3 Certified Mayoral Candidates in Pittsfield

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Friday was the last day to submit nomination papers to the Registrar of Voters. 

So far there are currently three certified mayoral candidates and races in multiple wards.

John Krol has joined the list of certified mayoral candidates and will go up against Peter Marchetti and Karen Kalinowsky in a preliminary election on Sept. 19. The two top vote-getters will move on to the general election on Nov. 7.

Krol is a former city councilor and Marchetti and Kalinowsky are current city councilors.

Craig Gaetani and David Webber had also taken out papers for mayor but were not certified as of Thursday.

Kathleen Amuso has joined the at-large race and has her signatures certified. Amuso is a former two-term councilor and served on the School Committee for 10 years.  

She has stayed involved with local politics serving on the Licensing Board and the School Building Needs Commission.

Other certified at-large candidates include incumbents Earl Persip III and Peter White and newcomers Alisa Costa and Craig Benoit. Lucas Marion and Daniel Miraglia have also taken out papers.

Incumbent Kenneth Warren is unopposed for Ward 1.

Soncere Williams and Alexander Blumin have been certified in Ward 2 and Brittany Bandani had also taken out papers. Incumbent Charles Kronick  said he will not be seeking re-election.

Bill Tyer and Matthew Wrinn have been certified for the Ward 3 race. Miraglia had also taken out papers for the ward.

Incumbent James Conant is currently unopposed in Ward 4 and incumbent Patrick Kavey is currently unopposed in Ward 5. Ocean Sutton had taken out papers for Ward 5 but has yet to be certified.

Incumbent Dina Lampiasi is currently the only certified candidate in Ward 6, with Gaetani and Edward Carmel also taking out papers.

Jonathan Morey and incumbent Anthony Maffuccio are running for Ward 7. Rhonda Serre has also taken out papers for the ward.

There are currently six certified School Committee candidates: William Garrity, incumbent Sara Hathaway, incumbent William Cameron, incumbent Daniel Elias, Dominick Carmen Sacco, and Diana Belair. Stephanie Sabin has also taken out papers for the committee.

Incumbent City Clerk Michele Benjamin is currently running unopposed for the position.

The last day for candidates to withdraw is Aug. 8 and a ballot placement drawing will take place Aug. 10 for a preliminary election on Sept. 19. At this point, a preliminary election is expected for the mayoral race; should third candidates be certified in Wards 2, 3, 6 and 7, those will also appear on the preliminary ballot. 

Candidate list as of Thursday (*indicates certified candidate)

MAYOR

Peter M Marchetti*
John Michael Krol Jr.*
Craig C Gaetani
Karen M Kalinowsky*
David Donald Webber

CITY CLERK

Michele Marie Benjamin*

AT LARGE

Earl George Persip III*
Peter T White*
Alisa L Costa*
Craig Benoit*
Lucas Marion
Daniel T Miraglia
Kathleen Archey Amuso*



WARD 1

Kenneth G Warren Jr.*

WARD 2

Soncere Marie Williams*
Alexander Blumin*
Brittany Katarina Bandani

WARD 3

Bill Tyer*
Matthew J Wrinn*
Daniel T Miraglia

WARD 4

James Bryan Conant*

WARD 5

Patrick Kavey*
Ocean L Sutton

WARD 6

Craig C Gaetani
Dina G Lampiasi*
Edward James Carmel

WARD 7

Anthony V Maffuccio*
Jonathon R Morey*
Rhonda L Serre

SCHOOL COMMITTEE

William David Garrity Jr.*
Sara Hathaway*
William J Cameron*
Daniel C Elias*
Stephanie G Sabin
Dominick Carmen Sacco*
Diana Marie Belair*

 


Tags: election 2023,   municipal election,   

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Dalton Man Accused of Kidnapping, Shooting Pittsfield Man

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A Dalton man was arrested on Thursday evening after allegedly kidnapping and shooting another man.

Nicholas Lighten, 35, was arraigned in Central Berkshire District Court on Friday on multiple charges including kidnapping with a firearm and armed assault with intent to murder. He was booked in Dalton around 11:45 p.m. the previous night.

There was heavy police presence Thursday night in the area of Lighten's East Housatonic Street home before his arrest.

Shortly before 7 p.m., Dalton dispatch received a call from the Pittsfield Police Department requesting that an officer respond to Berkshire Medical Center. Adrian Mclaughlin of Pittsfield claimed that he was shot in the leg by Lighten after an altercation at the defendants home. Mclaughlin drove himself to the hospital and was treated and released with non-life-threatening injuries. 

"We were told that Lighten told Adrian to go down to his basement, where he told Adrian to get down on his knees and pulled out a chain," the police report reads.

"We were told that throughout the struggle with Lighten, Adrian recalls three gunshots."

Dalton PD was advised that Pittsfield had swabbed Mclaughlin for DNA because he reported biting Lighten. A bite mark was later found on Lighten's shoulder. 

Later that night, the victim reportedly was "certain, very certain" that Lighten was his assailant when shown a photo array at the hospital.

According to Dalton Police, an officer was stationed near Lighten's house in an unmarked vehicle and instructed to call over the radio if he left the residence. The Berkshire County Special Response Team was also contacted.

Lighten was under surveillance at his home from about 7:50 p.m. to about 8:40 p.m. when he left the property in a vehicle with Massachusetts plates. Another officer initiated a high-risk motor vehicle stop with the sergeant and response team just past Mill Street on West Housatonic Street, police said, and traffic was stopped on both sides of the road.

Lighten and a passenger were removed from the vehicle and detained. Police reported finding items including a brass knuckle knife, three shell casings wrapped in a rubber glove, and a pair of rubber gloves on him.

The response team entered Lighten's home at 43 East Housatonic before 9:30 p.m. for a protective sweep and cleared the residence before 9:50 p.m., police said. The residence was secured for crime scene investigators.

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