irresponsible. 

 People voted her in as an at-large city councilor, yes.  Colorio's elections as City Councilor were enabled by massive spending on the part of groups outside Worcester, independent expenditures that far outstripped her campaign’s own spending in both cycles.  Her coming in last among the councilors elected is hardly a mandate.  Besides finishing in the top six to get elected to the City Council, there is no other threshold of approval of a city councilor that is required for that person become vice chair and in line for succession if they run for mayor and come in a distant second.

 We need to fix these absurd provisions in our charter.   But meanwhile, an elected official like Joe Petty has a choice about whether to let them create havoc.  We recommended that people vote for him in past campaigns because he is NOT like Donna Colorio.  This is profoundly disappointing. 

 Why in the world is Joe Petty running for State Senate?  The only reason he can come up with is to “bring resources to Worcester.”  What kind of resources does he think he will have more access to than someone else?  He has an affable enough guy, has performed reasonably well as mayor, and has opposed some, not all, of the worst proposals to come before the bodies he chairs.  But he has never been a profile in courage.  And during this campaign, his repeated blurring of the lines between his municipal roles and campaigning are concerning.  (His campaign should reimburse the city for all of those Keys to the City he has been handing out.  While this has recognized wonderful people for doing truly good things, he has never done this at this rate before, and it looks a lot like using this city resource to curry favor with these exemplary community members and their friends.)  What does this behavior say about how he would perform as a State Senator when faced with ethical choices?  What does he actually stand for?  Is he willing to fight for something he feels is right even if it is not politically expedient?  In a recent debate, on the issue of action to mitigate climate change, he gave a nod to the issue but waffled on actually taking any action.  This is exactly what we don’t need in the State House. 

First Worcester people, we don’t need to do this.  Voters in this newly drawn district can vote for Robyn Kennedy, who has none of the aforementioned conflicts, has a clear progressive platform, is prepared to fight for it, and has more experience in state government than Petty does.  Robyn’s election would be a strong signal to the establishment that business as usual is not good enough, that a new generation will bring bold leadership.  For continuing and building on Harriette Chandler’s progressive legacy, it’s a clear choice. 

 

 

 

 

Recommendations for the 2022 Massachusetts Democratic primary

Vote on or before September 6! 

For several years now we have written and shared with friends and allies our opinions about candidates running for office and about ballot issues.  We began compiling and sharing our recommendations after receiving requests from some of our friends who respect and appreciate our attention to things political and electoral.  It is a continual source of amazement to us that we get such requests, and we acknowledge the tremendous responsibility this confidence places on us. 

We emphasize that we offer our suggestions based on our values and our attention to what the various candidates stand for, recognizing that you may disagree partially or even completely.  We urge you to vote your own conscience.  If you so choose, please share our views with your friends and allies as well.  We welcome your sharing your own views with us. 

Some background on our values that lead to our recommendations:  We are unapologetically progressive, feminist, and anti-racist so we almost always vote for Democrats in partisan elections.  In Massachusetts, in almost all statewide races and in most districts in the Worcester area, Democrats are overwhelmingly favored to win in November, so who wins the Democratic Primary is often the final decision.  We have included links to websites of candidates in contested primaries.  We include several recommendations in statewide races; the local ones focus on the Worcester area. This year there are expanded opportunities to vote in the primary (see links below for resources).  

Statewide Races

While we are encouraging you to support specific candidates in the primary, we see all of the Democrats seeking office as far preferable to their Republican or unenrolled opponents. 

Governor:  Current Attorney General Maura Healey is running unopposed for the Democratic nomination.  Other candidates, including one whose name still appears on the ballot, have dropped out of the race.  Healey has been a very good Attorney General, a leader among state AGs nationwide, and has a substantial progressive track record.  We urge you to support her candidacy.

Lieutenant Governor:  We support Tami Gouveia.  Tami is a State Representative from Acton with a doctorate in public health.  She grew up in Lowell and has deep roots there.  In her 25 year career as a social worker and as an activist she has advocated for environmental and worker justice.  She is an unabashed progressive and has shown great courage and staunch independence while in the legislature, sometimes upsetting legislative leaders. 

Attorney General:  We support Quentin Palfrey.  Quentin has had a life of public service, including in the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office leading the Health Care Division and in both the Obama-Biden and Biden-Harris administrations.  He has stood up to predatory insurance companies and led efforts to protect voting rights and to oppose voter suppression.  After studying questionnaires on issues that are important to us from all three AG candidates, we found that Quentin Palfrey’s responses and commitments were closest to our values.

Secretary of the Commonwealth (the official term for Secretary of State):  We strongly support Tanisha Sullivan.  This is a major priority for us, with Margot playing a significant volunteer role in her campaign. 

Tanisha is a first-time candidate but a very experienced leader.  She has served as the Chief Equity Officer for the Boston Public Schools and currently serves as the president of the Boston chapter of the NAACP.  As an attorney she has spent two decades helping entrepreneurs from marginalized communities to achieve success in business. 

Many of us don’t think much about the office of Secretary of State but it is really important – both in administering elections in a way that is fair and accessible (or not!) and as the point of entry for new businesses.  It is time for a change in Massachusetts.  While we don’t usually think of ourselves as a site of voter suppression, we have lagged behind many other states in increasing access to voting.  This shows in the disparities in voting rates between wealthy communities and communities with significant poverty.  Our state also has some of the greatest economic inequality in the nation. 

Tanisha Sullivan envisions serving as Secretary of State as being our "Chief Democracy Officer," intent on bringing accessibility, transparency, and equal opportunity in both voter access and business registration.  She has a track record of advocating for marginalized populations and challenging the status quo. 

State Auditor:  We support Chris Dempsey.  Chris served as Assistant Secretary of Transportation in the Patrick Murray administration.  As a private citizen, he led the victorious grassroots No Boston Olympics effort, which was successful despite being outspent 1,500 to 1 by some of the most powerful corporate interests in the state.  Chris’s opponent claims to embrace a progressive platform but has a troubling history of both statements and votes regarding policing and public assistance. 

State Treasurer:  Deb Goldberg is running unopposed for the Democratic nomination.  She has done a good job and deserves your support.

Worcester Area Local Races

US Congress:  Our longtime friend Jim McGovern is unopposed in the Democratic primary.  He genuinely cares for all of his constituents and his courageous leadership on issue after issue makes us proud.  He faces a Republic opponent in November. 

Governor’s Council:  Paul DePalo is unopposed in the primary.  He is a strong advocate for justice and has served well in this rather obscure office whose charge is approving judges and members of the Parole Board. 

State Senate:  The once-a-decade redistricting process has drawn new districts affecting all of Worcester.  Depending on where you live, you might find yourself registered to vote in new districts where the candidates on your ballot are not the ones you are expecting.  You can refer to this map to match your address with the Senate district where you will be represented. 

In the Worcester area, only the First Worcester district (D09 on the above map) is contested in the Democratic primary.  For this race, we strongly support Robyn Kennedy.  Robyn's work experience, both in state government where she held several high-ranking policy positions and more recently at Worcester’s YWCA, makes her a highly qualified policy expert.  She is also staunchly progressive and willing to be vocal and serve as a champion on controversial issues, especially those regarding racial justice.  (Over the years we have repeatedly urged our friends to support her opponent, Joe Petty, in his bids for Mayor when his opponents would clearly have taken the city in the wrong direction.)  Joe is a nice enough guy but a State Senate seat should not be a reward for inoffensive service.  At this critical time when we need transformational leadership, just showing up isn’t enough.  Joe doesn't really articulate a rationale for running; it seems like this is his least awkward way out of being tired of being Mayor.  We've never seen him go to the mat on something that was controversial and really mattered.  And we are very concerned that, if he were to win the seat and step down as mayor (which includes chairing the School Committee), he would be replaced by Donna Colorio who is the former leader of Worcester’s Republican City Committee and votes accordingly.

Incumbent Democrats Anne Gobi and Michael Moore are running without opposition in the Democratic primary for State Senate in Worcester and Hampshire (D06 on the map) and Second Worcester (D08 on the map) respectively.  While we wish Moore and Gobi would take more progressive positions and vote more consistently with the overwhelming majority of their Democratic colleagues, they both deserve re-election this year.

Similarly, the five Democratic incumbent State Representatives whose districts include part of Worcester (John Mahoney, Jim O’Day, Mary Keefe, Dan Donahue, and David LeBoeuf) do not have primary opponents.  Unlike Gobi and Moore, we are very pleased that the Worcester House delegation pretty consistently takes a progressive posture.   

All of the candidates who we are supporting in contested Democratic primaries have been endorsed by Progressive Massachusetts.

Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions.  

If you need information about mail-in voting, early voting, or where to vote in Worcester, you can find a wealth of information here.  If you reside anywhere else in Massachusetts, look here for your city or town's website, which will probably have the early voting times and locations for you.  

As we say in the campaign business, Many Happy Returns!

 

Recommendations for Worcester 2021 Municipal Election: Racial Justice is on the Ballot

We believe that racial justice is on the ballot this year in Worcester’s municipal elections. This is enormously important to both of us, because we seek social structures that are equitable where all of us can flourish together.  For many of us, especially those of us who can pass as white, events of recent years have resulted in newly emerging or growing awareness of the power and impact of white supremacy in US society.  Institutional policies and practices that advantage white people have long been obvious to most people of color.  While we remain multi-issue active and concerned progressives, our message this year consciously places a lens of racial equity at the center of our recommendations.

Our recommendations, in a nutshell:

For Mayor
Joe Petty

For City Councilor At Large (vote for up to six)
Guillermo Creamer

Khrystian King
Thu Nguyen
Joe Petty

(We also urge you to NOT vote for Moe Bergman, Donna Colorio, and Kate Toomey.)

For District City Councilor
Sean Rose in District 1
Johanna Hampton-Dance in District 2
George Russell (unopposed) in District 3
Sarai Rivera (unopposed) in District 4
Etel Haxhiaj in District 5

For School Committee (vote for up to six)

Laura Clancey

Jermaine Johnson

Jermoh Kamara
Sue Coghlin Mailman
Molly McCullough
Tracy O’Connell Novick

Here's a deep dive into our thinking: 

During the last couple of years many of us have struggled to get our minds around how racial injustice is systemic, and how it plays out in our own communities.  Like many of you, we have engaged in a learning process.  For us, it didn’t start so recently, because we have engaged with these issues for a long time, but our learning broadened and deepened.  We have learned both from focused study and from being present with local and regional activists of color on the front lines of fighting their marginalization. 

Summing up our understanding in a few key points:

• Race-based injustice is embedded in the status quo, as explicit racially discriminatory policies in housing, education, and worker protections decades ago set in place disparities in generational opportunities for building and passing on wealth, as well as disparities in who gets healthy places to live and access to many other resources.

• Messages and narratives that economic and education status equal merit, conveyed sometimes overtly and sometimes subtly, often lead to looking down on people who have been marginalized, blaming them for the barriers they face, and assuming that they need to be “saved” by people in various helping professions.  

• People who are most impacted by injustices know what they need and their voices must be at the center of movements for change.

• People of color (especially Black people) are perceived and treated by many white people as threatening in all kinds of public spaces.  We have all heard of instances where white people have called police on Black people doing everyday work, leisure, or recreational activities.  The resulting police encounters are always traumatizing and sometimes deadly.  Police are hardly ever held accountable for their actions and misconduct in these encounters.

• As long as the status quo hums along, these disparities are perpetuated and continue to harm people.

• Ultimately, policies that create and maintain this inequity are bad for all of us.  Heather McGhee, author of The Sum of Us, is a pioneer in teaching how this works.

• Real liberatory change happens when people get together across lines of difference, led by people who are most impacted by these disparities, to work for a future where all members of society have a fair pathway to success.  Our society cannot seriously begin to offer equal opportunity and justice for all until disparities are addressed and steps are taken to remedy them and compensate for damage they have caused.

There has been some modest movement toward racial justice and accountability in Worcester in the past year, mostly in response to public pressure.  Most of the advocates and activists we have worked with see them as baby steps.  The areas where movement has begun include: elevating the office of diversity and inclusion to a cabinet-level position in city government, proposed civilian oversight of police practices, acknowledgement of need for school safety practices that do not involve police, moving toward new leadership of the School Department, and accepting change in how the School Committee is elected to allow more equitable representation.  While not an explicitly racial justice issue, we see the institution of comprehensive sex education in Worcester Public Schools as an important change in the right direction; it has broad support among our racial justice partners. 

Organizations led by and serving people of color have expressed priorities for the School Committee election.  

Some city officials and elected leaders have joined local activists in pushing for such changes, and others have resisted them.  Some candidates this year offer fresh perspectives and commitment to equity; we want leaders like this and urge you to vote for them.  We want elected leaders who will move beyond baby steps to developing a comprehensive racial equity vision and action plan.  We oppose candidates who have resisted and obstructed this positive movement.  Some incumbents have mixed records on this.  And a few new candidates are engaging in fear tactics to quash any momentum for change. 

We want to be clear that centering a racial equity lens does not mean we support every candidate of color over every white candidate.  That is not the case here, as two of the candidates who we oppose are people of color and a third candidate of color is someone who we neither support nor oppose.

In this time of high stakes and intense polarization it is important for us to say that we do not think of elected office or other leadership positions as a reward for being competent, hardworking, or a nice and friendly person.  Neither do we think this is a time to vote for someone because you went to the same school, know their family, or because they belong to your ethnic or religious group.  We believe that leadership needs to be placed in the hands of people who will listen deeply to the lived experience of others and who will act with courage to try to improve society.  We know that it is highly likely that there are candidates who you know and like who we are urging you to oppose.  All of our votes are by secret ballot.  We have chosen to be public in our advocacy, and you are free to join us in that, or not.  Fundamentally, we ask you to consider that this is a time to make your vote count on the side of racial justice.

Profiles of candidates we support, in contested elections:

City Council At Large:

Guillermo Creamer is running for office for the first time but he has already displayed leadership on a national scale.  He fought successfully for paid compensation for interns in federal offices, opening the door to a far more diverse pool of young people to build leadership potential through these placements.  Guillermo sees his youth as an asset, bringing his perspective from growing up in a low wealth immigrant family to his dedication to making Worcester more equitable.  He also brings expertise from his current professional work furthering civic engagement among young people to strengthen our democracy. 

Khrystian King has consistently and often against great odds fought for equity and accountability.  He brings his experience as a union leader and a social worker to his City Council leadership, pushing for policies that support rather than further marginalize people who are struggling.  He supports practical proposals for affordable housing and transit, healthy neighborhoods, and increased city services that benefit everyone.  He has led many successful efforts to bring more equity and compassion; for example, last year’s initiative to transfer funds from policing in Worcester schools to the hiring of two additional social workers. 

Thu Nguyen brings a wealth of experience as a community activist and youth worker to a first run for office for City Council.  As a leader in Mutual Aid Worcester, Thu raised over $75,000 to support families struggling with COVID-19 and help small businesses adapt during this crisis.  Thu has been active on front lines of racial justice for many years, is dedicated to opening doors for all voices to be heard, and emphasizes the need to make government more honest and transparent.  (Bonus: watch this video about Thu made by our young friend Ora Lin who found Thu’s candidacy inspiring!)

Joe Petty deserves our support for both Mayor and City Councilor At Large (Worcester’s city charter requires separate votes, so be sure to vote for him in two different places on your ballot).  Joe is a low key, behind-the-scenes leader.  His quiet style is unusual in this social media self-promotional era but it is suitable to Worcester's City Manager form of government.  Joe has been courageous and successful in rounding up the votes on the School Committee (for not renewing the superintendent’s contract, for a national search for the next superintendent, and for the long overdue sex education curriculum).  On the City Council Joe has also knit together a majority coalition on key issues of race and policing.  Re-electing Joe to his position as Mayor is especially crucial because under Worcester’s charter the Mayor chairs the School Committee and serves as one of its members.  His main opponent for Mayor is Donna Colorio, who opposes most of the key initiatives that will move the school system toward equity and justice. 

District elections:

Sean Rose’s re-election to the City Council representing District 1 is vitally important.  Sean is an easygoing, thoughtful person, more interested in results than credit.  Until recently he seemed to be less upset around police misconduct and institutional white privilege than we are.  We are hopeful that his new feistier tone will stay with him beyond election day.  Sean’s opponent, Rick Cipro, is a Worcester police official who has administered a Facebook police support group rife with racist, sexist, and homophobic comments.  We have observed Cipro deny the existence of racism in Worcester’s police department and attempt to publicly humiliate a Black former officer who lodged discrimination complaints against the department.  His campaign messaging features dishonest attacks on Sean Rose’s positions and record.  If elected, Cipro would be forced to recuse himself (to not vote or speak) on any matter concerning his own department.  As a city employee, he should be prohibited from voting on the contract of or to evaluate the city manager, both key aspects of a City Councilor’s job.  

Johanna Hampton-Dance is running for office for the first time, bringing a fresh perspective and the motto that “your voice matters.”  Her decision to run for office came from hearing from her neighbors that their voices were ignored by city government.  She promises to fight for the issues that Worcester residents care about most: housing, policing, jobs, and taking care of our youth and elderly neighbors.  She brings her lived experience as a home health aide caring for elderly residents and the mother of a young Black man with health challenges. 

Etel Haxhiaj is a community leader whose passion for justice is both fierce and compassionate.  She was a refugee from Albania as a teenager and recognizes the challenges that marginalized people face.  Etel is determined to create a city where everyone is welcomed and treated with respect, where everyone’s voice is heard, and where everyone can thrive.  We have known Etel for nearly a decade and have gotten to know her well through working closely with her on a variety of issues, including racial justice, environmental sustainability, and access to housing.  Etel’s passion is matched by a breadth of experience serving the community:  as a youth mentor, legal advocate, social worker, and community organizer.  She has served on the board of the YWCA and its Racial Justice Task Force as well as on advisory committees to the City Manager.  She listens to community members and collaborates with them to bring smart and practical solutions to local problems.  Etel’s organizing experience has taught her how to build coalitions to get things done. 

We want to give a quick shout-out to George Russell in District 3 and Sarai Rivera in District 4, who are both unopposed this year.  Sarai, a close ally of ours, has fought for  equity over and over, working both publicly and behind the scenes for the changes we need.  George has nearly always brought a voice and vote for equity.  

School committee:

Jermaine Johnson brings experience from his career as a social worker to his first run for public office.  He was inspired to run for the Worcester School Committee when he saw the impact of the pandemic on his own family and the families he serves.  He saw the school system failing many families, and is dedicated to ensuring “that school buildings are safe and healthy, our kids receive social and emotional health support, and that no kid is left behind post-pandemic.”  His years of mentoring, coaching, and directing an agency make him well-qualified to serve on the School Committee. 

Jermoh Kamara is a remarkable candidate whose life path is a tribute to intelligence, education, and determination.  Jermoh and her parents came to Worcester from her native Liberia when she was 11 years old.  She graduated from South High and went on to earn a bachelors and a masters degree from Providence College.  She works for the YWCA of Central MA running their Health Equity program and has served as an adjunct professor at several Worcester colleges.  Jermoh has earned the endorsement of a majority of the Worcester delegation to the State Legislature.  Her early principled call for new leadership for the Worcester Public Schools demonstrated her courage and leadership even before being elected to office. 

Sue Coghlin Mailman brings business acumen, a commitment to and focus on vocational and technical education, and non-profit and philanthropic board experience to her first-time candidacy.  Sue’s own post-secondary educational path as a mom included night school and stints at Quinsigamond Community College, Assumption, and Worcester State.  Sue has played a central volunteer leadership role at the YWCA of Central Mass, United Way of Central Mass, QCC, Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, and on the Worcester Democratic City Committee.  She is proud of the family business that she has led for 20 years, Coghlin Electrical Contractors, and of its unionized workforce.  She has been outspoken in her dedication to a racial justice agenda. 

Tracy O’Connell Novick is an outstanding asset to our community.  A former public high school English teacher, Tracy now works professionally for the Massachusetts Association of School Committees.  Her work puts her at the nexus of a network of the most talented education leaders in the Commonwealth and gives her firsthand knowledge of the best practices.  She is a policy wonk who understands education budgeting and policy in enormous depth.  Two of her three daughters are recent graduates of the Worcester Public Schools and the third is a high school student there now.  In our view, Tracy has been on the “right” side of almost every important policy issue during her time on the school committee.

We believe that both Molly McCullough and Laura Clancey, who we did not support two years ago, have demonstrated their openness to learning important lessons about equity and have voted courageously to move the school system in the right direction on key issues. 

Why we oppose some candidates:  It is important to note that four incumbent members of the current City Council (Bergman, Colorio, Mero Carlson, and Toomey) have almost always voted together as a block regarding issues of race (for example, consent agreement around Worcester School Committee restructuring), and of policing (for example, School Resource Officers (SROs) and civilian review of police misconduct accusations).  Fortunately, in recent months, they have been on the losing side of those votes.  

Shanel Soucy has been an outspoken opponent of comprehensive sex education, spreading misinformation about the curriculum in order to get parents to opt out of the program.  In addition, because of her disparaging statements about homosexuality on social media, we believe that, if elected, her presence on the School Committee would endanger LGBTQ youth. 

See above in Sean Rose’s profile for why we oppose Rick Cipro.  Gregory Stratman, who is Etel’s opponent, has also engaged in dishonest and fearmongering attacks.  A key aspect of his platform is more policing. 

A quick note on candidates we have neither supported nor opposed:  Perennial candidate Bill Coleman and his informal running mate Peter Stefan have each raised and spent literally no money on the campaign.  They have hardly campaigned at all and Stefan has even failed to attend candidate debates.  Regardless of the merits of their candidacies they simply cannot be taken seriously as contenders for office.  District 5 incumbent City Councilor Matt Wally is running for City Council as an at large candidate.  Wally has generally voted the right way on issues we cite but has been dismissive of the concerns of his constituents in Lakeside Apartments, and has not been a leader on equity issues.  

Thank you for your patience in reading through our blog!  We invite you to contact us if you would like to discuss any of what we have shared.  If you find it useful, please feel free to share it with your family, friends, and associates. 

As we say in the campaign business, Many Happy Returns!

Margot Barnet and David Coyne

p.s. Early voting in Worcester has already started, going on through Oct 29. Here is all the information about Worcester's many voting options.