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Poll workers in Lanesborough on Tuesday. As with most of the county, turnout was light on primary day with just one contested race for the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate. South County voters had a local race to decide, picking the Democratic nominee to replace long-term State House Rep. William 'Smitty' Pignatelli.

Great Barrington's Davis Wins House Primary

iBerkshires.com StaffPrint Story | Email Story
Leigh Davis will run on the Democratic party line in November to fill the 3rd Berkshire House seat being vacated by William "Smitty" Pignatelli.
 
At just after 10:30 on Tuesday evening, with 97 percent of the votes counted, the Associated Press called the Democratic primary for Davis, a member of the Great Barrington Select Board.
 
She had 56 percent of the votes, well ahead of her nearest challenger, Patrick White, who had 37 percent. Jamie Minacci was running a distant third with 6 percent of the votes that were in.
 
Davis in November will face Lenox Select Board member Marybeth Mitts, who is running as an independent to serve South County in the House of Representatives on Beacon Hill.
 
Pignatelli, of Lenox, served the district for more than 20 years.
 
The other major contested election on the ballot for Berkshire County voters on Sunday was the race for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate.
 
The AP called that race early in the night, projecting that John Deaton of Swansea will carry the GOP banner into November's election against incumbent Elizabeth Warren.
 
As of 11 p.m., Deaton had 65 percent of the vote with 73 percent of the ballots counted. Robert Antonellis of Medford had 26.2 percent. Quincy's Ian Cain had just 9 percent.
 
According to the unofficial returns from Pittsfield, Deaton had 409 votes out of 591 ballots cast in the GOP Senate primary on Tuesday.
 
Warren, who was running unopposed for the Democratic nomination, sent out a news release at just after 9 p.m. Tuesday night saying she had agreed to two October debates against her Republican challenger.
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Lt. Governor Driscoll Visits Great Barrington Businesses

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, Housing Secretary Ed Augustus and state Rep. Leigh Davis are ready to chop wood out back of Pleasant and Main. 

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll did some holiday shopping on Main Street last week after announcing millions of federal Community Development Block Grant funds

She was glad to see an array of small-business owners thriving, and the eclectic items that Great Barrington has to offer. 

"We know that the vibrancy of communities can often be defined by what's happening on Main Street," she said. 

"It's great to be here in Great Barrington and see so many independent entrepreneurs who are running really, not only fun, but businesses that are doing well, and we want to try and find ways to uplift and support that work moving forward." 

State Rep. Leigh Davis coordinated a business tour with Pleasant and Main Cafe and General Store, Robbie's Community Market, and Butternut Ski Mountain. While downtown, Driscoll also stopped at Coco's Candy and Rob's Records and Audio. 

Earlier that day, the Healey-Driscoll administration announced $33.5 million in federal CDBG funds at the Housatonic Community Center. Great Barrington, in conjunction with Egremont and Stockbridge, has been allocated $ 1.25 million to rehabilitate approximately 14 housing units.  A new Rural and Small Town Housing Choice Community designation for its Housing Choice Initiative was also launched. 

Davis emphasized the significance of the state announcing these dollars in the small village of Housatonic.  

Craig Bero, founder of Pleasant and Main, prepared desserts and hors d'oeuvres for the group at his cozy cafe across the street from the Housatonic Community Center. Bero opened more than a decade ago after migrating from New York City, and Pleasant and Main offers sustainable, organic meals for an affordable price while enjoying the museum of antiques that is the restaurant. 

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