Pittsfield Sees Races for City Council, School Committee

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The potential is high for some new leadership in city government this November.

The last day to submit nomination papers to the registrar of voters for certification was Friday, July 16.  The updated candidate list includes a new name for Ward 2 and an expanded slate of School Committee prospects.

Up for election in November will be seats for all seven wards and four at-large seats for two-year terms. All six School Committee seats will also be on the ballot and the city clerk, all of which have two-year terms.

Wards 1, 2, 3, and 4 will see new representation as the incumbents have announced that they will not be seeking re-election. There are races in Wards 1, 2 and 4 and the incumbent is being challenged in Ward 6, but there are no races in Wards 3, 5 and 7. The four incumbent at-large councilors have two challengers and four School Committee incumbents will face off against five newcomers. 

Pittsfield lawyer Kenneth Warren Jr. and Andrea Wilson are seeking a seat as Ward 1 city councilor.

Ward 1 Councilor Helen Moon announced in a Facebook video post on May 4 that she would not be seeking re-election, citing physical and mental strains over the past two years related to the pandemic and her personal and professional life that led to her decision not to run for a third term.

Former Pittsfield firefighter and small business owner Matthew Ryan Kudlate is a new addition to the Ward 2 race. He will be running against Charles Kronick.

Nicholas Russo, William Phillips, and Daniel Besse had taken out nomination papers for Ward 2 but will not be continuing in the race.

Ward 2 Councilor Kevin Morandi stated in January — along with Ward 4 Councilor Chris Connell — that he would not be seeking a sixth consecutive term. The two stated that occurrences during 2020 and the past few years led to their decision.

Former council president Kevin Sherman will be running unopposed in Ward 3 as will incumbent Patrick Kavey in Ward 5 for his second term.

James Conant, chairman of the Conservation Commission, and Andrew M. Wrinn are seeking the Ward 4 seat.

Courtney Gilardi had taken out papers for Ward 4 but will not be continuing her bid, saying she had to move because of sickness related to a Verizon cell tower at the end of Alma Street. Gilardi, who resides on Alma Street, has been an advocate for residents against the tower since it was erected last summer.

Ward 6 Councilor Dina Guiel Lampiasi will be running for her second term against Homelessness Advisory Committee member Edward Carmel.

Ward 7 Councilor Anthony Maffuccio will also be running unchallenged in his ward. Maffuccio was elected in 2019 but had previously served on the council from 2006 to 2010.

Nolan Fernandez had taken out papers for a Ward 7 bid but cited difficulties getting signatures during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Because of some difficulties and safety parameters around Covid, I was unable to get all my signatures in time and will not be able to continue, unfortunately," he wrote to iBerkshires in an email last week. "I do plan on re-running for the following election, now that I have gone through the process once it will be easier."

The four incumbent at-large councilors — Peter Marchetti, Earl Persip III, Peter White, and Yuki Cohen — are seeking re-election. Also in the at-Large race is Hot Dog Ranch owner Craig Benoit and former mayoral candidate and school resource officer and Karen Kalinowsky.

School Committee members Mark Brazeau, William Cameron, Alison Mcgee, Nyanna Slaughter and Daniel Elias have taken out papers for re-election; Katherine Yon will not be seeking re-election.

Newcomers running for School Committee include Karen Reis Kaveney-Murray, Katie Lauzon, Sara Hathaway, Vicky Smith and William Tyer.

Candidates have until Aug. 3 to object or withdraw after filing with the city clerk.

Tile Mural 'Shapes of Togetherness' Unveiled in Downtown Pittsfield

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:41AM / Monday, November 18, 2024

 A ribbon is cut Friday at the unveiling of the tile murals, a project of PHS students.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Burbank Place is now adorned with almost 300 handprinted tiles.

On Friday, "Shapes of Togetherness" was unveiled on the side of 75 North St. Artist in residence Huck Elling guided Pittsfield High School students through creating the mural as part of the Pittsfield Let It Shine! Public Art Partnership.

"This project has meant so much to us," Elling said.

"We were inspired to put the title here in this location that had experienced a lot of graffiti. We chose this location because we were looking for a place that the PHS students spend a lot of time. The movie theater, this walking zone, we wanted to make it better."

The four-part mural features white tiles with colorful, varied shapes painted on them. It aims to brighten the dimly lit space frequented by younger community members because of its proximity to the Beacon Cinema.

"I thought it was very inspiring because if you can come together to make art, you can come together to see art," senior Kenny Davis said.

Senior Dennis Hermanski said the project was something fun to do that brings light to the city, "which needs a lot," and hopes that it lights the way for other students to participate in art.

"It was kind of like learning something new, how to paint properly without your hand cramping and trying to do straight lines, which I'll never be able to do," they said.