2005 Worcester, Massachusetts mayoral election


The 2005 Worcester, Massachusetts mayoral election was held on November 8, 2005. It saw the reelection of incumbent mayor Tim Murray to a third term.

Election system

In order to be elected mayor in Worcester, a person must place first in the mayor's race and also finish among the top six in the at-large city council election, being also elected a councilor at large. An individual cannot be elected mayor without additionally winning at at-large city council seat.
In addition, the candidate elected to the office of councilor at large who receives the
second-highest number of votes for the office of mayor will become vice-chair of the Worcester City Council.

Campaign

Incumbent mayor Tim Murray primary challenger was City Council member Konstantina Lukes, who had been a frequent critic of Murray.
While running for mayoral reelection, Murray had already begun his campaign for the 2006 Massachusetts lieutenant gubernatorial nomination.

Candidates

Murray also finished first in the at-large city council election. Lukes finished second, Gomez finished eighth, Coleman finished ninth, and McCarthy finished tenth. Lukes, by the rules of the city charter, became the vice-chair of the Worcester City Council.