image description
School Committee candidates drop their names in to the tumbler for the ballot drawing in City Hall.
image description
image description
image description
image description

Pittsfield Draws Ballot Positions for Nov. 4 Election

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
Print Story | Email Story

City Clerk Michele Benjamin pulls names for ballot positions last week with Assistant Clerk Joshua Munn and Head Clerk Sandra Knight. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — In preparation for the Nov. 4 municipal election, candidates for contested seats drew their ballot positions. 

City Clerk Michele Benjamin addressed a small crowd in council chambers on Thursday, first congratulating all candidates for their nominations and placement on the ballot. 

Positions were drawn for at-large, Ward 2, Ward 5, Ward 6, Ward 7, and School Committee. At-large candidates Lawrence Klein, Earl Persip III, and Sara Hathaway attended.  

At-large ballot positions: 

Karen Kalinowsky
Lawrence Klein 
Kathleen Amuso 
Earl Persip III 
Peter White 
Alisa Costa 
Sara Hathaway

The four candidates with the top votes will be selected as councilors. 

For Ward 2, Cameron Cunningham attended and drew second position behind Corey Walker.  

Both Patrick Kavey and his challenger, Michael Grady attended the drawing. Kavey drew first position.  Ward 6 candidate Walter Powell attended and drew first position over incumbent Dina Lampiasi. 

For Ward 7, Katherine Moody attended and drew second position, with Anthony Maffuccio appearing first. 



Nine candidates are running for a School Committee seat and Vicky Smith, Katherine Yon, and a representative of Jacob Klein attended. 

Lawrence Klein, at-large candidate, was able to put his son's name into the drawing wheel.  

He explained that his son, Jacob Klein, is a senior at Pittsfield High School, freshly 18, and wanted to give back to the community and run for local politics alongside his father. This is why Klein chose to run for an at-large seat. 

"I say whether I win the position or not, I've won because I've done this great, fantastic thing with my son," he said. 

"And think about this. How many people can say that in their first election that they got to vote in, they got to vote for themselves and their father or their mother?"

School Committee ballot positions: 

Ciara Batory 
Sarah Muil 
Daniel Elias 
Katherine Yon 
Jacob Klein 
Geoffrey Buerger 
Heather McNiece 
Vicky Smith 
Carolyn Barry 


Tags: ballot,   election 2025,   municipal election,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Pittsfield Affordable Housing Initiatives Shine Light, Hope

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff

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.
 
View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories