Worcester to swear in mayor, council and school committee on Friday
Worcester will kick off 2026 with the inauguration of its mayor, school committee and new and returning city councilors.
A swearing-in ceremony for the city's elected officials will be held on Jan. 2 at the Doherty Memorial High School.
The ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. and is free and open to the public, according to the city's website .
Some of the incoming councilors previously told MassLive that city infrastructure is a priority for them in the new year.
The council will also have to deal with such issues as a proposal for a police oversight board and the city's goal of creating more than 12,000 housing units in eight years.
Two new councilors-at-large
The city will swear in six new councilors on Friday, two of them are councilors-at-large and four of them are district councilors.
Satya Mitra and Gary Rosen will be sworn in as the two new councilors-at-large. Rosen previously served as a councilor-at-large. Mitra, the founder of The Guru Tax and Financial Services , has not previously served in an elected position.
Mitra previously told MassLive that as a councilor, he wants to see how Worcester's tax dollars are allocated and to ensure that the city's roads are properly funded.
"I think I will have an influence, being in an accounting practice," Mitra said. "I'll be able to help give that strength to the council."
Also being sworn in as councilors-at-large on Friday are Mayor Joseph Petty and Councilors Khrystian King, Kathleen Toomey and Morris Bergman. All four are incumbents who won re-election in November.
Under the city's charter, the six at-large candidates who received the most votes will take seats on the council.
City Councilor-at-Large Thu Nguyen did not run for re-election this year. Councilor-at-Large Donna Colorio lost re-election, finishing in eighth place.
Petty will also be sworn in for a historic eighth term as mayor. He has been in the role since 2012, making him the longest-serving mayor in Worcester's history.
Four new district councilors
Former District 1 councilor Tony Economou will once again serve his district. The current District 1 councilor, Jenny Pacillo, opted not to run for re-election. Economou defeated resident Keith Linhares during the election.
Former state Rep. John Fresolo will be sworn in as the District 3 councilor, succeeding George Russell. Russell, who was first elected in 2011, decided not to run for re-election this year. In the election, Fresolo defeated former Worcester school safety director Robert Pezzella.
Also to be sworn is Robert Bilotta, who defeated District 2 Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson. Bilotta previously ran against Mero-Carlson in 2023 but ultimately lost.
The final newcomer to the city council is Jose Rivera, who defeated District 5 Councilor Etel Haxhiaj. Similar to Bilotta, Rivera previously ran against Haxhiaj in 2023 and lost.
Haxhiaj is facing charges in connection with her interactions with Worcester Police officers who were present at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation on Worcester's Eureka Street in May.
She was charged with one misdemeanor count of assault and battery on a police officer and one common law violation for interfering with a police officer.
Her trial is set for Feb. 10, 2026.
The only incumbent district councilor who won re-election in November was District 4 Councilor Luis Ojeda, who defeated challenger Ted Kostas.
The school committee
Members of Worcester's school committee also will be sworn in on Friday. The committee is made up of two at-large members and six district members. All of the incoming members of the school committee are incumbents.
District A incumbent Molly O. McCullough, District B incumbent Vanessa Z. Alvarez, District D incumbent Alejandro Guardiola and District F incumbent Jermaine L. Johnson all ran unopposed in November.
District C incumbent Dianna Biancheria defeated Feanna S. Jattan-Singh and District E incumbent Kathleen Roy defeated challenger Nelly Medina.
Maureen F. Binienda and Susan M. Mailman retained their at-large seats, defeating challenger Adwoa A. Sakyi-Lamptey.
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