Mayor Petty In, Rep. LeBoeuf Out: 2022 Worcester Senate Race

WORCESTER, MA — Tuesday was a pivotal day in the race to replace retiring state Sen. Harriette Chandler: Six-term Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty entered the race after weeks of speculation, but state Rep. David LeBoeuf bowed out.

Petty on Tuesday changed the purpose of his campaign account with the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF) from mayor to state senate on Tuesday. Filing a change of purpose is typically the first step for politicians seeking new offices in the state.

Petty's wife, Gayle, is listed as his Senate campaign chair, and his treasurer is listed as Robert Valentine, according to OCPF records. Petty has about $49,000 in his campaign account, mostly left from his mayoral campaign in 2021.

Under the city charter, Petty does not have to resign as mayor to either run for or hold the state senate seat.

However, if he did resign, his absence would reshuffle the City Council. At-Large City Councilor Donna Colorio, the current vice chair, would slide into the mayor's seat and become chair of the School Committee. Petty's At-Large Council seat, meanwhile, would be filled by former Councilor Matt Wally — the first runner-up in the November 2021 election.

Chandler announced her retirement on Jan. 26. She first won the 1st Worcester District senate seat in 2000, becoming the first woman from the area to hold a state Senate seat. YWCA of Central Massachusetts executive Robyn Kennedy is so far the only other candidate who has filed to run for Chandler's seat. She said Tuesday that a formal campaign kickoff would be coming soon.

On the day of Chandler's retirement, LeBoeuf said he wanted to run for the seat. But asked about his intentions on Tuesday, he said he'll seek reelection to his 17th Worcester state House seat instead. LeBoeuf said he still has work left to do in the House on issues around education, water and sewer infrastructure, lead paint and the foster system.

"And so after some reflection on the urgency of the causes we all care about, I have decided I cannot in good conscience take time away for a Senate run that would distract from the work that's left to do," he said in a statement.

LeBoeuf's 17th Worcester district was changed following new population figures delivered by the Census in August. The district now stretches farther into central Worcester and was designed to be a majority-minority district.

Former Worcester City Council candidate Guillermo Creamer and Worcester community activist Nelly Medina had both said they would be interested in running for LeBoeuf's seat should he step aside to run for the Senate.