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Joseph M. Petty is an American attorney, politician and the current mayor of Worcester, Massachusetts.[1]
Joseph Petty | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Petty in 2022 | |
| Mayor of Worcester | |
| Assumed office January 2, 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Joseph C. O'Brien |
| Member of the Worcester City Council | |
| Assumed office 1998 | |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Gayle Perrone |
| Children | 3 |
| Residence | Worcester, Massachusetts |
| Alma mater | Nichols College New England Law |
| Profession | Attorney |
Raised in Worcester, Petty graduated from Holy Name Central Catholic High School. He attended Nichols College and earned a Juris Doctor degree from New England School of Law.[1]
Petty was first elected to the Worcester City Council in 1997. After serving six two-year terms on the council, he mounted a campaign for mayor in 2011 when incumbent Joseph C. O'Brien decided not to seek reelection due to family concerns.[2][3] He defeated former mayor Konstantina Lukes, perennial candidate Bill Coleman, and Carmen Carmona by earning 48% of votes cast.[4] During the preceding campaign, Petty received the endorsement of Congressman Jim McGovern.[5]
As mayor, Petty has overseen the partial demolition and redevelopment of Worcester Common Outlets, an abandoned downtown mall. This effort involves recreating a direct roadway between Union Station and Worcester City Hall and Common that was lost when the mall was built in the 1960s.[6]
In May 2012, Petty brokered a tax reform compromise among city councilors. Some councilors favored a sharp decrease in the city's commercial tax rate, while others wished to maintain the lowest possible residential tax rate. Petty proposed a comprise that decreased the commercial tax rate by $5.57 and raised the residential tax rate ¢92 per $1000 of assessed value. This tax reform, which passed on a 6–5 vote, was the subject of controversy, for it came in the wake of a revelation that annual property revaluations would lead to significantly higher commercial tax bills.[7] While the city's assessors contended that the increased tax bills were due to reforms, such as considering a building's exact vacancy rate when calculating its assessment, other figures accused past administrations of improperly overriding assessments to provide lower tax bills.[8] He was reelected to a second term in 2013. He was reelected to a third term in 2015.
In early 2017, Petty apologized after he was caught on tape making disparaging remarks about people protesting a city council proposal. Earlier in the evening, he had thanked the protestors, saying they made Worcester proud.[9]
He was reelected to a fourth term in 2017. In 2019, Petty was reelected to a fifth term. This made him the first-ever mayor in the history of Worcester to receive a fifth two-year term as mayor.[10] In 2021, Petty won a sixth term as mayor and thirteenth term as a city councilor.[11]
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During the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries, he gave his endorsement to Elizabeth Warren's candidacy.[12]
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On February 22, 2022, Petty filed to run for Massachusetts Senate's 1st Worcester district.[13] He had previously been floated as a potential candidate following incumbent Harriette L. Chandler's decision to retire.[14] He officially announced his candidacy for the seat on March 9.[15] He was defeated in the September 6 Democratic primary by Robyn Kennedy.[16]
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Petty is married to his wife Gayle Perrone and they have three children.[17]
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