Pittsfield Sees Interest in All Wards, Two Certified Candidates

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city now has a potential candidate for Ward 2 and two with certified signatures.

Election papers became available on April 3 and there is now at least one interested candidate in all seven Wards. Incumbent Ward 5 Councilor Patrick Kavey's 50 signatures within the ward have been certified and City Clerk Michele Benjamin's 150 signatures to run for re-election have been certified.

Hot Dog Ranch owner Craig Benoit has taken out papers for a Ward 2 and an at-large seat.

Benoit ran at large in the 2021 election, touting his experience as a small-business owner and his advocacy for other restaurants during the pandemic. He also placed a large emphasis on public safety in the city.

In December 2020, Benoit stood outside of City Hall with a coalition of eatery owners he had formed to fight the Pittsfield-specific ban on indoor dining that was affecting their businesses.

As a result, Mayor Linda Tyer offered a compromise that restored indoor dining and gave Benoit and his colleagues their livelihood back.

After going to school for accounting, Benoit got into the restaurant business more than 35 years ago with leadership roles in various eateries in North Adams and Lanesborough. He bought the Hot Dog Ranch with his business partner in 2004 and expanded the operation to North Adams, which was sold and later closed.

Benoit is the only person who has taken out papers for Ward 2. Current councilor Charles Kronick has been contacted about his plans for the election and has not responded.

All four at-large seats now have interest, with four-term incumbent Peter White, three-term incumbent Earl Persip III, and community organizer Alisa Costa also taking out papers.

Costa also intends to run for Ward 3 against Matthew Wrinn, who has a background in criminal justice and community involvement, and William "Bill" Tyer, who has served on various committees and boards in the community.

Current at-Large Councilor Karen Kalinowsky has not taken out papers but confirmed on Thursday that she will be soon.

Peter Marchetti, current council president, and John Krol, a former councilor, are running for a four-year term as mayor. Incumbent Linda Tyer is not running for a third term. 

Marchetti touts his long experience on the council, a 35-year career at the Pittsfield Cooperative Bank, and his presence in the community as culminating factors to being a successful city leader. Krol points to his experience in broadcast and print media, working for former Mayor James Ruberto, and time on the council as tools to make Pittsfield the best that it can be.

The two have taken out papers along with resident Craig Gaetani, who ran for mayor in 2015 and garnered 0.51 percent of the vote. He also took out papers to run against two-term Ward 6 Councilor Dina Lampaisi, who has also taken out papers.

Gaetani is a former marketing director of Krofta Engineering and is a regular at City Council's open microphone.

The last day to submit nomination papers to the Registrar of Voters for certification is July 21 and the last day to submit papers to the city clerk is Aug. 4. A preliminary election, if needed, is scheduled for Sept. 19 and the general election is on Nov. 7.

More information about the other candidates.

Those who have taken out nomination papers so far:

MAYOR

Peter Marchetti
John Krol Jr.
Craig Gaetani

CITY CLERK

Michele Marie Benjamin

AT LARGE

Earl George Persip III
Peter White
Alisa Costa
Craig Benoit

WARD 1

Kennedy Calls BCC Workforce Graduates Inspiring

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
05:40AM / Friday, June 12, 2026

The programs ranged from emergency medical technician to computers to commercial drivers. See more photos here. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College Workforce and Community Education graduates were encouraged to be all they can be on Wednesday.

 

Graduates, families, friends, and staff gathered in Boland Theatre to celebrate around 100 graduates who completed a variety of courses.

 

They included community health worker, emergency medical technician, phlebotomy technician, registered behavior technician, AI fundamentals, Commercial Drivers License Class A and B, CompTIA Tech-plus, para educator, and English for Speakers of Other Languages.

 

College President Ellen Kennedy said it was amazing that this might be her last public speaking event before her tenure comes to an end.

 

She acknowledged the diverse reasons for their studies including career advancement and personal growth, commending their vulnerability and dedication. 

 

"Some of you explored AI, some of you improved your English speaking in really important ways, and the reason that each of you is here is because you decided to put your heart and soul to get vulnerable to do something that might have felt a little bit uncomfortable," she said. "And you did it, and we are so incredibly proud of you, and so happy to be here tonight, celebrating you."

 

Keynote speaker Shirley Edgerton, founder of Rites of Passage and Empowerment (ROPE) encouraged the graduates to reflect on their accomplishments and look forward to the future.