Marchetti Wins Corner Office in Pittsfield
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Peter Marchetti speaks briefly at the gathering at the Berkshire Hills Country Club after a decisive victory.
Twelve years after his first run for mayor, Marchetti took the corner office winning every precinct and ward in the city over opponent John Krol. He will be the second mayor to serve a four-year term, succeeding Linda Tyer.
Unofficial numbers had Marchetti besting Krol by 5,807 to 3,486, a 2,321-vote difference.
The mayor-elect entered the Berkshire Hills Country Club pumping his fists to the song "Celebration" as the crowd cheered.
"We did over 1,000 doors in this city and between Thursday morning and this morning, we made over 8,000 phone calls and it shows how hard work can make all the difference," he said. "We ran a positive campaign and I'm going to stay on that positive campaign.
"We told the voters of Pittsfield what we're gonna do, and we told them that we would build on the successes from previous administrations and that's exactly what we're gonna do. We told them, that we will look at all things with a fresh vision. And we also said that we wouldn't be the status quo."
But the victory was missing a really special person, Marchetti said, referring to his husband of 17 years, Jeffrey Hunt, who died in 2022. "Jeff, this Bud's for you!"
The story was different at Proprietor's Lodge, where more than 100 people gathered to wait for results with Krol. The candidate spoke to his supporters as the polls were closing.
He said the election had made a lasting impression on him and he has made lifelong friends and wanted to express his appreciation to everyone.
"Listen, this was a campaign that was always going to be against a ferocious political establishment. That clearly was very, you know, very strong against the possibility of change," he said. "So, we fought hard. We had all kinds of obstacles. Some major league obstacles that very few campaigns have ever had to face in the past.
"You know, the numbers to some extent don't make sense. So it's not what we're hearing on the ground. It's not what we're hearing and phone calls, but it is what it is and so we will be moving forward."
Attendees at the gathering were surprised at the gap, with several believing "it should be much closer than it is." So was Krol, who expected it to be much closer based on a lot of conversations even with Marchetti supporters.
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The atmosphere was more subdued as John Krol greets supporters as the first numbers started coming in.
But Krol said he's looking ahead and was thankful his team never wavered and that was a true testament to friendship and family.
"I feel more loved today than I've ever felt my entire life. So it's a beautiful thing," he said. "And you know, I have nothing but love in my heart."
The council will see some changeups the election with Brittany Bandani winning in Ward 2 over Alex Blumin and Matthew Wrinn won in Ward 3 over William Tyer, both seats being open. Incumbent Dina Lampiasi kept her Ward 6 seat against challenger Craig Gaetani and, in an upset, Rhonda Serre ousted incumbent Anthony Maffuccio in Ward 7.
Incumbents Kenneth Warren, James Bryan Conant and Patrick Kavey ran unopposed for Wards 1, 4 and 5, respectively. All candidates running were elected to the School Committee: incumbents Sara Hathaway, William Cameron and Daniel Elias, and William Garrity Jr., Dominick Sacco and Diana Belair.
Peter White lead in ballots for the four councilors-at-large seats, followed by Kathleen Amuso, Earl Persip III and Alisa Costa.
Marchetti said he was ready to get back to work in the morning and begin the transition to his new administration on Jan. 2.
"I don't want to keep talking any longer because I want to have a grand old time," he said.
Tags: election 2023, election results, municipal election,
