Pittsfield Will Hold Preliminary Election on Sept. 19

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.

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

Residents, Officials Say 'No' to Proposed Berkshire Gas Rate Hike

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
07:12AM / Saturday, February 07, 2026

The hearing included representatives from state's rate division, the hearing officer and Department of Public Utilities Commissioners, at right, Chair Jeremy McDiarmid and Liz Anderson

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Local officials and residents argued against Berkshire Gas's proposed 22 percent increase on the average customer's bill during a public hearing on Wednesday evening at Berkshire Community College. 

 

State Sen. Paul Mark and state Reps. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, John Barrett III and Leigh Davis stood before members of the state Department of Public Utilities in "strong opposition" to the rate hike. 

 

The Berkshire delegation joins Gov. Maura Healey, local higher education institutions, and community members who find the increase, estimated to be about $54 a month for residential heating, unaffordable for a vital service. 

 

"While there was a time that this was our hometown Berkshire Gas, in reality, it is not anymore. This is a multinational company. It's a multinational company whose CEO makes $3.23 million a year. That's $62,000 a week," Farley-Bouvier said. 

 

"Now that is more than what most people in Berkshire County make in a year." 

 

The proposed increase has been attributed to capital investments and rising operational costs, and Barrett said a significant driver of those costs is the Gas System Enhancement Program, which "has raised serious concerns for years." 

 

GSEP costs passed down to ratepayers have increased by more than 300 percent without clear evidence of proportional improvements in safety or leak reductions, he added, and the Attorney General's Office is reviewing those concerns as they relate to Berkshire Gas's 2026 GSEP spending.