Councilor Kalinowsky Joins Pittsfield Mayoral Race

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield has a fourth mayoral candidate and it's another member of the City Council.

Councilor at Large Karen Kalinowksy has taken out papers for mayor. She joins the council's current president, Peter Marchetti, former councilor John Krol, and former marketing director of Krofta Engineering Craig Gaetani in taking out nomination papers. Marchetti is the only candidate to have their signatures certified.

Kalinowksy worked with the Pittsfield Police Department for more than 30 years and was a student resource officer at Reid Middle School for 13 of them.

After retiring, she ran in Pittsfield's 2019 mayoral race but lost in the four-way preliminary election and then endorsed Melissa Mazzeo in the general election. She was elected to her at-large seat in 2021.
 
Kalinowsky's nomination papers for an at-large bid had been certified. She was one of the six candidates vying for the four seats. Local advocate Alisa Costa, Hot Dog Ranch owner Craig Benoit, and incumbents Earl Persip III and Peter White have also been certified.

Additionally, Jonathon Morey, executive pastry chef of Baked Pastries & More in Pittsfield, has taken out papers for at large.

Kalinowsky has been an advocate for public safety and has consistently spoken against North Street's reconfiguration with a reduction of traveling lanes and protected bike lanes.

Earlier this year, the councilor came close to successfully petitioning for a ballot question to let the voters decide the downtown’s traffic layout.

There was some confusion on whether an affirmative vote secured the question on the ballot and, after a charter objection, the effort was nixed by the council.

Many spoke in favor of the bike lanes as a safety measure and as providing increased accessibility for residents of different abilities. A report presented to the council last summer revealed a 77 percent decrease in crashes after the bike lanes were implemented.

Marchetti and Krol recently participated in a debate during which they spoke about mental health needs, policing, schools, and positively marketing the city.

The two agreed that there are more mental health resources needed in the city and that Pittsfield High School has the potential to be a magnet school for arts and liberal arts but not agree on increased police presence in the downtown, with Krol advocating for a community policing or a "boots on the ground" approach.

Alexander Blumin has taken out papers for Ward 2. He unsuccessfully ran for an at-large seat in the 2019 election.

Current Ward 2 Councilor Charles Kronick has expressed that he is not seeking re-election but has not officially withdrawn his name.

Incumbent Ward 7 Councilor Anthony Maffuccio and School Committee candidate William Garrity have joined the list of certified candidates.

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.

MAYOR

Peter Marchetti
John Krol Jr
Craig Gaetani
Karen Kalinowsky

CITY CLERK

Michele Benjamin

AT LARGE

Earl Persip, III
Peter White
Alisa L Costa

Companion Corner: Buster at Berkshire Humane Society