Pittsfield Preliminary Election Could See 5 RacesBy Tammy Daniels
iBerkshires Staff
11:48PM / Wednesday, August 05, 2009
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Up to 10 candidates will face off on Sept. 22 for two spots on the ballot in November's mayoral race. Voters will also likely winnow down four ward races in the preliminary election in one of the more contested city elections in recent years.
Mayor James M. Ruberto will be trying for a fourth term against a field that includes former and current city councilors.
The last two elections for mayor have gone through a preliminary vote, both times with three candidates. Both times, Ruberto entered the general election against Donna Walto. The 2005 preliminary election also included an at-large race.
The deadline to submit nomination papers was Tuesday at 5 p.m. Already certified by the Board of Voter Registrars are Paul Kwasniowski, Nicholas J. Caccamo, Jeffrey W. Ferrin, Ward 6 Councilor Daniel L. Bianchi and Rick E. Moon.
As of Wednesday morning, Ruberto, Lisa M. Boyd and former councilor Patricia "Pam" Malumphy had the required signatures but were not yet certified. Stephen A. Fillio and Mark A. Marciano had both submitted signatures but they had not yet been counted. (As of early Thursday afternoon, Aug. 6, Malumphy and Fillio had both been certified, Marciano had still not been counted.)
Qualifying ignatures must be returned to the city clerk's office by Aug. 18 to be placed on the ballot.
In Ward 2, incumbent Louis A. Costi will have to fend off at least one of his two challengers in September to make the November general election. He is being challenged by Kevin J. Morandi and Peter T. White.
In Ward 4, challenger Terry M. Kinnas, a former candidate for council and for state representative, had qualified with signatures; if he is certified, the Ward 4 race will also appear on the preliminary election ballot. Incumbent Michael L. Ward will vie against Kinnas and Christopher J. Connell for two spots on the November ballot.
In Ward 6, three newcomers are vying for the seat opened by Bianchi's run for mayor. Jamie R. Williamson, David W. Murphy Jr. and John M. Krol Jr. will appear on the preliminary ballot. Krol, host of "Good Morning, Pittsfield" on WBTR, was the last of the three to take out papers on July 31.
Ward 7 could see four candidates in the preliminary election. Incumbent Anthony V. Maffuccio will vie against challengers Joseph C. Nichols and Loren V. Paduano. J.D. Herbert's name may also be added if the signatures he collected pass muster. John A. Daniels Jr. took out papers for Ward 7 but did not return them.
Some races will have to wait for the general election. They include the contest for the city clerk's position, with current clerk Linda Tyer, who resigned her City Council seat to be named to the post by the mayor, fending off former longtime clerk Jody L. Phillips, whose signatures had not yet been certified.
Melissa Mazzeo (who ran an unsuccessful campaign to fill Tyer's Ward 3 seat earlier this year) joins incumbents Peter M. Marchetti, Kevin J. Sherman, Matthew M. Kerwood and Gerald M. Lee on the ballot for four at-large seats. Daniel J. Zunitch, Lawrence A. Klein, former Ward 5 Councilor Richard A. Scapin and Gaetano R. Noto took out papers but did not return them.
Ward 1 Councilor Lewis A. Markham faces off with challenger Christine Yon
Surprisingly, considering the activity in other wards, two councilors look to coast to victory. No one appeared to challenge either Ward 3 Councilor Paul J. Capitanio or Ward 5 Councilor Jonathan N. Lothrop.
For School Committee, incumbents Kathleen A. Amuso, Churchill Cotton, Daniel C. Elias, Carmen C. Massimiano and Erin Sullivan will vie with Alfred E. Barbalunga and Katherine L. Yon for four seats. Elias, Massimiano and Yon have qualified but their signatures have not yet been certified. |
