Worcester Clerk Featured On Campaign Flier 'Not An Endorsement'

WORCESTER, MA — Worcester City Clerk Niko Vangjeli issued a statement Friday clarifying that he has not endorsed a city council candidate after an image of him was included on a recent campaign mailer.

The new mailer from At-Large Councilor Thu Nguyen features a photo with Nguyen, Vangjeli and District 5 Councilor Etel Haxhiaj at a local business. Vangjeli was at the business picking up a carpet made with the city's logo when the picture was taken, while Nguyen was there to celebrate with the owners. Nguyen and the owners all attended Claremont Academy.

"We apologize for including that image and as a candidate, I am sorry for my lack of oversight and not catching it sooner. This picture was used without the City Clerk’s permission, it was taken months ago, when Claremont Academy alums opened up a business in Worcester," Nguyen said Thursday about the photo.

The image appears in an array of three photos at the bottom of a flier that hit mailboxes across Worcester this week. In his own statement Friday, Vangjeli clarified he's not allowed to endorse any candidate.

“I want to assure the voters and residents of the City of Worcester that this photo is not an endorsement of any candidate. This photo was used without my permission and without my knowledge. As City Clerk, I do not endorse, donate to, or support the candidacy of any particular candidate for local, state, or federal office," he said.

Vangjeli's office oversees the city's election functions, from candidate registrations through to voting on Election Day.