Forum Slated for Pittsfield Mayoral Candidates

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College will host a mayoral forum for all 10 Pittsfield mayoral candidates on Monday, Sept. 14, at 7 p.m.

The event in the Boland Theatre is free and open to the public. Pittsfield Community Television will provide a live telecast.

Ten candidates are on the Sept. 22 preliminary election ballot. The two finalists will compete in the Nov. 3 general election.

Radio personality Larry Kratka will host Monday's event, which is part of a series of election debates and forums  hosted by BCC, televised by PCTV and coordinated by The Pittsfield Gazette.


The event will feature tight time limits, with an on-stage clock for the candidates and a display of the countdown via graphics for home viewers. Kratka will alternate between quick-response and more detailed questions.

"Given the large field of candidates, we're utilizing a rigid format to ensure that all the candidates receive equal opportunities and that the pacing doesn't suffer," said Pittsfield Gazette publisher Jonathan Levine. "The quick-response questions will be asked to everyone, with some replies limited to just a few words. The remaining questions will be posed to smaller groups of candidates, rotating who responds first."

The series at BCC will include a follow-up mayoral debate on Oct. 26 as well as School Committee and at-large council debates on Oct. 20. The Gazette and PCTV will also sponsor in-studio ward council debates on Oct. 19.
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Pittsfield Signs Negotiating Rights Agreement With Suns Baseball Team

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Suns will call Wahconah Park home again. 

On Tuesday, the Parks Commission accepted a negotiating rights agreement between the city and longtime summer collegiate baseball team, the Pittsfield Suns. It solidifies that the two will work together when the historic ballpark is renovated. 

It remains in effect until the end of 2027, or when a license or lease agreement is signed. Terms will be automatically extended to the end of 2028 if it appears the facility won't be complete by then. 

"It certainly looks like it lays out kind of both what the Suns and Pittsfield would like to see over the next year or so during this construction plan, to be able to work together and work exclusively with each other in this time," Commissioner Anthony DeMartino said. 

Owner Jeff Goldklang, joining virtually, said he shared those thoughts, and the team looks forward to starting negotiations. After this approval, it will need a signature from Mayor Peter Marchetti and the baseball team. 

The negotiating rights agreement recognizes the long-standing relationship between Pittsfield and the team dating back to 2012, and the Suns' ownership group's historical ties to Wahconah Park and the city dating to the 1980s. The team skipped the 2024 and 2025 seasons after the historic grandstand was deemed unsafe in 2022.  

The Suns were granted the exclusive right to negotiate in good faith with the city for a license or lease agreement where the Suns will be the primary tenant. During the terms of the agreement, the city can't negotiate or enter into an agreement with another party for leniency, licensing, or operation of Wahconah Park for professional or collegiate summer baseball. 

"The Parties acknowledge the historic and cultural importance of Wahconah park to the residents of Berkshire County and share a mutual goal of providing community access, engagement, and programming on a broad and inclusive scale," it reads. 

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