Pittsfield Municipal Election Preview

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— Voters will elect a city clerk, six School Committee members, four at-large city councilors, and seven ward councilors on Tuesday.

Polls for the municipal election open at 8 a.m. and will close at 8 p.m. 

After a tumultuous year in the schools, the School Committee will be largely brand-new come January. The only incumbent running is Daniel Elias, and the only other candidate with experience on the committee is Katherine Yon. Newcomers are Ciara Batory, Sarah Muil, Jacob Klein, Geoffrey Buerger, Heather McNiece, Vicky Smith, and Carolyn Barry.

On the City Council, at-large incumbents Kathleen Amuso, Earl Persip III, Peter White, Alisa Costa, are being challenged by Lawrence Klein, Karen Kalinowsky, Sara Hathaway. Klein is the father of 18-year-old Jacob Klein, who is running running for School Committee; Kalinowsky is a former councilor, and Hathaway, former mayor, currently serves on the School Committee. 

Ward 1 Councilor Kenneth Warren, Ward 3 Councilor Matthew Wrinn and Ward 4 Councilor James Conant is running unopposed for re-election. 

Corey Walker and Cameron Cunningham are vying to represent Ward 2, and incumbent Patrick Kavey is being challenged by Michael Grady in Ward 5. 

Incumbent Dina Lampiasi is being challenged by Walter Powell in Ward 6, and former councilor Anthony Maffuccio and Katherine Nagy Moody are running to represent Ward 7. 

Candidates have participated in an iBerkshires questionnaire, debates hosted by iBerkshires and Pittsfield Community Television, as well as several other publications to give voters an idea of their priorities for Pittsfield. 

School Committee Q&As can be found here and City Council's here.

City Clerk Michele Benjamin is running for re-election unopposed. 

All positions have two-year term lengths. The last municipal election, which included the mayor's position, had a 31 percent turnout for registered voters. 

Pittsfield polling locations: 

State Auditor DiZoglio Pushes for Beacon Hill Transparency

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:29AM / Monday, September 28, 2026

The state auditor called on voters to support Question 1 on the November ballot, which would bring most legislative and governor's office records under the public records law. 

DALTON, Mass. — Transparency is not a one-party issue, and democracy is also "under attack" here in Massachusetts, not just at the federal level, State Auditor Diana DiZoglio said during a presentation to the Dalton Democratic Town Committee.

 

More than a dozen people filled Nessacus Regional Middle School's auditorium Thursday as DiZoglio outlined her belief that power on Beacon Hill has become concentrated among a small number of House leaders, limiting legislative debate and creating what she described as a system of "rewards and punishment" to influence lawmakers.

 

"That system is really destroying democracy here in Massachusetts," she said.

 

The system was designed with a system of checks and balances, including giving the people a right to create laws at the ballot box, DiZoglio said.

 

"We have the right to vote for our elected representatives and senators to represent us and to be our voice at the state house. The people have constitutional rights in this commonwealth, but the people's rights are being ignored over and over and over again," she said

 

"This isn't about liberal, moderate, conservative. This is an everyone issue. That's why you see so many people coming out and supporting these transparency issues, regardless of party affiliation."

 

Since being elected in 2022, DiZoglio has been advocating for more transparency and accountability within the Legislature, specifically through the 2024 Question 1 ballot question which authorizes the state auditor to audit the Legislature.