WORCESTER — Jermoh Kamara, who finished 23 votes behind incumbent Morris “Moe” Bergman in the Nov. 4 municipal election, has formally announced plans to request a recount in the Worcester City Council at-large race.
“Given that extremely narrow difference,” Kamara said in a statement released Thursday, “I will be requesting a recount to ensure that every vote is accurately counted and that every voter’s voice is heard.”
Unofficial totals show Bergman in sixth place with 9,357 votes (8.8%) and Kamara just behind him with 9,334 (8.6%).
City Clerk Nikolin Vangjeli confirmed to the Worcester Guardian that Kamara picked up recount petition papers from the clerk’s office but has not yet submitted the certified signatures required to initiate a citywide recount.
“To trigger a citywide recount,” Vangjeli said, “you need to collect 10 certified signatures per ward, and we have 10 wards in the city.” He added that the deadline to submit the recount papers is 10 days after the election.
“The schedule and details of the recount process will be discussed at the next Election Commission meeting Wednesday, Nov. 12, at 5 p.m.,” he said. Vangjeli noted that there have not been any citywide recounts in his tenure as clerk—only partial recounts.
In her statement, Kamara thanked the 9,334 residents who supported her campaign and the volunteers who “knocked on doors, made calls and shared our vision for a stronger, fairer city.”
“This decision is not about second-guessing the process, but about respecting our democracy and the value of each person’s voice,” she said. “In a city as dynamic and close-knit as Worcester, every single vote matters. Our campaign has always been about inclusion, transparency, and accountability. That means making sure that the outcome truly reflects the will of the voters.”
Kamara, who previously served on the Worcester School Committee, said she remains “deeply committed to serving Worcester, the city that gave my family a home when we arrived here as refugees.”
