Coleman maintains two-way thinking

It appears that William T. Coleman III, a candidate for mayor and at-large city councilor, really is a Republican at heart.

Mr. Coleman, who switched his party registration from Republican to Democrat in 1999, told an audience of about 70 Central Massachusetts Republicans last week that he is the only candidate for mayor who supports Republican “ideals,” said Brent J. Andersen, a GOP State Committee member from Auburn who was at the meeting.

“He all but said he was a Republican,” Mr. Andersen said.

Mr. Coleman was introduced at the meeting at the Italian-American Victory Club in Shrewsbury by Albert A. Gamal Jr. of Worcester, a former state representative and aide to former U.S. Sen. Edward W. Brooke, as “the Republican running for City Council in Worcester,” Mr. Andersen said.

Mr. Andersen said it was disingenuous of Mr. Coleman to sell himself as a Republican when he is really a Democrat.

Mr. Coleman often touts his own service in 1976 on the staff of Mr. Brooke, a Republican.

He said he went to the get-together because he was invited by a few local party people, including Mr. Gamal. And he maintained that he never represented himself as a currently registered Republican.

“I was a Republican for many years,” Mr. Coleman said. “I have feelings that are both Democrat and Republican.”

The municipal election Nov. 6 is non-partisan.

WORCESTER — The Worcester teachers’ union recently announced its endorsements for the municipal election Nov. 6. They are:

• District 5 City Councilor Frederick C. Rushton for mayor and at-large councilor.

• For at-large councilor, Morris A. Bergman, Michael J. Germain and incumbents Gary Rosen and Kathleen M. Toomey.

• District 4 Councilor, Lynne H. Simonds.

• District 5 Councilor, William J. Eddy.

• School Committee: John F. Monfredo, Robert A. Bogigian, Brain A. O’Connell, Christopher S. Condon, and Dorothy J.G. Hargrove.

WORCESTER — The four candidates for mayor — William T. Coleman III, Mayor Konstantina B. Lukes, Councilor-at-Large Gary Rosen, and District 5 Councilor Frederick C. Rushton — will meet in a debate Sunday co-sponsored by the Temple Emanuel Brotherhood and the Worcester County chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.

The debate will be held from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Temple Emanuel Stacy A. Cohen Youth Center, 280 May St. Questions will be taken from the audience. The moderator will be Ronal C. Madnick, director of the local ACLU chapter.

WORCESTER — The Minority Outreach and Voter Education Initiative will hold a forum for candidates running for mayor and the District 4 City Council seat on Oct. 24.

The District 4 candidates are Councilor Barbara G. Haller and Lynne H. Simonds. The forum will be held from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Boutin Student Center at Becker College, 44 West St.

The event will be moderated by Juan A. Gomez, executive director of Centro Las Americas and Robert Thomas, CEO of the Martin Luther King Jr. Business Empowerment Center.

WORCESTER — School Committee candidate Calvin R. Hill will hold a meet-the-candidate fundraiser at 5:30 p.m. Monday in the Emblem Room of the Worcester Elks Lodge, 233 Mill St.

Voters are invited to meet Mr. Hill, learn what he has done in the community, and hear his ideas for the Worcester public schools.

The suggested contribution is $15.