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. 
 

Local Cheer Teams Celebrate Successful Season

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
07:34AM / Saturday, April 18, 2026

The cheerleaders spoke of how their participation helped build their confidence and their focus on academics.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The gymnasium of the Boys and Girls Club was full of laughter, music, dancing, and cheer as multiple generations celebrated the hard work of 413 Cheer and Taconic High School cheerleaders with a fundraiser and showcase.

 

The fifth season for 413 Cheer was filled with achievements as the organization's teams — Codes Red, Blue, Green, Pink, Purple and Orange Fusion — had brought home awards from competitions across Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York. Find each team's placements at the end of the article. 

 

This year, Code Red received a wild card bid to the D2 Summit in Orlando, Fla., and Code Blue earned a bid to the Youth Summit in Tampa, Fla., but because of the cost and lack of funds, 413 Cheer will be doing its finals at Myrtle Beach, S.C., this season. 

 

(Donations to cover fees, travel and equipment can be made by emailing 413Cheer@gmail.com.)

 

The showcase last Sunday was the largest since the organization's inception five years ago, featuring spirited performances from each of the teams, a dad dance off, and mom bow challenge, raffles, concessions, and more. 

 

It also featured a performance by Taconic High School's varsity cheerleaders, coached by 413 Cheer's owner and founder Shavelle Boire. 

 

Boire said the school hasn't had a cheer team in several years, but these new cheerleaders persevered, grew, and stole her heart.