Pittsfield Sees Certified Candidates, Ward Races

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The 2023 municipal election is heating up with multiple certified candidates and a returning face in Ward 2.

Current Ward 2 Councilor Charles Kronick has taken out papers for re-election and Hot Dog Ranch owner Craig Benoit has withdrawn his papers to run in that ward. Benoit is now only running for an at-large seat and his signatures have been certified.

Kronick secured the seat for Ward 2 in 2021 and is vocal in the Council Chambers, often disagreeing with his colleagues when voting on items. He strongly believes in saving taxpayer money through the city budget.

Kronick caused a stir during last year's budget season, first in his opposition to the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and then with a charter objection to the fiscal year 2023 budget.

There is also a new face on the candidate list, Jonathan Morey. Morey has taken out papers for Ward 7 against incumbent Councilor Anthony Maffuccio and for an at-large seat.

According to Facebook, he is the executive pastry chef of Baked Pastries & More in Pittsfield.

As of late last week, seven of the 26 people who took out papers have had their signatures certified and returned to the city clerk's office: mayoral candidate Peter Marchetti, incumbent City Clerk Michele Benjamin, incumbent Councilor at Large Peter White, Benoit, Ward 3 candidate Bill Tyer, Ward 3 candidate Matthew Wrinn, and incumbent Ward 5 Councilor Patrick Kavey.

There are six interested candidates for at-large seats, three in Ward 3, and two each in Wards 5, 6 and 7.

Only four candidates have taken out papers for School Committee, which elects six seats this November.  

Former student representative William Garrity is the only non-incumbent on the list. Garrity was Taconic High School's 2022 valedictorian and has kept up on city politics since graduating.

Marchetti, the 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.

Candidate list as of 5/12

MAYOR

Peter Marchetti
John Krol Jr.
Craig Gaetani

CITY CLERK

Michele Benjamin

AT LARGE

Earl Persip III
Peter White
Alisa Costa

Dalton Board Signs Off on Land Sale Over Residents' Objections

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:50AM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Residents demanded the right to speak but the agenda did not include public comment. Amy Musante holds a sign saying the town now as '$20,000 less for a police station.'

DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board signed the sale on the last of what had been known as the Bardin property Monday even as a handful of residents demanded the right to speak against the action. 

 

The quitclaim deed transfers the nine acres to Thomas and Esther Balardini, who purchased the two other parcels in Dalton. They were the third-highest bidders at $31,500. Despite this, the board awarded them the land in an effort to keep the property intact.

 

"It's going to be an ongoing battle but one I think that has to be fought [because of] the disregard for the taxpayers," said Dicken Crane, the high bidder at $51,510.

 

"If it was personal I would let it go, but this affects everyone and backing down is not in my nature." 

 

Crane had appealed to the board to accept his bid during two previous meetings. He and others opposed to accepting the lower bid say it cost the town $20,000. After the meeting, Crane said he will be filing a lawsuit and has a citizen's petition for the next town meeting with over 100 signatures. 

 

Three members of the board — Chair Robert Bishop Jr., John Boyle, and Marc Strout — attended the 10-minute meeting. Members Anthony Pagliarulo and Daniel Esko previously expressed their disapproval of the sale to the Balardinis. 

 

Pagliarulo voted against the sale but did sign the purchase-and-sale agreement earlier this month. His reasoning was the explanation by the town attorney during an executive session that, unlike procurement, where the board is required to accept the lowest bid for services, it does have some discretion when it comes to accepting bids in this instance.