Meet the City Councilors

View Larger Image

Office:
City Councilor
District:
Vice Chairman & At-Large
Office Number:
508-799-1049
Email:
KingK@worcesterma.gov

About

Khrystian E. King, LL.D, M.S.W., L.C.S.W. was born in Massachusetts to Leon and Gloree King, who emigrated from the island of Bermuda. Khrystian has been a licensed social worker for the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families for the last 25 years. He has worked tirelessly to protect, support and empower children and their families throughout the Worcester Area. He also serves as Regional Vice President of SEIU Local 509's DCF Chapter. Khrystian is a member of the National Association of Social Workers. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws conferred by Wheaton College in 2020 for his advocacy for the empowerment of Worcester's children, youth and families.

As a man of many "First," in 2016 Councilor King became the first African American man to serve since 1936, the first African American man to ever be elected city-wide, is the longest serving elected official of color in Worcester's municipal history and in 2024 he became the first Black Vice Chair of the Worcester City Council. He is a co-founder of Black Families Together, a Worcester organization that addresses systematic racism. He is also a cofounder of the Black and Latinx Municipal Caucus, a statewide group of BIPOC elected officials. Councilor King is serving his fifth two-year term as Councilor-at-Large.

Education

Khrystian attended Holy Name and St. Peter-Marian high schools. He graduated from Wheaton College with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Psychology, and later earned his Master of Social Work from Simmons College and a Master of Public Administration (MPA)-Certified in Public Management and Leadership from the Moakley Center for Public Management at Suffolk University.

Personal Facts

Khrystian is married to Tatiana King M.S.W. / L.I.C.S.W. and has three beautiful daughters: Jailyn, Alexandria and Leiyani. His eldest daughter Jailyn is also a M.S.W. / L.C.S.W. clinician. The King family is a family of social workers in the City of Worcester.

View Larger Image

Office:
City Councilor
District:
At-Large
Office Number:
508-799-1049
Email:
ColorioD@worcesterma.gov

About

Donna M. Colorio is a lifelong resident of Worcester. Currently Donna is an educator and businesswomen, serving her third two-year term as a Councilor-at-Large. Previously, she had served two two-year terms as a member of the Worcester School Committee.

Education

Donna graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst where she received a Bachelors Degree in Food Marketing Economics and Anna Maria College where she received a Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology.

View Larger Image

Office:
City Councilor
District:
At-Large
Office Number:
508-799-1049
Email:
ToomeyK@worcesterma.gov

About

Kathleen M. (Kate) Toomey is a Post Release/Reintegration Specialist with the Worcester County Sheriff's Office. Kate has over a decade of experience in the healthcare and addiction industry and three decades of experience in community and external affairs. She is also a member of District Attorney Early's Prevention and Support Network. She has been a teacher in the Boston Public Schools, the Central Mass Collaborative and an Art Therapist. Kate has been an entrepreneur and owned a small business.

Kate is serving her tenth two-year term as a Councilor-at-Large. She previously served three two-year terms as a member of the Worcester School Committee.

Education

Kate Toomey graduated from Mount St. Joseph Academy in Boston, received a BA in Art/Education from Regis College, Weston and earned graduate credits in Public Administration from Northeastern University, Boston.

Objectives

Councilor Toomey believes that community policing and special efforts to protect the public's safety should be our highest priority. She also considers efforts to promote business expansion within the city limits and initiatives to improve the quality of life to be areas of priority.

Personal Facts

She is married to Stephen R. Toomey and is the mother of three, Mary Kate, Ruth Tinsley, Richard Stephen, II and Nana to two grandsons.

View Larger Image

Office:
City Councilor
District:
2 (Wards 3 & 4)
Office Number:
508-799-1049
Email:
Mero-CarlsonC@worcesterma.gov

About

City Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson, a proud Worcester native, is currently in her fifth consecutive two-year term as District 2 City Councilor. With a longstanding commitment to community involvement spanning several decades, Candy has passionately taken on diverse leadership roles across Worcester. Formerly employed by Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare as a Labor Relations Executive, Candy is equipped with valuable insights that she now channels into her public service. Her journey into elected office began in 2015 when she successfully secured her position as District 2 City Councilor.

District Two generally includes the following neighborhoods: Lincoln Square, Lincoln Street, Brittan Square, lower Burncoat, UMass, Lake Avenue north of Hamilton Street, Bloomingdale, Shrewsbury and Franklin Streets, Poet's Hill, Plumley Village, downtown east of Main Street, WPI, Chadwick Square, Indian Lake, the Canal District north of Kelley Square and Grafton Hill north of Hamilton Street.

Objectives

Councilor Mero-Carlson focuses her energy into a comprehensive set of key objectives. Her initiatives encompass the revitalization of our parks to create inviting green spaces, addressing quality of life issues, fostering economic development, championing affordable housing initiatives, enhancing public safety measures and actively supporting new economic ventures.

Currently serving as the Chair of the Economic Development Standing Committee, Candy Mero-Carlson brings a strategic and forward-thinking approach to bolstering economic growth and prosperity in the community.

Personal Facts

Candy is part of a large, close-knit Italian American family. Celebrating over three decades of marriage with her husband Joseph, she finds profound joy in being surrounded by family, especially the company of her two cherished grandchildren.

View Larger Image

Office:
City Councilor
District:
4 (Wards 8 & 10)
Office Number:
508-799-1049
Email:
OjedaL@worcesterma.gov

About

Luis A. Ojeda is serving his first two-year term as District Four Councilor. Luis was born and raised in the City of Worcester, Massachusetts and is a dedicated member of the local community. As a lifelong resident, he understands issues facing the City and makes it his purpose to give back. Luis actively demonstrates his commitment to Worcester by engaging individuals, families, businesses and community leaders in advocating for initiatives that help to improve the quality of community life.

Residing in Worcester, Luis has served as an Educator in the Worcester Public Schools for over 20 years. He is currently an Assistant Principal, youth sports coach and mentor, and directs programs focused on student growth and development and creating access to advancement opportunities.

District Four generally includes the following neighborhoods: Green Island, Kelley Square, lower Vernon Hill, the Canal District south of Kelley Square, Four Corners, Main South, South Worcester, Piedmont, Crown Hill, downtown west of Main Street, Gardner/Kilby/Hammond, Clark University, Webster Square and Highland Street east of Park Avenue.

Education

Luis holds a Master of Education in Organizational Management from Endicott College and a Bachelor of Science degree in Sports Management from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He is a graduate of Worcester's Doherty Memorial High School and Quinsigamond Community College.

Objectives

Luis is passionate about issues concerning working individuals, families and local organizations. He believes in creating opportunities for all community stakeholders to collaborate and take a proactive approach in helping to ensure local government can be responsive to prevalent needs and concerns that will further community building efforts. He is focused on innovation and the development of progressive policies encompassing equitable education, public health and safety, affordable housing and racial, social and economic justice. Amongst other efforts, he works on transformative development initiatives to improve District 4 neighborhoods.

Personal Facts

Luis is a devoted husband and father to his three children. He is the co-founder of TLK Sports and Worcester Team United. He was recognized as an Exceptional Latino Educator by Latinos for Education and the Massachusetts House of Representatives for outstanding contributions in the local community. In addition to other community achievement awards, Luis is also a recipient of the Worcester Public Schools Thomas Jefferson Award for public service. He also serves on the board of several nonprofit organizations.

View Larger Image

Office:
City Councilor
District:
At-Large
Office Number:
508-799-1049
Email:
BergmanM@worcesterma.gov

About

Morris A. Bergman, a Worcester attorney in private practice, is serving his sixth two-year term as a Councilor-at-Large. He previously served two terms as a member of the City of Worcester Zoning Board of Appeals and currently serves as a docent for Preservation Worcester.

Education

He is a graduate of Doherty Memorial High School, Worcester. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Boston University and a Juris Doctorate from Boston University.

Personal Facts

He is married to Wendy (Bonnett) Bergman, MD and is the father of three children, Max, Micah and Hanna, and also has one dog, Lucy.

View Larger Image

Office:
City Councilor
District:
At-Large
Office Number:
508-799-1049
Email:
NguyenT@worcesterma.gov

About

Thu Nguyen (pronoun: they/them) is serving their second two-year term as Councilor-at-Large.

Education

Councilor Nguyen graduated from Claremont Academy and earned their Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art and Sociology from Clark University. Over the last decade, they have dedicated their career to movement building with communities on the ground and serving our young people from working at the Worcester Youth Center to the City of Worcester's Division of Youth Opportunity.

Objectives

Councilor Nguyen believes in a political reimagination of Worcester and nationally, where our government uplifts and holistically serves everyone. Invested in the notion of social justice, they commit their time and efforts in community (re)building, advocacy and enjoying sunsets while investigating and navigating the intersectionality of identity, systems and openings for collective care and healing.

Personal Facts

They are a proud queer, Vietnamese, nonbinary refugee.

View Larger Image

Office:
City Councilor
District:
1 (Wards 1 & 2)
Office Number:
508-799-1049
Email:
PacilloJ@worcesterma.gov

About

Jenny Pacillo is serving her first two-year term as District One Councilor. She is a stay-at-home mom who works part time as editor of Pulse and CM Pride magazines. Councilor Pacillo is active in the League of Woman Voters and served on the Citizens Advisory Council for two years prior to being elected.

District One generally includes the following neighborhoods: Salisbury Street, Westwood Hills, Assumption College, Hancock Hill, Grove Street, Holden Street, Indian Hill, Indian Lake, Greendale, the Summit, Quinsigamond Community College, upper Burncoat, Clark Street, Lincoln Village, Great Brook Valley, Curtis Apartments, Montvale and Massachusetts Avenue Local Historic Districts, Hammond Heights, Bancroft Tower, Winter Heights and Richmond/Flagg.

Education

Councilor Pacillo received her Bachelor's in history from Worcester State University. She attended Clark University where she received a Master of Arts in Teaching (2016) and earned her Master's in public administration in 2023.

Personal Facts

Councilor Pacillo and her partner Nate Fiske have three children, Clementine, Bixby and Marigold. She enjoys spending her free time with friends and family.

View Larger Image

Office:
City Councilor
District:
3 (Wards 5 & 6)
Office Number:
508-799-1049
Email:
RussellG@worcesterma.gov

About

George J. Russell, a licensed Real Estate broker, is serving his seventh two-year term as District Three Councilor.

District Three generally includes the following neighborhoods: Grafton Hill south of Hamilton Street, Rice Square, Billings Square, Union Hill, upper Vernon Hill, Massasoit, Edgemere, Granite Street, Lake Avenue, Quinsigamond Village and College Hill.

Education

Councilor Russell is a graduate of St. John's High School in Shrewsbury. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Urban Studies from Worcester State University. Councilor Russell has been a Realtor for three decades and has successfully completed many advanced industry courses in Real Estate and Land Use. He is a State approved Real Estate Instructor.

Personal Facts

Councilor Russell a life-long District resident and District business owner.

Councilor Russell is an active advocate for District 3 issues and can be found at most neighborhood meetings and Crime Watch Meetings.

He is a past Chairman and member of the Worcester Planning Board where he helped author the Worcester Zoning Ordinance. Neighborhood groups have recognized Councilor Russell with the "Friend of Lake Award" and the "Champion of Union Hill Recognition." Worcester Public Schools have recognized Councilor Russell's efforts as a volunteer member of School Councils with the Jefferson award.

Councilor Russell knows that being a District Councilor means constituent services and he is always available to District residents and businesses to assist and advise. Councilor Russell was instrumental as the chief sponsor of the ordinance that lead to the creation of the 311 smartphone app to file requests with the City.

View Larger Image

Office:
City Councilor
District:
5 (Wards 7 & 9)
Office Number:
508-799-1049
Email:
HaxhiajE@worcesterma.gov

About

Etel Haxhiaj, Senior Policy Manager for the National Health Care for the Homeless Council, is serving her second two-year term as District Five Councilor. Councilor Haxhiaj works on federal and state legislation to prevent homelessness and increase affordable housing. She also worked as an organizer for Mothers Out Front, organizing local moms for a livable climate.

District Five generally includes the following neighborhoods: Columbus Park, Stafford Street, Heard Street, Main Street from Webster Square to Cherry Valley, Airport Hill, Botany Bay, Mill Street, June Street, Neighborly Newton, Newton Square, Worcester State College, Tatnuck, West Tatnuck, Beaver Brook and Moreland Hill.

Education

She received a Bachelor degree from Clark University in International Development and Social Change, and a Master's Degree in Community Development & Planning from Clark University.

Objectives

Councilor Haxhiaj believes that in order to build a district and city for all people, we need to have a transparent, open and accessible local government to all residents. She also believes that housing is a right, equity should be at the center of all decision-making, all children deserve a livable climate and economic development should benefit all neighborhoods.

Personal Facts

She is mom to her two beautiful boys, Danny and Luke, students in Worcester Public Schools, and lives close to her mom, Angelina.