WORCESTER, Mass. - Worcester's preliminary election will narrow city council and school committee district races to two candidates, including a heated race in City Council District 5.
Incumbent Etel Haxhiaj is seeking a second term as councilor. While discussing her accomplishments, she points to addressing traffic issues, investments in parks and her work to help tenants following a Mill Street apartment collapse last year.
Historically, preliminary elections produce lower voter turnout, so Haxhiaj is asking people to get out and cast ballots.
"I just want to encourage people to come out and vote on September 5th,” Haxhiaj said. “There's also early voting happening this week, so Monday the 28th until Friday the 1st at the Worcester Public Library.
“Most important, I hope that people will judge me based on my record, my ability to work with people and all the things that we've accomplished with folks together. I look forward to seeing the results on September 5th."
Haxhiaj faces two opponents in the preliminary. One is three-time boxing world champion Jose Antonio Rivera.
A District 5 resident for more than a decade, Rivera said constituents asked him to step up. He said while his name recognition helps, it's not what he is relying on.
"My vision for the district is kind of like, unite the district, focus on the district, make sure I not only hear them, but I listen them, I work with them, make sure they know that,” Rivera said. “I always tell them, ‘this is not my seat, this is their seat.’"
Edson Montero Jr. is also on the preliminary ballot. Originally from the Dominican Republic, Montero said he wants to address the lack of diversity in city leadership.
"When you go to the head of who's who in the city, there's no diversity,” he said. “I don't feel represented here, and I am part of the community. When I see people that look like me, or speak like me, we're not represented right there."
Early voting at the Worcester Public Library runs through Friday. The preliminary election will take place next Tuesday.