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Mary Keefe–Ron Waddell Worcester Debate
Mary Keefe–Ron Waddell Worcester Debate
Candidates debate housing, policing, homelessness and state funding ahead of Worcester’s Sept. 1 Democratic primary.
Hank Stolz
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Worcester, MA- Radio Worcester presented the 15th Worcester District Debate between incumbent Rep. Mary Keefe (D) and challenger Ron Waddell (D). The Democratic Primary is September 1st.
The debate was moderated by Hank Stolz and featured questions from Adam Bass of MassLive, Ben White from Radio Worcester, Mark Henderson of the 016.com and Kate McEvoy of Pulse Magazine. It was held at the East Side Post of the American Legion and streamed live at radioworcester.com.
Key debate topics included affordable housing supply and demand, state funding equity for Worcester, police accountability and civilian oversight, homelessness services, downtown revitalization, data center regulation, the audit and representation of the district’s majority-minority population. The candidates diverge on legislative experience, constituent engagement frequency, and approaches to criminal justice reform, with Waddell emphasizing results-oriented outcomes and Keefe stressing the complexity of legislative work and coalition-building within the delegation.
Among the exchanges;
“The DCU Center, all of the infrastructure support has been funded through the city itself. We look at Springfield, not the case. We look at Boston, not the case.” – Kate McAvoy
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- “As a delegation, we were with you, Kate, two months ago to tour the DCU Center… it was quite a surprise.” – Mary Keefe
- “I would be reaching out to have those conversations… not blaming the city for not engaging with me.” – Ron Waddell
“An ongoing topic of debate in Worcester is whether the city needs a civilian review board.” – Adam Bass
- “I have a lot of respect for the Worcester Research Bureau and the report that they produced… I stand with the people.” – Mary Keefe
- “When you build partnerships with community-based organizations and public safety, you will drive down violent events.” – Ron Waddell
“Where do you stand on that audit, a measure supported by more than 70% of Massachusetts voters?” – Ben White
- “We have three branches of government and our constitution mandates that they stand separately from each other.” – Mary Keefe
- “I think the voters spoke. And so as a state rep, it’s our responsibility to hear the voters and move forward what they have asked of us.” – Ron Waddell
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“By many accounts, the population of the unhoused is growing in Worcester and in many places throughout the state.” – Mark Henderson
One of the things that I’m looking at on a global level is the fact that there are a number of different departments that are trying to address this issue, public health, mental health, housing, but they’re all operating in silos. And so we continue to take more money and fund all these different departments, yet don’t see improved outcomes. One of the things that I would fight at the legislature level is to evaluate these different programs. Are they actually producing the outcomes in the desired results that we’re asking for? We continue to take taxpayers’ dollars and fund these programs that aren’t producing the results that we say they’re intended to. – Ron Waddell
- It’s a very complex problem. I think the city moving in the direction of the day resource center is a good direction. I don’t think it’s a big solution. I think it will give people some respite to take care of themselves and maybe get counseling and the help that can start putting them on the track, on a better track. – Mary Keefe
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