WORCESTER—When Morris “Moe” Bergman casts a vote, he says he’s thinking about Worcester’s neighborhoods—not the volume in the council chamber.
“My thinking hasn’t changed when it comes to harsh debates,” Bergman told the Worcester Guardian. “If items are appropriate for the city’s agenda, then robust discussion should take place—as long as it doesn’t devolve into threatening behavior.”
But, he added, “this council term, some items that are not appropriate for the agenda have been allowed, and this has led to behavior from a very small number of people that could be described as threatening.”
Now running for his sixth term as an at-large city councilor, Bergman is leaning into his reputation as one of the more conservative-leaning and independently minded voices at the council table. He’s a stickler for efficiency, often skeptical of what he sees as political distractions, and says the city needs to stay laser-focused on practical matters—public safety, infrastructure, housing, and jobs.
“If there’s a message I’d send to voters,” he said, “it’s that I vote my conscience—even when that means standing alone.”
Fighting for the fundamentals
Bergman, a practicing attorney with a law degree and finance degree from Boston University, said some of his proudest accomplishments this past term have nothing to do with headlines—but everything to do with how the city functions.
He points to his success in restoring the Parks Department as a standalone agency rather than leaving it under the Department of Public Works. “It’s a quality-of-life issue,” he said, and one he believes residents will see and feel in their neighborhoods.
Another point of pride: approving a budget that maintains staffing levels for police and fire. “I believe Worcester is a safe city for its size, and the statistics prove this,” Bergman said. “That said, we should always strive to be safer.”
On housing, Bergman has long advocated for strengthening homeownership. He wants to double funding for Worcester’s first-time homeownership program from $25,000 to $50,000 per buyer. “Studies show that increasing homeownership decreases neighborhood crime and increases property values,” he said. “In the long run, that saves cities money.”
But Bergman emphasizes equity—especially when it comes to helping longtime residents, not just newcomers. “I have no issue offering a first-time home buyer a loan for a down payment, but we should offer the same program to an existing resident who may need a loan to prevent foreclosure,” he said. “Good programs don’t have to be mutually exclusive.”
A personal connection to Worcester
Bergman’s Worcester roots run deep. He’s the youngest child of Holocaust survivors—his parents were the only surviving members of their families, arriving at Worcester’s Union Station on Christmas Eve 1949. “Worcester was my parents’ chance to start over, and they—and I—never forgot that.”
Born in 1963 and a graduate of Doherty Memorial High School, Bergman said the city gave his family a new life, and he sees public service as his way of giving back.
“Being grateful to America and to this city to me means giving back to others as they navigate their own Worcester story,” he said. “I believe I can best help others by holding the position of city councilor and being their friend at City Hall.”
Steady in a storm
Bergman’s leadership style is defined by his willingness to go against the grain. “Over this last term, and despite at times immense pressure from special interest groups, I never wavered from voting my conscience,” he said.
He’s also blunt about what he sees as distractions on the council agenda. “We need to get back to the business of running our city,” he said. “Some on the council have catered to chaos. I am proud to serve with colleagues who believe in staying the course on what really matters.”
Looking ahead, Bergman wants the city to invest more in infrastructure—especially potholes, sidewalks, and clean parks—and to pursue more funding beyond the tax base. On jobs, he advocates for stronger mentorship programs between universities and local, often immigrant-run, small businesses.
Whether or not voters agree with his views, Bergman said his approach won’t change: “I do my homework, and I vote according to my convictions. The vast majority of people who live in Worcester don’t come to City Hall in person or virtually. So leadership requires more than just reading the temperature in the room.”
As the campaign season heats up, Bergman remains characteristically direct: “I’m not afraid to stand up when it counts.”
This article is part of the Worcester Guardian’s 2025 election coverage. As part of our ongoing series, we are publishing individual candidate profiles and stories related to key issues facing the city ahead of the Nov. 4 municipal election. We have reached out—or are in the process of reaching out—to every candidate running for Worcester City Council and School Committee. If you are a certified candidate and would like to ensure you are included, please contact us at carsenault@theworcesterguardian.org.
