Pittsfield Draws City Council, School Committee Ballots
City Clerk Michelle Benjamin draws names on Thursday for their placement order on the ballot for the November election.
City Clerk Michelle Benjamin drew names for ballot positions in the 2021 municipal election on Thursday. The names were randomized in a tumbler that has reportedly been used by the city for many years.
At-large candidates Craig Benoit, Karen Kalinowsky and Earl Persip III attended the drawing to see their placement and place their own names in the tumbler. Incumbent Yuki Cohen was drawn for the first position and Kalinowsky in the last.
Cohen was first, incumbent Pete White second, incumbent Peter Marchetti third, Benoit fourth, incumbent Persip fifth, and Kalinowsky sixth.
The wards are seeing a great deal of new leadership in at least one-third of the council this year. Four of the councilors have announced that they will not seek re-election.
Ward 1 candidates Kenneth Warren and Andrea Wilson were both present and Warren was pulled for the first position. Councilor Helen Moon will not be seeking re-election.
Neither of the Ward 2 candidates attended. Matthew Kudlate was drawn for the top position above Charles Kronick. Ward 2 Councilor Kevin Morandi and Ward 4 Councilor Chris Connell announced together that they are hanging up their hats.
Ward 3 candidate Kevin Sherman is running unchallenged to replace Nicholas Caccamo, who is stepping off the council to focus on his next career steps.
Ward 4 candidates James Conant and Andrew Wrinn both showed up to see their placement. Wrinn wound up in the first spot and Conant in the second.
Ward 5 incumbent Patrick Kavey is running unchallenged for re-election.
Ward 6 candidate Edward Carmel attended the drawing to see where he would be placed agaisnt incumbent Dina Guiel Lampiasi, who is running for re-election. Guiel Lampiasi came out in the first spot with Carmel in the second.
Ward 7 Councilor Anthony Maffuccio is running unchallenged for re-election.
School Committee candidates Vicky Smith, Sara Hathaway, and Bill Tyer attended the drawing to see where they would be placed. Smith wound up in third place, Hathaway in seventh, and Tyer last.
The order is William Cameron, Mark Brazeau, Smith, Katie Lauzon, Nyanna Slaughter, Alison McGee, Hathaway, Karen Reis Kaveney Murray, Dan Elias and Tyer.
There are 10 candidates for the six seats on the School Committee this year and half of them are incumbents: Cameron, Brazeau, Slaughter, McGee and Elias. Chairwoman Katherine Yon is not running for re-election.
Tags: ballot, election 2021, municipal election,
