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Pittsfield Will Hold Preliminary Election on Sept. 19

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city is expected to hold a preliminary election on Sept. 19 to trim the candidate fields for mayor, Ward 2 and Ward 7, barring any last-minute withdrawals.

Friday was the last day to submit nomination papers to the Registrar of Voters for certification and preliminary ballot positions will be drawn on Aug. 10. Each of the three contested position will be narrowed down to two candidates on Sept. 19 in preparation for the general election on Nov. 7.

Peter Marchetti, John Krol and Karen Kalinowsky are now the three certified candidates running to replace Mayor Linda Tyer, who is not seeking re-election.

Craig Gaetani and David Webber had pulled papers but never returned them.

Krol is a former city councilor and Marchetti and Kalinowsky are current city councilors. This is the second mayoral bid for both Marchetti and Kalinowsky.

In Ward 2, Soncere Williams, Alexander Blumin and Brittany Bandani are vying for the seat. Current Councilor Charles Kronick is not seeking re-election.

And in Ward 7, incumbent Anthony Maffuccio is being challenged by Jonathan Morey and Rhonda Serre.

The other races did not meet the criteria for a preliminary. 

Incumbent Kenneth Warren is unopposed for Ward 1.

Bill Tyer and Matthew Wrinn are running in Ward 3 to replace current Councilor Kevin Sherman, who is not seeking re-election.

Incumbent James Conant is unopposed in Ward 4 and incumbent Patrick Kavey is unopposed in Ward 5.

Gaetani has been certified to run for Ward 6 against incumbent Dina Lampiasi.

At-large candidates include incumbents Earl Persip III and Peter White, former councilor Kathleen Amuso, and newcomers Alisa Costa, Craig Benoit, Lucas Marion and Daniel Miraglia.

For School Committee, William Garrity, Dominick Sacco, Diana Belair and incumbents Sara Hathaway, William Cameron, and Daniel Elias are in the running.

The last day to register to vote for the preliminary election is Sept. 9.

Candidate list

MAYOR

Peter Marchetti
John Krol Jr
Karen Kalinowsky

CITY CLERK

Michele Benjamin

AT LARGE

Earl Persip, III
Peter White
Alisa Costa
Craig Benoit
Lucas Marion
Daniel Miraglia 
Kathleen Amuso

WARD 1

Kenneth Warren. Jr 

WARD 2

Soncere Williams
Alexander Blumin
Brittany Bandani

WARD 3


Bill Tyer
Matthew Wrinn

WARD 4

James Conant

WARD 5

Patrick Kavey

WARD 6

Craig Gaetani
Dina Lampiasi

WARD 7

Anthony Maffuccio
Jonathon Morey
Rhonda Serre

SCHOOL COMMITTEE

William Garrity Jr.
Sara Hathaway
William Cameron
Daniel Elias
Dominick Sacco
Diana Belair

 


Tags: election 2023,   municipal election,   


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Healey Gives Municipalities Say on Data Centers, Pittsfield Eyes Moratorium

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— Last week, Governor Maura Healey signed an executive order that gives municipalities the power to say 'no' to data centers. 

Pittsfield is drafting a moratorium that bans the facilities until more research can be done.  Holyoke became the first in Massachusetts to ban new data centers in July. 

Healey, during a press conference at the State House on Tuesday, Sept. 8, announced that if a data center proposal doesn't have local approval, state permitting agencies will not advance it.  

"Unless a community says yes to a data center, we are saying no," she said. "We're giving communities a voice and laying out the rules for what needs to happen in Massachusetts. I'm also making sure these data centers use clean energy, and that we protect people from higher energy costs – including by returning money directly back to ratepayers."

The city's Community Development Board has agreed to go forward with a data center moratorium.  City Planner Kevin Rayner told the board in July that he has been working with the city solicitor on a proposed document, which said Pittsfield could allow a data center if it is proven self-sufficient with its own power source. 

Rayner is skeptical of the facilities' power and water usage, as well as heat generation. 

"In my opinion, the smart way to go is just to put a wall, moratorium, up and think about it," he said during the board's meeting on July 7. "We can always take the wall down."

Board member Gary Levante agreed. 

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