Ruberto Top Vote-Getter in PrimaryBy Jen Thomas
09:17PM / Tuesday, September 25, 2007
 | | Mayor James M. Ruberto garnered 70 percent of the primary election vote. |
PITTSFIELD - Mayoral candidate Donna Walto has got her work cut out for her.
Garnering only 21 percent of the vote in the primary election Tuesday, Walto will face off against Mayor James M. Ruberto, who secured a strong 70 percent of the 3,089 total votes.
"I’m pleased with the results and I’m looking forward to a revolution," Walto said on Tuesday night.
As the Nov. 6 general election approaches, Ruberto said he plans to continue to serve the city.
"The most important issue for me is just getting back to work," said Ruberto at an election night gathering at Mazzeo’s Ristorante. "I’m going back to work in City Hall, I’m going back to work on the economic development front, I'm going back to work to make sure we’re doing the right things for our city, and I’m certainly going back to work to make sure we don’t miss a step this year."
With weeks of campaigning ahead, Walto said she wishes to host a public debate with the mayor, but she believes he will not accept her offer.
"I’m willing to debate the mayor, but he doesn’t want to debate me," she said.
Ruberto, who is seeking a third two-year term, received 2,170 votes and Walto received 656.
A third candidate, Stephen Fillio, received only 9 percent of the vote with 263 votes.
William Hines, Ruberto’s former campaign manager, estimated that 11 percent of the registered voters in the city turned out for the election.
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