WORCESTER—GBH News is hosting a live debate Thursday evening featuring Worcester’s three (active) mayoral candidates — Mayor Joseph M. Petty, Council Vice Chair Khrystian King and at-large candidate Owura-Kwaku Sarkodieh — in their first head-to-head discussion of the 2025 race.
The one-hour debate begins at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16, airing live on GBH 89.7 FM and streaming simultaneously on the GBH News YouTube channel and gbhnews.org. It will also be available to watch later on YouTube.
GBH News Worcester reporter Sam Turken moderates the event from the station’s Worcester bureau. “Viewers and listeners can expect a wide-ranging discussion about some of the biggest issues affecting Worcester,” Turken said. “We want this debate to be more of a discussion among the candidates. It will give all three candidates an opportunity to clearly explain to voters their vision for Worcester.”
Turken said the format includes opening statements followed by questions and open rebuttals, with time limits to keep the discussion focused. “We won’t allow candidates to filibuster or talk over each other,” he said.
The debate comes as Worcester confronts challenges including federal funding cuts and an affordable housing shortage. “Whoever wins the mayoral race will be a primary decision maker regarding how the city addresses its most pressing problems,” Turken said.
He added that the race carries weight well beyond City Hall.
“I think a lot of people forget or don’t realize that Worcester is the second largest city in New England,” Turken said. “This election is happening at a time when many people in Worcester are divided over the direction of the city and the country. The mayor could have an opportunity to help heal some of the divisions.”
Petty, who has served as mayor since 2012, is seeking an eighth term. King, the current council vice chair, is running on a platform of government accountability and police reform. Sarkodieh, a small business owner and community advocate, is focused on housing and economic opportunity.
The debate is moderator-led with no audience participation, according to GBH communications manager Emily Balk.
“Our commitment to Worcester runs deep, and this debate is just another example of that,” GBH News Executive Editor Lee Hill told the Worcester Guardian. “From the 2023 mayoral debate to Sam Turken’s dedicated reporting on everything from housing to the environment, we’ve been right there in the community. And it’s part of a bigger picture for GBH News, where we consistently bring our audiences across the state direct access to their leaders as a way to elevate civic understanding.”
The event marks the start of a public series of conversations with candidates ahead of Worcester’s Nov. 4 municipal election.
