Pittsfield Won't Have a Preliminary Election

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Candidates for the November municipal election have been certified and, because of some withdrawals, the city won't have a preliminary election in September. 

On Nov. 4, voters will elect a city clerk, six School Committee members, four at-large city councilors, and seven ward councilors. Certified papers were due on Friday, and there are seven candidates for at-large seats and 10 for seats on the School Committee. 

While it looked like there might be a preliminary election on Sept. 16 to trim the races for councilor at large, Ward 2, and Ward 6, several candidates dropped out, and it is no longer required.

The City Council and School Committee races include returning members and newcomers. City Clerk Michele Benjamin is running unchallenged for re-election. 

Incumbents Kathleen Amuso, Alisa Costa, Earl Persip III, and Peter White are running for another term, and are being challenged by Sara Hathaway, Karen Kalinowsky, and Lawrence Klein. Kalinowsky previously served at term as an at-large councilor and Hathaway, a former mayor, dropped a bid for re-election to the School Committee to run for council. 

Incumbent Kenneth Warren Jr. is the only candidate for Ward 1; Brittany Noto is not seeking a second term in Ward 2, and Cameron Cunningham and Corey Walker are running to fill that seat. 

Incumbent Matthew Wrinn is the only candidate for Ward 3, and incumbent James Conant for Ward 4. In Ward 5, Michael Grady will challenge incumbent Patrick Kavey.

Walter Powell is running against incumbent Dina Lampiasi in Ward 6. Ward 7 Councilor Rhonda Serre, who won the seat two years ago, indicated she will not run again. Anthony Maffuccio is running to regain the seat he lost to Serre two years ago against newcomer Katherine Moody. 

With a recent staffing scandal and several big changes ahead in the Pittsfield Public Schools, the School Committee has 10 interested parties to fill the six-seat committee.

Middle School Restructuring Committee members Sarah Muil and Vicky Smith; Carolyn Barry, Ciara Batory, Geoffrey Buerger, incumbent Daniel Elias, Jacob Klein, Heather McNiece, and Katherine Yon are running for School Committee. Both Yon and Smith are former committee members, with Yon spent 12 years on the committee, including as chair, until stepping back in 2021. 
 

Pittsfield Affordable Housing Initiatives Shine Light, Hope

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
07:08AM / Saturday, December 20, 2025

Housing Secretary Edward Augustus cuts the ribbon at The First on Thursday with housing officials and Mayor Peter Marchetti, state Sen. Paul Mark and state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The holidays are here and several community members are celebrating it with the opening of two affordable housing initiatives. 

 

"This is a day to celebrate," Hearthway CEO Eileen Peltier said during the ribbon-cutting on Thursday. 

 

The celebration was for nearly 40 supportive permanent housing units; nine at "The First" located within the Zion Lutheran Church, and 28 on West Housatonic Street. A ceremony was held in the new Housing Resource Center on First Street, which was funded by the American Rescue Plan Act. 

 

The apartments will be leased out by Hearthway, with ServiceNet as a partner. 

 

Prior to the ribbon-cutting, public officials and community resource personnel were able to tour the two new permanent supported housing projects — West Housatonic Apartments and The First Street Apartments and Housing Resource Center. 

 

The First Street location has nine studio apartments that are about 300 square feet and has a large community center. The West Housatonic Street location will have 28 studio units that range between 300 to 350 square feet. All units can be adapted to be ADA accessible. 

 

The West Housatonic location is still under construction with the hope to have it completed by the middle of January, said Chris Wilett, Hearthway development associate.