New Business-Funded Super PAC Emerges To Spend, Endorse 3 Weeks Before Election Day

WORCESTER, MA — A new Worcester political action committee with strong ties to the business community and deep pockets has officially entered the 2023 municipal election, releasing endorsements and ads supporting candidates this week.

The PAC Progress Worcester registered with state campaign finance authorities in July, but has mostly been quiet since until releasing ads backing incumbent Worcester Mayor Joe Petty and District 5 candidate Jose Rivera on Wednesday.

The two ads precede a likely blizzard of election spending over the three weeks leading up to Election Day on Nov. 7, Progress Worcester spokesman Gregory Maynard said Thursday. The PAC has nearly $47,000 to spend thanks to top donors including the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Worcester Business Development Corporation and Boston-based property developer Winn Companies. The chamber's contribution to Progress Worcester is unique, Maynard said, because it's the first time the chamber has donated to a PAC.

The PAC is chaired by Emmanuel Larbi, co-owner of the local restaurants Accra Girls and Akra Eatery. The treasurer is Ryan Matson, who previously received the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce Chamber Advocate of the year award in 2018.

Over the last few months, the PAC sent questionnaires to all city council candidates followed by interviews, Maynard said. The PAC recently endorsed Petty, Rivera, incumbent councilors Moe Bergman, Kate Toomey and Candy Mero-Carlson, plus Guillermo Creamer for an at-large seat — Creamer is also running for mayor — and District 1 candidate Dave Peterson. The questionnaire included four main questions asking candidates to detail whether they think Worcester is headed in the right direction, about leadership experience and what they would do if elected. None of the questions asked about specific issues going on in the city.

The 15-second video ad backing Rivera shows the candidate dressed as a boxer — he won several World Boxing Association championships — and talks about how he will "fight" for affordable housing and investments in schools. Petty's 30-second ad claims that businesses have expanded, and downtown Worcester has become a destination, under the six-term mayor's watch. Both ads are running on Facebook and Instagram.

"We can't stop now," a woman says in a voiceover.

The PAC said in its July statement of organization that it will support "candidates that want progress for Worcester and [oppose] those candidates who do not want progress for Worcester."

"Progress Worcester is a new group organized by local business owners and community members here in Worcester," the PAC's website says. "PW is focused on building on Worcester's recent economic gains and supporting candidates who will champion the policies our community and local businesses need to continue improving — building more housing and creating more jobs."

There are also two local PACs that have been active in recent elections. The Worcester Working Families PAC has spent just under $700 since August supporting candidates including incumbent District 5 Councilor Etel Haxhiaj, District 2 candidate Rob Bilotta and District 1 candidate Jenny Pacillo ahead of the September preliminary. The PAC, chaired by Cara Berg Powers and co-chaired by Doug Arbetter, has also endorsed a slate of 2023 candidates after offering an open questionnaire, whose questions are available on the PAC's website.

The Massachusetts Women for Progress PAC, also chaired by Berg Powers, spent over $28,000 in 2022 to support state Sen. Robyn Kennedy, who defeated Petty in a Democratic preliminary last summer.

Local entrepreneurs and philanthropists Patricia Eppinger and John Esler, who both live outside Worcester, have contributed heavily to both PACs, but have not made any contributions so far in 2023, according to campaign finance records.

Multiple labor union PACs, mostly based in other communities, have also contributed to almost every Worcester candidate in 2023.

According to Maynard, Progress Worcester took in about $27,000 in donations from people or businesses located in the city. As of Thursday evening, fundraising records were not available on the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance website.

Correction: An earlier version of this story named the wrong employer for Matson. He works for the company Human Interest.