Pittsfield Sees Certified Candidates, Ward Races

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The 2023 municipal election is heating up with multiple certified candidates and a returning face in Ward 2.

Current Ward 2 Councilor Charles Kronick has taken out papers for re-election and Hot Dog Ranch owner Craig Benoit has withdrawn his papers to run in that ward. Benoit is now only running for an at-large seat and his signatures have been certified.

Kronick secured the seat for Ward 2 in 2021 and is vocal in the Council Chambers, often disagreeing with his colleagues when voting on items. He strongly believes in saving taxpayer money through the city budget.

Kronick caused a stir during last year's budget season, first in his opposition to the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and then with a charter objection to the fiscal year 2023 budget.

There is also a new face on the candidate list, Jonathan Morey. Morey has taken out papers for Ward 7 against incumbent Councilor Anthony Maffuccio and for an at-large seat.

According to Facebook, he is the executive pastry chef of Baked Pastries & More in Pittsfield.

As of late last week, seven of the 26 people who took out papers have had their signatures certified and returned to the city clerk's office: mayoral candidate Peter Marchetti, incumbent City Clerk Michele Benjamin, incumbent Councilor at Large Peter White, Benoit, Ward 3 candidate Bill Tyer, Ward 3 candidate Matthew Wrinn, and incumbent Ward 5 Councilor Patrick Kavey.

There are six interested candidates for at-large seats, three in Ward 3, and two each in Wards 5, 6 and 7.

Only four candidates have taken out papers for School Committee, which elects six seats this November.  

Former student representative William Garrity is the only non-incumbent on the list. Garrity was Taconic High School's 2022 valedictorian and has kept up on city politics since graduating.

Marchetti, the current council president, and John Krol, a former councilor, are running for a four-year term as mayor. Incumbent Linda Tyer is not running for a third term. 

Marchetti touts his long experience on the council, a 35-year career at the Pittsfield Cooperative Bank, and his presence in the community as culminating factors to being a successful city leader. Krol points to his experience in broadcast and print media, working for former Mayor James Ruberto, and time on the council as tools to make Pittsfield the best that it can be.

The two have taken out papers along with resident Craig Gaetani, who ran for mayor in 2015 and garnered 0.51 percent of the vote. He also took out papers to run against two-term Ward 6 Councilor Dina Lampaisi, who has also taken out papers.

Gaetani is a former marketing director of Krofta Engineering and is a regular at City Council's open microphone.

The last day to submit nomination papers to the Registrar of Voters for certification is July 21 and the last day to submit papers to the city clerk is Aug. 4. A preliminary election, if needed, is scheduled for Sept. 19 and the general election is on Nov. 7.

More information about the other candidates.

Candidate list as of 5/12

MAYOR

Peter Marchetti
John Krol Jr.
Craig Gaetani

CITY CLERK

Michele Benjamin

AT LARGE

Earl Persip III
Peter White
Alisa Costa

Pittsfield Remembers Lives Lost to Overdose, Underscores Harm Reduction

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:33AM / Tuesday, September 01, 2026

Mayor Peter Marchetti reads a proclamation at City Hall encouraging residents to raise awareness and lift each other up. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Dozens of people gathered downtown on Monday to remember those lost to overdose and work toward a future of zero deaths from substance use disorder. 

The Berkshire Overdose and Addiction Prevention Collaborative and its partners held a proclamation reading and flag-raising at City Hall, followed by a standout in Park Square with signs promoting the use of naloxone, harm reduction, and reducing associated stigma. 

There were 23 fatal overdoses in Berkshire County in 2025, 11 in Pittsfield. This is down 44 percent from the 41 countywide fatalities in 2024. 

While it is a significant decrease, advocates want to see that number at zero. 

"On the one hand, we're very pleased to see this significant of a decrease. This is actually the lowest number that we've had since [Department of Public Health] started collecting these numbers in 2013, but the goal is still zero," said Andy Ottoson, public health planner with the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission. 

August is International Overdose Awareness Month, the world's largest annual campaign to end overdose, remember those lost without stigma, and acknowledge the grief of families and friends left behind. September is National Recovery Month, a national observance to educate the public on the importance of substance use treatment and mental health services.

Samantha Kendall of Berkshire Harm Reduction explained that it is truly meeting people where they are, as they are, and when they are, "and I think we all do a really great job at that."

"We also want to remember that we're building a community for everybody, and systems and policies for everybody. That's really important in harm reduction work, so that's also the reason we're here today," she said.