Radio Roundtable: Worcester City Manager Review, Election Reform, and a Changing Political Landscape

George Russell and Randy Feldman join Hank Stolz and “Big” Ben to discuss City Hall accountability, voting reforms, cannabis law, and shifting political dynamics in Worcester.

By-Hank Stolz
Graphic – Radio Worcester

WORCESTER, MA-How effective is Worcester’s annual review of the city manager, and does the process still accomplish its intended purpose?

Those questions led this edition of the Radio Roundtable as Hank Stolz and “Big” Ben welcomed George Russell and Randy Feldman for a wide-ranging discussion on city government, election reform, and Massachusetts politics.

The panel began by examining Worcester’s annual city manager evaluation, a process required under the city’s charter that serves as the City Council’s formal performance review of the city’s chief executive.

George Russell noted that the evaluation process became more consistent after the adoption of a standardized review form several years ago.

“The evaluation form has helped standardize the process,” Russell explained, making it easier for councilors to assess the city manager using the same criteria each year.

While panelists agreed that current City Manager Eric Batista is generally well regarded, they questioned whether the annual review has gradually become more ceremonial than evaluative. The discussion noted that large numbers of city employees often attend the meeting to demonstrate support, creating an atmosphere that can make candid criticism more challenging.

The conversation then shifted to several statewide policy issues, including whether Massachusetts could realistically revisit its voter-approved cannabis legalization law. Panelists discussed the legal and political hurdles involved in changing policies that have already been approved by voters.

Election reform was another major topic. The group explored proposals such as a nonpartisan “jungle primary,” in which all candidates compete in a single primary regardless of party affiliation, as well as ranked choice voting, which allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference. Rather than advocating for a particular approach, the discussion focused on how different electoral systems could influence campaigning, voter participation, and representation.

The episode concluded with an examination of Worcester’s evolving political landscape. Russell suggested that today’s political debates are increasingly occurring within the Democratic Party rather than between Democrats and Republicans.

“The council has moved to the right quite a bit and there are people there that may be Democrats and may be independents, but they are very conservative,” Russell said.

The panel explored how those ideological differences have shaped discussions on housing, public safety, economic development, and city governance, illustrating how local politics often reflect a more nuanced spectrum than traditional party labels alone.