WORCESTER— In the high-stakes 2025 race for Worcester’s five city councilor at-large seats, the early money is flowing fast — and not just to incumbents. A Worcester Guardian dig into campaign finance filings with the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance for this campaign cycle shows several newcomers outpacing familiar names — including Worcester’s sitting mayor.
Satya Mitra, a financial consultant and first-time council candidate, leads the entire field with $92,617.99 raised from 228 contributions. While his supporters include local businesspeople and professionals, many of his top donations come from outside Worcester — and outside Massachusetts — with contributors listed from New York, New Jersey, Texas, and even India.
Mitra also benefited from multiple $1,000 contributions from family members, including comedian Alingon Mitra and Supriya Mitra, who is also listed as a staffer at his tax business, The Guru Tax & Financial Services. His expenditures during that same time period total $22,432.41, including $2,626.25 for yard signs and $2,095.16 for catering costs to Creedon and Co.
Close behind is Mayor Joseph Petty, who’s seeking re-election. Petty has pulled in $88,072.09 from 334 donors, including heavyweights in development, medicine, and energy. His top contributors include Hassan Yatim of Yatco Energy ($2,000 total), Cliff Rucker, and James Chacharone, along with multiple $1,000 donations from executives at Trinity Financial, Reliant Medical Group, Fontaine Bros., and Green Hill Realty. Petty also reported $36,488.26 in expenses, including donations to community groups, printing and mailing costs, and $1,638.92 toward expenses for the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, IL.
Councilor Khrystian King, who is also running for mayor, has raised $23,948 from 282 donors — with significant backing from organized labor. SEIU 1199, SEIU Local 888, and the Massachusetts & Northern New England Laborers’ District Council PAC each gave $500. King’s individual donors include a mix of city employees, educators, and advocates.
Among the incumbents, Councilor Morris Bergman reported $39,938.99 raised from 306 contributions. His donor list includes many attorneys, local business owners, and longtime supporters. Councilor Kate Toomey raised $17,685.78 from 143 contributions. Her backing includes $500 contributions from SEIU Local 509, Iron Workers Local 7, as well as smaller donations from neighborhood leaders and former city employees.
Councilor Donna Colorio, who has consistently kept her fundraising modest, reported $11,627.20 in donations this cycle, with support from several Worcester-based businesses, including Advantage Benefits and HMYatim Ventures.
Some non-incumbents have posted notable early numbers. Cayden Davis raised $11,583.70, drawing on a wide network of small-dollar donors and public supporters (212 so far), including journalist Bill Shaner and fellow council candidate Keith Linhares.
Jermoh Kamara, a former school committee member running for council at-large for the first time, brought in $5,525 from 67 donations so far, with many from public health professionals, educators, and local nonprofit figures. Charles Luster, who has run for office previously, from just 35 donations raised $5,550, which includes a significant $1,000 contribution from Stacey Luster, an administrator at Fitchburg State and former human resources director for the city. Also, the Generations Mello All Political Action Committee tossed in $100.
Gary Rosen, a former city councilor and school committee member, raised $2,520 from ten donors, including $500 from retired educator Dorothy Hargrove, another $500 self-donation and $250 from Paul Levenson, executive director of Tuckerman Hall. First-time candidate Jessica Pepple reported $1,554.27 from 19 small-dollar donors, mostly based in Worcester. Owura-Kwaku Sarkodieh brought in $2,585.17 from 16 donors.
Meanwhile, other candidates have yet to show any fundraising traction. Edson Montero, who ran for District 5 in a previous cycle, has reported no new donations for this campaign. Bernard Iandoli also reported no financial activity..
The field includes eight incumbents or past officeholders — Petty, King, Bergman, Toomey, Colorio, Kamara, Rosen, and Luster — alongside a growing slate of political newcomers. With up to five seats up for grabs, and several familiar names in the mayor’s race, the councilor at-large contest remains one of the most crowded and competitive on the November ballot.
The figures cited include all itemized contributions and expenditures reported to the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance between Jan. 1, 2024, and Aug. 3, 2025. Candidates may continue to raise funds through the fall.
Separate stories will follow examining campaign finance in the district council and school committee races.
Editor’s note: At this time, Carpenters Local 336 has not made any campaign contributions to either City Councilor Kate Toomey or City Councilor Khrystian King. While Carpenters Local 336 has endorsed Councilor King for City Council again this year the original article gave the appearance that Carpenters Local 336 has endorsed Councilor Toomey, which it has not.
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.
- The Worcester Guardian is an independent nonprofit news organization. Support local journalism by making a DONATION today.
