WORCESTER—In a packed Mechanics Hall on Wednesday, Oct. 16, Worcester voters heard from 10 candidates vying for the city’s five district council seats during a debate series hosted by the Worcester Regional Research Bureau and the Telegram & Gazette.
District 1 candidates Tony Economou and Keith Linhares discussed the city’s growing homelessness crisis, an issue that often dominates or at least makes an appearance on the council’s agenda.
Economou, referencing his prior term on the council, recalled former City Manager Michael O’Brien’s approach of sending task forces to speak directly with unhoused residents.
“He had sent out a [task] force from the city to ask those who were homeless, or out panhandling, ‘How can we help you?’” Economou said.
He urged collaboration among agencies that often work in isolation. “It would be nice if they could get together,” he said, “build a complex where they could have the services in order to meet the needs, whether it was intake, housing, drug abuse, alcoholism.”
Linhares maintained that hearing from residents who are most affected is key. “Getting the perspective from the residents that live there and deal with it on a day-in-day-out basis is crucial,” he said. Linhares added that affordable housing is central to the solution. “We really need to build up on the work that people are doing already.”
District 2: development delays
Candidates Candy Mero-Carlson and Robert Bilotta were asked about stalled development projects.
Mero-Carlson responded that delays are often investor-driven. “It has to do with the cost of materials,” she said, adding that city officials and developers are working to move Polar Park-area projects forward.
Bilotta argued for stronger accountability. “We absolutely need to give tax breaks to spur development, but we need to hold developers accountable,” he said. “While people here are struggling to make ends meet, developers are cashing in and we’re not holding them accountable.”
District 3: supporting small business
John Fresolo and Robert Pezzella, candidates for District 3, focused on small business support.
“I believe we need a lowest residential tax rate,” Fresolo said. “Homeowners and renters cannot afford these larger than normal increases.”
Pezzella agreed, saying, “Mom and pop stores come all the time into our community, and a lot of them aren’t successful. We need to make sure they advertise and make sure they’re being patronized.”
District 4: safety and policing
Incumbent Luis Ojeda insisted that improving safety involves infrastructure and collaboration. “We’ve addressed these issues with speed humps, curb extenders, lighting, more signage, and neighborhood meetings,” he said.
Opponent Ted Kostas disagreed, saying those measures haven’t solved deeper issues. “We still have an increase in drugs, crime… in District 4,” he said. “We need more police protection, more mental health and medical services, and more shelters in the city.”
District 5: ICE activity and immigrant rights
Incumbent Etel Haxhiaj and challenger Jose Rivera debated the city’s response to an ICE incident on Eureka Street in May.
Rivera said officers were “put in a tough position,” and called for WPD to require warrants for ICE operations. “No warrant, no custody,” he said.
Haxhiaj said the incident caused “irreparable harm” and vowed to continue defending immigrants’ rights. “I don’t need a badge and a gun to protect my constituents,” she said. “It is my job as an elected official to ask questions – to challenge policy.”
The final debate in the series — between mayoral candidates Joe Petty, Khrystian King, and Owura-Kwaku Sarkodieh — will take place Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. at Mechanics Hall.
Steve Smith, a veteran reporter with 17 years at The Hartford Courant, now brings his passion for photojournalism to Worcester. An award-winning photographer, he has covered major events like U.S. soccer, pro football, and UConn basketball. He is also the official photographer for the Miss Massachusetts competition and works as a realtor. Contact him at steve@stevephotographysmith.com
