Series at Mechanics Hall kicks off Sept. 24; current Mayor Joseph Petty and Councilor Khrystian King among candidates in crowded race. The Worcester Guardian talks to WRRB’s Paul Matthews about this definitive candidate debate series, and its importance for the city
WORCESTER—As Worcester’s 2025 municipal election season gets underway, the Worcester Regional Research Bureau is once again leading a key piece of civic engagement: organizing a full series of debates for candidates seeking office.
The Bureau will moderate five forums beginning Wednesday, Sept. 24, covering contested races for school committee, city council, and mayor. All debates are free and open to the public and will also be livestreamed via Facebook, with recordings made available on the WRRB website and other platforms.
“The Bureau’s original inspiration for these debates was to establish a nonpartisan, apolitical venue to cover the issues facing our community and help inform the public of candidates’ positions,” said Paul Matthews, CEO and executive director of the WRRB. “Over the years, the series has grown to now include an event for city council at-large, mayor, city council contested district seats, school committee at-large, and cchool committee contested district seats.”
The 2025 debate schedule is as follows:
- School Committee At-Large – Wednesday, Sept. 24, at 7 p.m.
- Candidates: Maureen F. Binienda, Susan M. Mailman, Adwoa A. Sakyi-Lamptey
- School Committee Contested Districts – Wednesday, Oct. 1, at 7 p.m.
- District A: Molly O. McCullough vs. Ashley Rae Spring
- District B: Vanessa Zuleyma Alvarez
- District C: Dianna Biancheria vs. Feanna Sharon Jattan-Singh
- District D: Alejandro Guardiola
- District E: Kathleen L. Roy vs. Nelly Medina vs. Noelia M. Chafoya
- District F: Jermaine Lamont Johnson
- City Council At-Large – Wednesday, Oct. 8, at 7 p.m.
- Candidates: Bernard Philip Iandoli, Cayden Davis, Charles Edward Luster, Donna M. Colorio, Edson Montero, Gary Rosen, Jermoh Kamara, Jessica R. Pepple, Joseph M. Petty, Kate Toomey, Khrystian E. King, Morris A. Bergman, Owura-Kwaku Sarkodieh, Satya B. Mitra, Kwesi Foster (pending)
- City Council Contested Districts – Wednesday, Oct. 15, at 7 p.m.
- District 1: Keith J. Linhares vs. Tony J. Economou
- District 2: Candy F. Mero-Carlson vs. Robert A. Bilotta
- District 3: John P. Fresolo vs. Robert Francis Pezzella
- District 4: Luis Albizu Ojeda vs. Theodore A. Kostas
- District 5: Etel Haxhiaj vs. Jose Antonio Rivera
- Mayor – Wednesday, Oct. 29, at 7 p.m.
- Candidates: Incumbent Mayor Joseph M. Petty and Councilor Khrystian E. King
Debate participants may change based on preliminary election results or candidate withdrawals prior to the general election.
Each debate typically includes opening statements, general and targeted questions, and closing remarks from candidates. “The questions, recipients, and respondents are all selected at random, ensuring that no candidate is favored and each has an opportunity to respond or address every other candidate directly,” Matthews explained. “Moderators are community leaders who are invited by event organizers and whenever possible, are residents of the contested districts.”
Fairness and equal time are built into the format. “Our moderators and candidates are briefed in advance regarding timing expectations,” Matthews said, noting that debates are closely tracked by the Bureau to ensure order, fairness, and visibility of time limits.
Candidates do not receive questions in advance and all answers are delivered in real time. Matthews emphasized that questions are based in fact and intended to help voters evaluate candidate positions on important local issues.
“We reflect this mission within our debate series, ensuring that our questions are based in fact and candidates have the opportunity to present their positions on the critical issues of the day,” he said.
This year, as in years past, all certified candidates who appear on the November ballot will be invited to participate. “’Save the dates’ have already been distributed to the candidates via their public addresses as well as the public email addresses on record with the Office of Campaign & Political Finance,” Matthews said. “Over the years, we have been gratified by candidates’ near-universal participation.”
Planning begins early in the year and continues through the election cycle. The Bureau and its partners evaluate ways to improve each year’s series, including using social media and community media outlets to reach underrepresented groups.
“Outreach on the debate series is intentionally broad and longstanding, with our efforts to publicize the events starting months in advance,” Matthews said. “For instance, we’ve already released the dates this year in June, months beforehand.”
Matthews added that the coverage and attention from local institutions are part of the WRRB’s emphasis on outreach to all communities, with that effort continuing throughout the debate season.
“The fact that the debates are free, open to the public,” he added, “and available for viewing online and on community access cable speaks to the commitment of the Bureau and our other partners to serve all of the residents of Worcester.”
The Worcester Guardian will continue to provide coverage leading up to the November election, including profiles of candidates, key issues, voter guides, and everything you need to cast an informed ballot.
Have news, tips, or a story worth telling? Reach Editor Charlene Arsenault at carsenault@theworcesterguardian.org—because good stories (and great scoops) deserve to be shared.
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