Mayor Joe Petty, Robyn Kennedy to meet in candidate forum in last month of primary race
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WORCESTER — State Senate candidates Mayor Joseph M. Petty and Robyn K. Kennedy are set to hold a candidate forum in Worcester as the primary race to succeed state Sen. Harriette L. Chandler of Worcester goes into its final full month.
At 6:30 p.m. Aug. 22, Petty and Kennedy, a former YWCA of Central Massachusetts executive, are scheduled to participate in a forum hosted at the retirement community The Willows at Worcester at 101 Barry Road.
The forum will be moderated by former City Councilor Gary Rosen, Spectrum News 1 anchor Ana Bottary and "Talk of the Commonwealth" host Hank Stolz. The candidates will field questions from the forum and ask each other questions.
Petty and Kennedy took part in a previous candidate forum Aug. 4 in Berlin hosted by the Berlin Democratic Town Committee.
The candidates are both running as Democrats to succeed Chandler, also a Democrat. Both are from Worcester.
The 1st Worcester District covers part of Worcester, Berlin, Boylston, Northborough and West Boylston.
The primary election will be held Sept. 6 and the general election will be Nov. 8.
No Republican candidates will appear on the ballot for the state Senate race. Lisa Mair of Berlin will appear on the ballot as an unenrolled candidate.
Kennedy will also host a fundraiser Sunday night with Grafton's Ricky Duran, the 2019 runner-up on the NBC show "The Voice," at the Harpoon Brewery beer garden at the Mercantile Center. The fundraiser will be at 6 p.m.
Both candidates have hosted door-knocking events, discussions with district residents and ordered yard signs as the campaign hits its home stretch.
On Aug. 6, the Massachusetts AFL-CIO hosted a labor walk and canvass in support of Petty. Petty has also received support from the Worcester Fire Department's IAFF Local 1009 and the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts.
In addition, the Massachusetts and Northern New England Laborers' District Council, Roofers Local 33, Carpenters Union Local 336, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 4 and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 2325 are among the unions that have contributed to Petty financially.
Endorsements for Kennedy, Petty
The Massachusetts Teachers Association has endorsed Kennedy.
U.S. Sen. Edward J. Markey and state Sen. Michael O. Moore of Millbury have both endorsed Petty. Petty has also received support from state Reps. Daniel M. Donahue of Worcester and James J. O'Day of West Boylston.
Former Gov. Deval L. Patrick and former Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Murray hosted a fundraiser for Kennedy in June. Kennedy has also been endorsed by state Reps. Mary S. Keefe of Worcester, Natalie Higgins of Leominster and Speaker Pro Tempore Kate Hogan of Stow.
In July, Petty's campaign requested a state campaign finance investigation into Kennedy's campaign and a political action committee supporting her.
Petty's team alleged that Kennedy's campaign improperly collaborated with Massachusetts Women for Progress Independent PAC on a campaign mailer.
Both Kennedy and the PAC have dismissed the call for a finance investigation as the Petty campaign playing politics with Massachusetts Women for Progress demanding an apology from Petty.
Petty continues to have a significant cash advantage over Kennedy.
According to reports from the Office of Campaign and Political Finance, Petty had about $64,727 on hand at the end of July while Kennedy had about $25,521.
Kennedy did lead Petty in money received for July. Petty raised about $15,177 and spent about $27,178. Kennedy raised about $17,220 and spent about $13,811.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Worcester Mayor Joe Petty, Robyn Kennedy to meet in candidate forum
