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Pittsfield Voters to Chose City Council, School Committee Tuesday

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Voters in Pittsfield will head to the polls on Tuesday to elect a new City Council and School Committee.
 
Voting will take place from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the following locations: 
  • Ward 1, Precinct A: Reid Middle School, 950 North St.
  • Ward 1, Precinct B: Reid Middle School, 950 North St.
  • Ward 2, Precinct A: Morningside Community School, 100 Burbank St.
  • Ward 2, Precinct B: Somerset Fire Station, Somerset Ave.
  • Ward 3, Precinct A: Providence Court, 379 East St.
  • Ward 3, Precinct B: Egremont Elementary School, 84 Egremont Ave.
  • Ward 4, Precinct A: Herberg Middle School, 501 Pomeroy Ave.
  • Ward 4, Precinct B: Williams School, 50 Bushey Road
  • Ward 5, Precinct A: Berkshire Athenaeum, 1 Wendell Ave.
  • Ward 5, Precinct B: Berkshire Athenaeum, 1 Wendell Ave.
  • Ward 6, Precinct A: Columbus Arms Housing, 65 Columbus Ave.
  • Ward 6, Precinct B: Conte Community School, 200 W. Union St.
  • Ward 7, Precinct A: Fire Station, 54 Peck's Road
  • Ward 7, Precinct B: Capeless Elementary School, 86 Brooks Ave.
There is no election for mayor, which is now a four-year position. Michele Benjamin is running unopposed for city clerk. 
 
Voters will decide who will be the four councilors at large and four wards will determine their representatives on the council. 
 
Running for councilors at large are incumbents Peter Marchetti, Peter White, Earl Persip III and Yuki Cohen; they are being challenged by business owner Craig Benoit and retired police officer Karen Kalinowsky. iBerkshires interviewed all of the candidates and the articles are linked to their names. 
 
The candidates also participated in a debate hosted by iBerkshires and Pittsfield Community Television; the debate in its entirety can be watched here and the article about it can be found here. 
 
Ward 1: Kenneth Warren and Andrea Wilson are vying to represent Ward 1 for the next two years. There is no incumbent running as Helen Moon has declined to try for a third term. Warren was a councilor in the 1980s and Wilson is a newcomer. Their debate can be watched here.
 
Ward 2: Matthew Kudlate and Charles Ivar Kronick are running for the empty Ward 2 seat being left by Kevin Morandi. Kudlate is a small-business owner and former Pittsfield firefighter; Kronick has a background in graphic design, retail and accounting. Both are political newcomers. Their debate can be seen here. 
 
Ward 4: Andrew Wrinn and James Conant are seeking to fill the empty seat being left by Chris Connell. Wrinn  is a retired firefighter and consultant; Conant is a golf course superintendent and chairman of the Conservation Commission. Their debate can be seen here.
 
Ward 6: Dina Lampiasi is the only ward incumbent challenged in this election. She will try for a second term against Edward Carmel, a member of the city's homeless committee who also ran for council in 2019. Their debate can be seen here. 
 
An article on the ward debates can be found here. 
 
Running unopposed are Kevin Sherman, a former councilor running for the Ward 3 seat being vacated by Nicholas Caccamo; Ward 5 Councilor Patrick Kavey; and Ward 7 Councilor Anthony Maffuccio. 
 
School Committee
 
There are eight candidates for the six seats on the School Committee but voters will have 10 names on the ballot. Nyanna Slaughter and Kate Lauzon are not running but their names are on the ballot because the deadline passed before they could withdraw.
 
Incumbents William Cameron, Mark Brazeau, Alison McGee, and Daniel Elias are seeking re-election; they are being challenged by Vicky Smith, Sara Hathaway, Karen Reis Kaveney Murray, and William Tyer.
 
Our rundown on the candidates can be found here and the PCTV debate is here and our article on it is here. 
 
Candidate statements can also be found on PCTV here.

Tags: city election,   election 2021,   


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New Trial Denied for Caius Veiovis

Staff Reports

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— Caius Veiovis' request for a new trial was denied.

Veiovis, now 46, was one of three men convicted in the murder of David Glasser, Edward Frampton, and Robert Chadwell in 2011.  He is also known as Roy Gutfinski. 

In 2014, he was sentenced to three consecutive life terms for the alleged kidnapping, killing, and dismembering of the Pittsfield men. They were last seen at a city apartment shared by Glasser and Frampton on Aug. 28, 2011; their dismembered bodies were found in Becket that September.

According to AP News, Veiovis told the jury, "I'll see you in hell" after the conviction. 

On Tuesday, the Berkshire District Attorney's Office reported that following a final hearing held on June 26, 2026, Justice Michael D. Ricciuti issued an order on Oct. 23, 2026, denying Veiovis's motion for post-conviction relief. 

The motion had requested a new trial based chiefly on claims of ineffective assistance by his trial attorney and newly discovered evidence.

Post-conviction relief is a legal process that allows a convicted person to challenge a criminal conviction or sentence in the trial court after direct appeals have ended or were not filed.

"District Attorney Capeless' unwavering commitment to pursuing justice and ensuring it is maintained in this case has been truly remarkable," District Attorney Timothy Shugrue said. 

"His efforts in handling this difficult and complex criminal matter have helped make Berkshire County a safer place."

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