WORCESTER, Mass. - Worcester Mayor Joe Petty formally kicked off his reelection campaign Thursday near the new Doherty High School.

Petty is running for a seventh term as the city's mayor and city councilor at-large. He said he held Thursday’s announcement at Doherty because education is key to the city's future and success.

Petty was first elected mayor in 2011 and is the longest-serving mayor in the city's history.

"As mayor, I have a proven track record of working with people and listening to their concerns and solving our common problems,” Petty said. “This is the part of my skill set which makes me the best candidate for mayor."

City council at-large candidates must opt-out later this year if they're not running for mayor. Right now, Guillermo Creamer, Jr. is the only other at-large candidate to declare he's running for the office.