Clash Over Race, Ethics At Worcester D1 Candidate Forum

WORCESTER, MA — In Worcester's 2021 election, the race for the District 1 City Council seat is being framed as a fight over the soul of the city.

The two candidates — incumbent Sean Rose and challenger Rick Cipro — met face-to-face Thursday night at a candidate forum just under two weeks before the Nov. 2 election. Rose wasted no time underscoring how important the race is, opening the forum with a reference to the U.S. Capitol riot.

"Since the insurrection of Jan. 6, there's been a shift in our city," Rose, who has referred to Cipro before as "Trumpian," said. "There's a negativity and divisiveness permeating here ... I'm feeling more and more of a divide."

The remarks set the tone for a tense 90-minute exchange where Rose repeatedly challenged Cipro — a Worcester police sergeant and founder of a controversial police-boosting Facebook page — over issues related to race and ethics.

Cipro hit back at Rose, accusing the two-term incumbent of not being present enough in the district. Cipro also brought up Rose's electoral voting record, insinuating Rose was irresponsible for not voting in important elections, including the 2006 election of Deval Patrick, the state's first Black governor.

"You're more about yourself than the city of Worcester and that's unfortunate," Cipro said at one point.

Both candidates appeared to have strong supporters in the crowd, who sat on folding chairs in the YMCA's main lobby overlooking the swimming pool. Members of the audience erupted into applause at points. Although Cipro is the challenger, he came in first in the three-way Sept. 14 primary about 150 votes ahead of Rose.

The first hour of the forum, moderated by Talk of the Commonwealth host Hank Stolz, MassLive reporter Melissa Hanson and Councilor Gary Rosen, focused on 15 specific questions prepared by the moderators.

The first question honed in on one of Rose's main criticisms of Cipro: that as a police officer, there's a large amount of Council business he would have to recuse himself from due to state ethics laws.

"I may not be able to vote on police issues but I can vote on the overall budget," he said.

"The conflict is ever-reaching," Rose said, estimating there's about $100 million in public safety spending Cipro would be sidelined for.

The two candidates clashed over school resource officers (SROs), which the City Council — Rose included — voted to remove from schools in the spring. Cipro said SROs should stay in schools to fight crime. Rose responded by reading a Facebook post by Cipro from November 2020 imploring Worcester Chief Steven Sargent to remove SROs.

"Enough is enough. Please remove all Police Officers from the City Schools. We can then redeploy these officers to areas or neighborhoods that are requesting increased police presence," the post said above a link to a MassLive article about the group Black Families Together asking for SROs to be removed.

Some questions covered local cultural war issues. On the Christopher Columbus statue at Union Station and celebrating Indigenous People's Day, Rose said he wanted to bring different groups together to find solutions. Cipro echoed arguments used against removing confederate monuments — that they are part of history, and should be left to stand as a lesson.

"I firmly believe we can learn from history, but we shouldn't be trying to erase it," he said about the statue, which was splashed with red paint just this week.

There were a few things they agreed on. Both think WRTA buses should remain free (Cipro favors using grants to pay for it rather than local tax dollars); both agree that a recent report about safety inside the Worcester Fire Department is correct; and both had favorable things to say about City Manager Edward Augustus' job performance.

The forum ended with a 30-minute period where the candidates were allowed to ask each other questions, giving way to a piercing exchange about Cipro's responsibility for posts on his Facebook page.

Rose took time to describe offensive posts from Cipro's Facebook page, Worcester Police Officials Union-IBPO Local 504. One post described a Black child advising someone to rob a bank, Rose said. Another mocked Lebron James for speaking out about police violence, and another said "the gay community is demanding the [Green Bay] Packers change their name," Rose said.

"My question to you as an elected official working with all people is, what is your plan to repair the relationship with the BIPOC community, the LGBTQ community, and others?" Rose said.

Cipro highlighted his years working in Black and brown communities like Main South and Great Brook Valley. About Lebron James, Cipro said the Los Angeles Lakers player is fair game since he has "vilified police."

"I have very good relationships with BIPOC people," Cipro said. "The police page was put together for those who support police and law order, and yes to hold many elected leaders to account."

During closing statements, Cipro underscored that he has the "real-world experience" to be a good councilor. He also said he was at the U.S. Capitol around Jan. 6 — but in his capacity as an Army National Guard colonel called to Washington for security.

"Hopefully in the end it's all about moving our city forward," Cipro said of the D1 race in his closing remarks. "Again as a lifelong Worcester resident, I know what it's going to take to be an effective city councilor."

Rose framed the election as two choices for the future of Worcester: one a "warm, caring accepting" city, the other "a city that engages in division."

"This election in this district is going to shape what kind of Worcester we're going to have," he said.