District council race: Who's bringing in the donations (so far)?

WORCESTER—With Worcester’s district council races heating up ahead of September’s primary and November’s municipal election, recent campaign finance filings reveal which candidates are drawing on unions, business leaders and grassroots supporters to power their bids.

In District 1, the rematch between former councilor Tony Economou and challenger Keith Linhares shows a clear money gap.

Economou has collected $23,775 from 182 donations, buoyed by strong backing from Worcester’s legal and real estate circles. Worcester Railers owner Cliff Rucker contributed $1,000, while a slate of attorneys and realtors filled out his donor list — including multiple contributions from Remax Vision agents. He’s also drawn support from within the political field: at-large hopeful Satya Mitra pitched in $300. Economou’s campaign has put money into signs, food for campaign events, and $100 each to Kathy Roy and Molly McCullough’s campaigns for school committee.

Linhares, meanwhile, has raised $9,064 from 113 contributions, with notable support from family and professional connections. Samuel Barnett, listed as not employed, gave $1,000; Reliant Medical Group physician Lisetta Shah contributed $500; and Lisa Linhares of Wareham, a bus driver, added $300. His spending has been lean — a little more than $1,000 for yard signs, a few hundred for website hosting, and less than $120 for black-and-white photos.

District 2 is shaping up as the most expensive contest so far. Incumbent Candy Mero-Carlson has raised $61,278 from more than 300 contributions. Her war chest reflects ties to both business and labor. Real estate developer Charles Norton of Mercantile Center and Hassan Yatim of HMYatim Ventures each gave $1,000. On the union side, nearly every major trade has chipped in, from the Painters District Council and Roofers Local 33 to IBEW Locals 96 and 2325, along with the Carpenters and Plumbers & Pipefitters.

Former city officials, including former Police Chief Edward Gardella, former DPW Commissioner Robert Moylan, and ex-councilor Wayne Griffin, also appear on her donor rolls. Mero-Carlson has spent her funds on such things as campaign dinners and food for volunteers to school sponsorships and print materials.

Her challenger, Robert Bilotta, has raised $25,980.86 from 389 contributions — a mix of big checks and small donations. He collected $1,000 each from real estate professional Nathan Sabo and Julie Cohen, a psychologist based in Arkansas. School committee member and business owner Susan Mailman added $250, while local journalist Bill Shaner and organizer Chris Robarge contributed token $10 donations. Bilotta has directed spending toward lawn signs, food for fundraisers, and $2,500 for campaign consulting.

More election coverage: Mitra, Petty lead in councilor at-large fundraising (so far)

District 3 features a contest to fill the seat being vacated by George Russell, pitting former state representative John Fresolo against longtime school administrator Robert Pezzella. Fresolo reported $19,379.48 from 192 contributions, including $1,000 from Worcester Housing Authority project manager Andria Sweeney and nearly $730 from retired donor Kwabena Asiamah. His spending included $2,639.91 on signs, $250 for a hall rental, and $1,200 for consulting.

Pezzella, meanwhile, raised $39,570.99 from 216 contributions. His largest donors include retired Marianne LaCanfora, WPI professor Dina Rassias, retired lawyer Stephen Rosenfeld, and Safeway Transportation owner Timothy Rassias, each giving $1,000. Notable contributions also came from Mona Reis ($1,000) and local groups such as the Voter Education Fund and Local 170 Drive Fund. Pezzella’s expenses include more than $4,000 for printing, $1,050 for a website builder, $300 for a banner at Mt. Carmel Our Lady of Loretto Church, and $4,500 he injected into his own campaign.

In District 4, incumbent Luis Ojeda has so far raised 3,245 from 25 donors. His largest contribution was $1,000 from Heywood Hospital nurse anesthetist Efran Candelaria. Ojeda also received $500 from the Massachusetts and Northern New England Laborers’ District Council PAC. Spending has gone toward postcard mailers, campaign events at venues such as Electric Haze, and even a $200 donation to join the Worcester Caribbean Festival parade.

His challenger, Ted Kostas, raked in $6,268.82 from 81 donations. Hassan Yatim contributed $500, and his donor list also includes a $250 check from magistrate Nickolas Moudios, $200 from the Worcester Republican City Committee, and $50 from former councilor Wayne Griffin. Like many, his largest expense was campaign signs, totaling $582.

In District 5, second-term councilor Etel Haxhiaj has built a $25,835.64 campaign fund on nearly 500 contributions. Her donor rolls show significant labor support, with $500 each from SEIU Local 509, the Massachusetts Workers’ PAC, SEIU Local 32BJ, and the Painters District Council #35 PAC. The Carpenters Local 336 PAC also contributed $250. Haxhiaj’s expenses have included signs, a $250 donation to the Albanian Festival Committee, and $350 to support the Coes Beach Family Day fundraiser.

Jose Antonio Rivera reports raising $16,366.99 from 139 contributions. His largest donors include Adam Gavel, president of Monroe Management, who gave $1,000; Edward Salloom, principal owner of Salloom Realty, $1,000; Donna George Salloom, also of Salloom Realty, $1,000; and Robin Rhodes, president and founder of the Cryogenic Institute of New England, who contributed $1,000 and $250 in separate donations. Hassan Yatim, president of Yatco Energy, added $500. Other notable donors include Worcester Chamber of Commerce CEO Tim Murray, who contributed $200.

The filings, covering contributions and expenses between Jan. 1, 2024, and Aug. 18, 2025, suggest that while incumbents hold a strong edge in fundraising, challengers are finding footholds—whether through small-dollar donations, business allies, or targeted labor support. With less than three months until Election Day, Worcester voters will decide who represents their neighborhoods in the municipal election on Nov. 4.

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.