# Joseph Petty > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Joseph_Petty > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Joseph_Petty.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Petty > Source revision: 1354737987 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) For the 19th-century New York state senator, see [Joseph H. Petty](/source/Joseph_H._Petty). **Joseph M. Petty** is an American attorney, politician and the current [mayor](/source/List_of_mayors_of_Worcester,_Massachusetts) of [Worcester, Massachusetts](/source/Worcester,_Massachusetts).[1] ## Early life and education Raised in Worcester, Petty graduated from [Holy Name Central Catholic High School](/source/Holy_Name_Central_Catholic_High_School). He attended [Nichols College](/source/Nichols_College) and earned a [Juris Doctor](/source/Juris_Doctor) degree from [New England School of Law](/source/New_England_School_of_Law).[1] ## Political career 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](/source/2011_Worcester,_Massachusetts_mayoral_election) when incumbent [Joseph C. O'Brien](/source/Joseph_C._O'Brien) decided not to seek reelection due to family concerns.[2][3] He defeated former mayor [Konstantina Lukes](/source/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](/source/Jim_McGovern_(American_politician)).[5] As mayor, Petty has overseen the partial demolition and redevelopment of [Worcester Common Outlets](/source/Worcester_Common_Outlets), an abandoned downtown mall. This effort involves recreating a direct roadway between [Union Station](/source/Union_Station_(Worcester,_Massachusetts)) and [Worcester City Hall and Common](/source/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](/source/2013_Worcester,_Massachusetts_mayoral_election). He was reelected to a third term [in 2015](/source/2015_Worcester,_Massachusetts_mayoral_election). 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](/source/2017_Worcester,_Massachusetts_mayoral_election). [In 2019](/source/2019_Worcester,_Massachusetts_mayoral_election), 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] During the [2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries](/source/2020_Democratic_Party_presidential_primaries), he gave his endorsement to [Elizabeth Warren](/source/Elizabeth_Warren)'s [candidacy](/source/Elizabeth_Warren_2020_presidential_campaign).[12] On February 22, 2022, Petty filed to run for [Massachusetts Senate's 1st Worcester district](/source/Massachusetts_Senate's_1st_Worcester_district).[13] He had previously been floated as a potential candidate following incumbent [Harriette L. Chandler](/source/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](/source/Robyn_Kennedy).[16] Petty opposes the initiative to enact the country's strictest [rent control policy](/source/Rent_control_in_Massachusetts) at the [2026 Massachusetts elections](/source/2026_Massachusetts_elections), saying it would be "catastrophic to local municipal budgets."[17] ## Personal life Petty is married to his wife Gayle Perrone and they have three children.[18] ## References 1. ["Mayor Petty"](http://www.worcesterma.gov/mayor). Retrieved January 5, 2011. 1. ["Two Minutes With . . . Joe Petty"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120114034157/http://www.worcestermag.com/speak-out/two-minutes/Two-Minutes-WithJoe-Petty-136367408.html). *Worcester Magazine*. December 29, 2011. Archived from [the original](http://www.worcestermag.com/speak-out/two-minutes/Two-Minutes-WithJoe-Petty-136367408.html) on January 14, 2012. Retrieved January 5, 2011. 1. Nick Kotsopoulos (September 17, 2011). "O'Brien ends re-election bid for city mayor; Family challenges cited". *Worcester Telegram & Gazette* 1. ["Election Results"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100919011909/http://www.worcesterma.gov/city-clerk/elections/election-results). Archived from [the original](http://www.worcesterma.gov/city-clerk/elections/election-results) on September 19, 2010. Retrieved January 5, 2011. 1. Nick Kotsopoulos (October 23, 2011). "In mayor's race, no clear leader". *Worcester Telegram & Gazette* 1. Walter Bird (July 4, 2012). ["GoLocalWorcester Sits Down With Worcester Mayor"](http://www.golocalworcester.com/politics/worcester-mayor-weathers-controversies-keeps-eye-on-citys-future/). *GoLocal Worcester*. Retrieved July 5, 2012. 1. Walter Bird (May 23, 2012). ["Worcester's Contentious Tax Debate"](http://www.golocalworcester.com/news/worcesters-contentious-tax-debate/). *GoLocal Worcester*. Retrieved July 5, 2012. 1. Jeremy Shulkin (May 16, 2012). ["Worcester's Contentious Tax Debate"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120521000721/http://www.worcestermag.com/city-desk/top-news/Commercial-property-owners-alarmed-not-panicking-yet-151759745.html). *Worcester Magazine*. Archived from [the original](http://www.worcestermag.com/city-desk/top-news/Commercial-property-owners-alarmed-not-panicking-yet-151759745.html) on May 21, 2012. Retrieved July 5, 2012. 1. Kyle Scott Clauss (Feb 2, 2017). ["Worcester Mayor Caught on Hot Mic Calling Trump Protestors 'Freakin' Morons'"](http://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/blog/2017/02/02/worcester-mayor-protestors-morons/). *Boston Magazine*. Retrieved Feb 2, 2017. 1. Kotsopoulos, Nick (5 November 2019). ["Petty wins historic fifth term as Worcester mayor"](https://www.telegram.com/news/20191105/petty-wins-historic-fifth-term-as-worcester-mayor). telegram.com. Retrieved 29 November 2019. 1. Elfland, Mike (September 28, 2021). ["What you need to know about the Nov. 2 municipal election in Worcester"](https://www.telegram.com/story/news/politics/elections/2021/09/28/what-you-need-know-nov-2-municipal-election-worcester/5882180001/). *Telegram & Gazette*. Retrieved 7 October 2021. 1. DeCosta-Kilpa, Nik (February 25, 2020). ["Read the full list of Elizabeth Warren's Massachusetts endorsements"](https://www.boston.com/news/politics/2020/02/25/elizabeth-warren-massachusetts-endorsements/). *Boston.com*. Retrieved 11 October 2021. 1. McNamara, Neal (February 22, 2022). ["Worcester Mayor Petty Seeking State Senate Seat, Filing Indicates"](https://patch.com/massachusetts/worcester/worcester-mayor-petty-running-state-senate-filing-indicates). *Worcester, MA [Patch](/source/Patch_(website))*. Retrieved February 22, 2022. 1. Cartolano, Marco (January 26, 2022). ["Early names emerge in race to succeed Sen. Harriette Chandler"](https://www.telegram.com/story/news/2022/01/26/state-rep-david-leboeuf-worcester-mayor-joseph-petty-could-candidates-race-succeed-sen-harriette-cha/9226475002/). *[Telegram & Gazette](/source/Telegram_%26_Gazette)*. Retrieved January 27, 2022. 1. Turken, Sam (March 9, 2022). ["Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty running for state Senate"](https://www.wgbh.org/news/local-news/2022/03/09/worcester-mayor-joseph-petty-running-for-state-senate). *[WGBH-TV](/source/WGBH-TV)*. Retrieved March 12, 2022. 1. Cartolano, Marco (September 6, 2022). ["Robyn Kennedy in line to claim 1st Worcester seat in state Senate"](https://www.telegram.com/story/news/2022/09/06/robyn-kennedy-line-beat-joseph-petty-and-claim-1st-worcester-seat-state-senate/7952290001/). *[Telegram & Gazette](/source/Telegram_%26_Gazette)*. Retrieved September 6, 2022. 1. Petty, Joseph M. (May 17, 2026). ["Rent control not the fix for housing crisis"](https://www.telegram.com/story/opinion/columns/guest/2026/05/17/opinionguest-column-rent-control-not-the-fix-for-housing-crisis/90045887007/). *Worcester Telegram*. Retrieved May 17, 2026. 1. ["About Joe"](http://www.petty4mayor.com/about_joe.htmlayor). Retrieved January 5, 2011.[dead link] --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Joseph Petty](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Petty) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Petty?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.