PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Donna Walto has taken out nomination papers for what could be her fourth campaign for the corner office.

 

The founder of Berkshire Sightseeing Backroad Tour Co., a company running sightseeing tours of the county, took out nomination papers on Thursday. She lost campaigns for the corner office in 2005, 2007, and in 2011. In her most recent campaign she didn't secure enough votes to get past the preliminary election.

 

Walto is a 1967 graduate of Pittsfield High School. She attended the University of Miami before eventually receiving a degree from Williams College in 1986 as an adult student.

 

The mayoral race is thickening as five potential candidates have taken out nomination papers. Incumbent Daniel Bianchi and City Clerk Linda Tyer have both returned nomination papers with enough signatures to be on the ballot. Walto, Eric Bassett, and Craig Gaetani have all taken out papers but have not returned them as of July 7. 

 

As for other races, five others have returned nomination papers for City Council at large seats - incumbents Kathleen Amuso, Melissa Mazzeo along with former councilors Peter Marchetti, Joseph Nichols, and Peter White. Newcomer Taylor DiSantis and incumbent Churchill Cotton have both taken out papers but have not yet returned them.

 

Tammy Ives has taken out papers but has yet to return them to challenge Lisa Tully, who also has taken out but not returned nomination papers, for Ward 1. 

 

Michael Merriam and incumbent Kevin Morandi have both returned nomination papers for Ward 2.  Ward 3 incumbent Nicholas Caccamo has returned his nomination papers. No one else has taken out papers for that ward. Incumbent Christopher Connell has also returned nomination papers for Ward 4 and has no challengers thus far.

 

In Ward 5, there appears to be a three-way race unfolding. Richard Scapin, a former councilor, has returned papers; Devon Grierson and  Donna Todd Rivers have taken papers out but haven't returned them yet. Incumbent Jonathan Lothrop is not seeking re-election.

 

A three-way race is also unfolding for Ward 6. Incumbent John Krol has returned nomination papers but two others - Bryan Jones and Bruce Wood - have also taken out papers. Neither of the two challengers have returned nomination papers yet.

 

Incumbent Anthony Simonelli in Ward 7 has returned nomination papers to be on the ballot. He is being challenged by Kathy Lloyd, who took out papers but hasn't yet returned them.

 

Nine people took out papers to run for six seats on the School Committee and three have returned them yet. Incumbents Joshua Cutler and Katherine Yon have both returned their nomination papers as well as newcomer Irwin Moiseff. 

 

Daniel Elias, Cynthia Taylor,  Pamela Farron, and Daniel Elias have all taken out nomination papers. Their seats may be challenged by Salvatore Frieri, and Richard Backer, both of whom took out papers but haven't yet returned them.

 

For city clerk, Jody Phillips, a former city clerk, has returned her nomination papers and Aurelina Peguero has taken out nomination papers but hasn't returned them.