Worcester Candidate Profile: Johnhaynes Honeycutt For Council

WORCESTER, MA — Incumbent Worcester City Councilor Matthew Wally is the only district Councilor facing a challenge in this election. Johnhaynes Honeycutt, 24, says he's running to keep Worcester affordable by retaining the dual-tax rate.

Honeycutt says he's an entrepreneur, but has never run for or held office before. Here's how he answered the Patch candidate questionnaire.

The single most pressing issue facing our city is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Among various issues that plague our communities not only locally but abroad is the fight to keep Worcester as affordable as possible. This issue hails as one of the major challenges and pressing matters concerning my District and the city as a whole. Worcester is a gateway city, and because of this many residents are lower income earners, which is why if I am elected District 5 City Council in Worcester, in voting Worcester's dual tax rates, (residential vs commercial), I will vote for a favorable tax rate that benefits the constituents of the District.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

The primary difference is that I am advocating for a dual tax rate that favors the residents of my community and keeps the city affordable to its constituents, where my opponent is seeking a single tax rate that will ultimately cost residents an additional $4 per 1,000 valuation, which translates to 800.00 in additional taxes already being paid on a $200,000 house. The current spread pertaining to the dual tax rate has served the community well. Over 100 million dollars has been invested in the Worcester Regional Airport, and condos along with apartment complexes are growing at a staggering rate the city has never seen before. Business development is surging in the downtown area and the city is in the process of moving the Worcester Red Sox into the city, along with developing a $300 million dollar stadium. With all of this business prosperity, it is more crucial than ever that the city maintains a feasible tax rate for the residents that allow them the affordability to remain living in the area.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

The best advice anyone has ever told me was that I could do anything I wanted to do as long as I was willing to put the work and effort in to seeing it through. Another good piece of advice I received was to never let anyone discourage you to follow your dream.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

Additional issues that define my campaign's platform involves pushing for the reinstatement of the Spring leaf sweep that was cancelled in a 6-5 vote (my opponent voting to cancel the service), as well as implementing new and innovative methods to road and pothole repairs. My city has spend several decades addressing pothole repairs in the way they always have, which has resulted in multiple trips back to the same pothole for repair. We need efficient methods that will result in potholes being fixed the first time rather than filling them 4-5 times, which creates not only a safety hazard but ultimately cost the taxpayers additional unnecessary funds.