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Pittsfield Selecting Mayoral, Ward 4 Candidates
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield goes to the polls Tuesday to determine the two mayoral candidates who will face off in the November general election.There are five candidates, including two former mayoral hopefuls, vying to fill the office being left vacant by three-term Mayor James M. Ruberto.
On the ballot are Stephen Fillio, who said he is representing the blue-collar vote; Donna Walto, an entrepreneur who made an unsuccessful bid for the office in 2007; Joseph Nichol, a businessman elected to represent Ward 7 two years; Daniel Bianchi, a five-term city councilor and former administrator for the city who narrowly lost his bid for the office in 2009; and Peter Marchetti, a banker and four-term at-large councilor who is currently vice president.
Voters in Ward 4 will cast ballots in two preliminaries. In addition to mayor, they will determine which of three candidates to represent their ward will vie in November. The seat is being left vacant by popular Ward 4 Councilor Michael Ward who has declined to run for a fourth term.
Candidates are Ozias "Chuck" Vincelette, who served as Ward 4 councilor until being ousted by Ward in 2005, Christopher J. Connell, who lost a bid for the seat against Ward in 2009, and newcomer James Bronson. Voters will select two of these candidates.
Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Pittsfield
- Ward 1, Precinct A: Reid Middle School, 950 North St.
- Ward 1, Precinct B: Reid Middle School, 950 North St.
- Ward 2, Precinct A: Morningside Community School, 100 Burbank St.
- Ward 2, Precinct B: Somerset Fire Station, Somerset Ave.
- Ward 3, Precinct A: Providence Court, 379 East St.
- Ward 3, Precinct B: Egremont Elementary School, 84 Egremont Ave.
- Ward 4, Precinct A: Herberg Middle School, 501 Pomeroy Ave.
- Ward 4, Precinct B: Williams School, 50 Bushey Road
- Ward 5, Precinct A: Masonic Temple, 116 South St.
- Ward 5, Precinct B: Fire Station, 331 West Housatonic St.
- Ward 6, Precinct A: Columbus Arms Housing, 65 Columbus Ave.
- Ward 6, Precinct B: Conte Community School, 200 W. Union St.
- Ward 7, Precinct A: Fire Station, 54 Peck's Road
- Ward 7, Precinct B: Capeless Elementary School, 86 Brooks Ave.
North Adams Preliminary Election Set Tuesday
On the ballot are the incumbent, Richard J. Alcombright, who is seeking a second term in the corner office; Ronald A. Boucher, a six-term councilor and currently City Council president; and Robert Martelle, an employee of a local aluminum anodizing plant.
Polls are open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voting in Wards 1, 2, 3 and 5 will be at St. Elizabeth's (St. Anthony's) Parish Center; Ward 4 votes at Greylock Elementary School.
The only race on the ballot is for mayor; the two highest vote-getter will move to the next election.
Martelle Running On Lower Taxes, Jobs
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Robert Martelle got angry over some of things said at the recent Proposition 2 1/2 information meetings about raising property taxes. Instead of just stewing over it, he decided to run for mayor.
"I'm doing this to stir things up," said the 54-year-old homeowner on Monday. "People can't take it. They can't take the taxes."
Robert Martelle
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That's what he heard when he stood outside Big Y getting signatures on his nomination papers, voter after voter telling him that taxes are too high. He got 75 names in an hour and a half.
Martelle, who has worked at Berkshire Anodizing and its predecessor, Modern Aluminum Anodizing, for 20 years, said the city needs someone who'll look for more revenue and bring in better jobs.
"We need jobs here, well-paying jobs," said the Clarksburg native. "You've got to have 21st century jobs."
He suggested recruiting complementary manufacturing, such as a solar panel producer who could use aluminum from his own place of business.
Martelle also suggested more regionalized purchasing cooperatives to bring down costs of such materials as fuel, salt and asphalt. He'd also like to see more exploration of alternative energy options.
"The landfill is full of methane gas that should be looked at," he said. "It's just sitting there."
He doesn't think voters will pass a Prop 2 1/2 debt exclusion for two new schools but had no answer at the moment for what the school system could do and is still researching the subject.
He has little use for Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, which he says has siphoned stores away from Main Street rather than sparking new businesses. He'd also like to see ways to get revenue out of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, such as charging a street use fee.
Despite running for mayor, Martelle thinks it might be good to get rid of the position and move to a town manager system because of the drop in population. "We're not a city anymore," he said.
Martelle is married and has lived in North Adams for more than 30 years. He attended Drury High and McCann Technical schools but graduated from "the school of hard knocks and the college of common sense."
He will face off against incumbent Richard Alcombright and challenger Ronald A. Boucher in a preliminary election on Sept. 27. The two highest vote-getters will move to the general election in November.
Mark Miller Wins UAW Endorsement
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Mark Miller, a candidate for the Green-Rainbow Party, has won the endorsement of the United Auto Workers, a major industrial labor union, in his bid to become the new state representative of the 3rd Berkshire District.
Willie Desnoyers, president of the UAW Massachusetts State CAP Council, said: "I'm proud to report that the UAW MA State CAP Council has endorsed Mark Miller for state representative for the 3rd Berkshire District. We are looking forward to working with Mark in the state Legislature. It is important to us that Labor endorses candidates that will respect collective bargaining rights and job creation in Massachusetts. We feel Mark is the best choice for Labor."
The decision comes even before the Democrats have had a chance to pick their nominee, who will face off against Miller and others in the Oct. 18 special election caused by the resignation of the incumbent, Christopher Speranzo. Miller welcomed the early endorsement.
"Pittsfield needs new jobs and I'm going to do all I can to bring them here. It's crazy that with so much work to do — like insulating every home in the city to bring down heating bills — our unemployment figures are higher than in the rest of the state. I'm thrilled that the members of the UAW are ready to help give Pittsfield a strong independent voice in the State House."
Usually the UAW backs Democrats. Miller says the endorsement shows a new willingness on the part of Massachusetts Democrats to break with the party, which controls 90 percent of the seats in the Legislature.
"I was a lifelong Democrat, but as with many Democrats there was a point when I had to say enough is enough. For me, that point came when the party caved in on health care," said Miller. "So although I'm not running as a Democrat I'm the candidate who is fighting for core Democratic policies like Medicare for All."
Tags: UAW, Green-?Rainbow, Pittsfield |
Bullett Announces Candidacy for North Adams Council
Nancy Bullett of Maple Street, North Adams, is a candidate for North Adams City Council.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — At the outset of my campaign for City Council, I would like to share a few thoughts. I am a fourth-generation North Adams resident, so while I am a first-time political candidate I am not a rookie when it comes to community activities and concerns.
I have experienced the ups and downs of our city. I am a product of our school system and have a great love for the incredible beauty and natural resources that surround us. I am also very aware of the many problems we face living in a community with many poor people living in it.
I am a physical therapist and a small-business owner. I have worked with many of our residents over the years and have listened carefully to people discussing their many concerns abut the community. Given the work I do, I have learned much about how our health system works, or should I say doesn't work, and I believe I have something to offer the city in this area.
I have also been impressed with the generosity and teamwork that I see in our community. As a former member of the Parks and Recreation Commission for five years, and current member of the Windsor Lake Commission, I understand the important role athletics and recreation play in our community. I have combined my passion for sports and community involvement by helping to organize an annual golf tournament for Drury High School alumni to raise money for the school.
I believe I bring a positive energy and the ability to work with others to go about the business of promoting economic development to provide jobs for our people. As a child of the Greylock section of our city, I understand how important it is to work with neighborhoods to keep us safe and promote neighborhood and community pride.
This year, I have decided to try to become a part of the team to keep North Adams moving forward and that's why I'm announcing my candidacy for the North Adams City Council.
Tags: North Adams |