image description

New Candidates Join Election Slate in Pittsfield

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Two new candidates have taken out papers for City Council in Wards 1 and 2.

Up for election in November will be City Council seats for all seven wards and four at-large seats for two-year terms. All six School Committee seats will also be on the ballot and the city clerk, all of which have two-year terms.

Four ward councilors have announced that they will not seek re-election, leaving space for new leadership in those areas and a changeup of at least a third of the council.

Pittsfield lawyer Kenneth Warren Jr. took out election papers for a Ward 1 bid. Andrea Wilson has also taken out papers.

Ward 1 Councilor Helen Moon announced in a Facebook video post on May 4 that she would not be seeking re-election, citing physical and mental strains over the past two years related to the pandemic and her personal and professional life that led to her decision not to run for a third term.

William Phillips will be joining the race for Ward 2 against Charles Kronick and Nicholas Russo.

Ward 2 Councilor Kevin Morandi stated in January — along with Ward 4 Councilor Chris Connell — that he would not be seeking a sixth consecutive term. The two stated that occurrences during 2020 and the past few years led to their decision.

Restaurant owners Craig Benoit of the Hot Dog Ranch and incumbent Councilor at Large Yuki Cohen have taken out nomination papers for at-large seats. Also taking out papers for at-large is a former mayoral candidate and school resource officer Karen Kalinowsky; retired state police officer and Pittsfield High basketball coach Brandon Michael Mauer; and incumbents President Peter Marchetti, Earl Persip III, and Pete White.


Former Council President Kevin Sherman is seeking the Ward 3 seat. Current Ward 3 Councilor Nicholas Caccamo announced in February that he would not be seeking a fifth term so he can focus on the next step in his career.

James Conant, Courtney Gilardi, and Andrew M. Wrinn are seeking to be on the ballot for Ward 4. Gilardi, who resides on Alma Street, has been an advocate for residents against the Verizon cell tower at 877 South St. since it was erected last summer.

Patrick Kavey has taken out papers for a second term as Ward 5 councilor and Edward Carmel, a member of both the former and current homeless committee, for Ward 6.  Ward 6 Councilor Dina Guiel Lampiasi has also taken out papers for re-election.

In Ward 7, Nolan Smith Fernandez has taken out papers to challenge current Councilor Anthony Maffuccio.

School Committee members Mark Brazeau and Daniel Elias have taken out papers for re-election; Katherine Yon, William Cameron, and Alison McGee have not taken out papers at this time.

Newcomers taking out papers for School Committee so far include Karen Reis Kaveney-Murray, Katie Lauzon, and William Tyer.

The last day to submit nomination papers to the registrar of voters for certification is July 16 and the last day to submit papers to the city clerk is July 30.


Tags: election 2021,   municipal election,   


If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Dalton Man Accused of Kidnapping, Shooting Pittsfield Man

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A Dalton man was arrested on Thursday evening after allegedly kidnapping and shooting another man.

Nicholas Lighten, 35, was arraigned in Central Berkshire District Court on Friday on multiple charges including kidnapping with a firearm and armed assault with intent to murder. He was booked in Dalton around 11:45 p.m. the previous night.

There was heavy police presence Thursday night in the area of Lighten's East Housatonic Street home before his arrest.

Shortly before 7 p.m., Dalton dispatch received a call from the Pittsfield Police Department requesting that an officer respond to Berkshire Medical Center. Adrian Mclaughlin of Pittsfield claimed that he was shot in the leg by Lighten after an altercation at the defendants home. Mclaughlin drove himself to the hospital and was treated and released with non-life-threatening injuries. 

"We were told that Lighten told Adrian to go down to his basement, where he told Adrian to get down on his knees and pulled out a chain," the police report reads.

"We were told that throughout the struggle with Lighten, Adrian recalls three gunshots."

Dalton PD was advised that Pittsfield had swabbed Mclaughlin for DNA because he reported biting Lighten. A bite mark was later found on Lighten's shoulder. 

Later that night, the victim reportedly was "certain, very certain" that Lighten was his assailant when shown a photo array at the hospital.

According to Dalton Police, an officer was stationed near Lighten's house in an unmarked vehicle and instructed to call over the radio if he left the residence. The Berkshire County Special Response Team was also contacted.

Lighten was under surveillance at his home from about 7:50 p.m. to about 8:40 p.m. when he left the property in a vehicle with Massachusetts plates. Another officer initiated a high-risk motor vehicle stop with the sergeant and response team just past Mill Street on West Housatonic Street, police said, and traffic was stopped on both sides of the road.

Lighten and a passenger were removed from the vehicle and detained. Police reported finding items including a brass knuckle knife, three shell casings wrapped in a rubber glove, and a pair of rubber gloves on him.

The response team entered Lighten's home at 43 East Housatonic before 9:30 p.m. for a protective sweep and cleared the residence before 9:50 p.m., police said. The residence was secured for crime scene investigators.

View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories