Worcester Preliminary Election: Petty Leads, Bergman and Rosen Surge, Progressives Face Setback

By-Hank Stolz

Photo-Radio Worcester

WORCESTER, MA-On this edition of the Radio Roundtable, Hank Stolz is joined by Ben White, Guillermo Creamer, Mark Henderson, and Tom Marino to break down the Worcester Preliminary vote. Five sharp election observers—and five very different takes—on what the results really mean for November.

The panel found consensus that it was a strong night for Moe Bergman, Gary Rosen, and Jermoh Kamara, each outperforming expectations. It was a tougher result for Khrystian King, whose mayoral hopes dimmed with a fifth-place finish, while Mayor Joe Petty celebrated a commanding win on the path to a historic eighth term.

Is this outcome a setback for Worcester’s progressive movement? With Petty, Kate Toomey, Bergman, and Rosen finishing 1–4, the conversation turns to what it means for November. Also in focus: the prospects for incumbents Donna Colorio and Dr. Satya Mitra, as well as Cayden Davis, who are all within striking distance of breaking through.

Races to watch include School Committee District E, where Kathy Roy secured 42% of the vote, but “progressive” challengers Nelly Medina and Noelia Chafoya combined for more than 50%. With Chafoya eliminated, do her supporters consolidate behind Medina? And what will higher turnout in November mean for district contests, many of which pit progressive candidates against moderates?

The group also delves into the role of media and social platforms in local elections. Are they energizing new voters or simply echo chambers with limited impact?

The Worcester Municipal Election takes place Tuesday, November 4th.

Roundtable: $30M Sewer Lawsuit, Trash Cleanup Failures, and Partisan City

By-Hank Stolz

Photo-Radio Worcester

WORCESTER, MA– Hank and “Big” Ben are joined by Guillermo Creamer and John Keough on the Radio Roundtable to talk about the municipal election and top local topics. This week the Roundtable looks at the city’s recent loss of a $30 million lawsuit to the town of Holden over sewer fees. Acknowledging Monday morning quarterbacking there were questions and criticism of the previous administration’s overconfidence and poor legal strategy that led to the massive payout.

The Roundtable also discussed the city’s ongoing cleanup effort, arguing that while it was a positive step, it failed to address systemic issues with trash collection, poor contractor performance, and inadequate infrastructure. The panelists also critiqued the city’s communication strategy for the initiative.

Finally, the conversation shifted to the upcoming nonpartisan city council election, where the panelists asserted that the election was functionally partisan, marked by political pandering, and influenced by a divide between moderate and progressive Democrats. They discussed the need for a charter revision to empower the council and expressed expectations of low voter turnout for the preliminary election.

Mastery Based Grading Debate, Open Meeting Law Ruling, and Worcester Election Watch

By Hank Stolz

Photo- submitted

WORCESTER, MASS.- On this edition of the Radio Roundtable, Matt Wally, Guillermo Creamer, and Randy Feldman tackle the topic of Mastery Based Grading. Matt and Randy raise questions about how it would work in Worcester Public Schools, while Guillermo and Hank seem more open to giving it a try. Mastery Based Grading allows students multiple opportunities to revisit and improve their work, moving away from the traditional system of numeric or letter grades.

The panel also reacts to a recent finding from the state Attorney General’s office, which determined that Councilors Etel Haxhiaj, Thu Nguyen, and Khrystian King violated the Open Meeting Law by issuing a press release affirming support for LGBTQ students. The only penalty: a warning not to repeat the action. Hank asks whether this ruling will affect the upcoming election, but the general consensus is it won’t. However, the Roundtable notes that opponents of the three councilors may try to link this to a broader pattern of behavior, creating a negative perception among voters. While one incident alone may not sway opinions, several tied together could.

Looking ahead to the September 2 preliminary election, the panel believes placement in the preliminaries doesn’t necessarily predict the general election outcome. Still, if an incumbent fails to place in the top six, it could be a sign they need to step up their campaign. Candidates to watch include Dr. Satya Mitra, Gary Rosen, Cayden Davis, and Jermoh Kamara—each employing different strategies. The panel is also watching for a dark horse candidate who might deliver a surprisingly strong showing that no one is talking about yet.

Radio Roundtable Tackles Trash Trouble and Campaign Costs in Worcester

By Hank Stolz

Photo- Radio Worcester

WORCESTER, MASS.- On this edition of the Radio Roundtable, the panel dives into the latest hot-button issues in Worcester politics and public policy, starting with the City Manager’s aggressive efforts to clean up trash around the city. While most residents support cleaner streets in theory—after all, as Hank Stolz points out, “no one is pro-litter”—the group questions how sustainable this clean-up effort will be after the current all-hands August push comes to an end.

Guillermo Creamer and “Big” Ben voice concerns about long-term strategy and follow-through. “What happens when this month ends?” asks Guillermo. “Is there a plan for September and beyond?” Ben adds that while the effort is commendable, it’s unclear whether the resources exist to make it more than just a seasonal burst.

Randy Feldman, however, offers a contrarian view: “Honestly, I don’t think the trash problem is nearly as bad as people say. It’s a city.” He argues that some level of urban grit is to be expected and that the discourse may be exaggerated.

From street-level trash to citywide elections, the Roundtable shifts gears to explore the realities of running for Worcester City Council. If you’re running for an At-Large seat and you’re not a household name, how much will it cost to compete?

The discussion breaks down:

• Ad buys and signage: How much visibility can you really buy?

• Name recognition vs. fundraising: Can you win on hard work alone?

• The importance of knocking on doors and standing out at standouts

• Strategic ambition: Are you content placing sixth, or do you have eyes on higher office?

And finally, a perennial Worcester politics question: How important is the west side vote, really?

Epstein Distraction or Strategy? The Roundtable Weighs In on GOP Divide, Trump Diversions, and Redistricting Battles

By Hank Stolz | Radio Worcester

Photo-Radio Worcester

WORCESTER, MASS.- The Roundtable, featuring Robert Amorello and Randy Feldman, discusses the ongoing controversy surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein case and the Republican Party’s response to it. The Republican Party is divided on how to handle the Epstein case, with some wanting more transparency and others trying to downplay or distract from it. Hank Stolz says Trump is trying to shift attention to other issues by attacking Obama, Rosie O’Donnell, and the Washington Commanders’ name change, but these appear to be diversionary tactics. He asks if going after former President Obama has legs? Feldman says, “It’s amazing to me that anybody pays much attention to Donald Trump’s diversions when there’s serious stuff to talk about,” and pivots the conversation to redistricting in Texas, which he says is a matter of great importance. Amorello agrees that the redistricting in both CA and TX, ahead of the midterms, is an important issue. “Trump uses nonsense to try to accomplish actual things, but the redistricting, I mean, Randy is correct about that, but both parties engage in this type of behavior, and it’s gotten much worse over the past few decades.” The Roundtable also looks at the Tariffs and the announcement of a trade deal with Japan.