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Pittsfield Won't Have a Preliminary Election
By Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:33PM / Monday, August 04, 2025
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Candidates for the November municipal election have been certified and, because of some withdrawals, the city won't have a preliminary election in September. 

On Nov. 4, voters will elect a city clerk, six School Committee members, four at-large city councilors, and seven ward councilors. Certified papers were due on Friday, and there are seven candidates for at-large seats and 10 for seats on the School Committee. 

While it looked like there might be a preliminary election on Sept. 16 to trim the races for councilor at large, Ward 2, and Ward 6, several candidates dropped out, and it is no longer required.

The City Council and School Committee races include returning members and newcomers. City Clerk Michele Benjamin is running unchallenged for re-election. 

Incumbents Kathleen Amuso, Alisa Costa, Earl Persip III, and Peter White are running for another term, and are being challenged by Sara Hathaway, Karen Kalinowsky, and Lawrence Klein. Kalinowsky previously served at term as an at-large councilor and Hathaway, a former mayor, dropped a bid for re-election to the School Committee to run for council. 

Incumbent Kenneth Warren Jr. is the only candidate for Ward 1; Brittany Noto is not seeking a second term in Ward 2, and Cameron Cunningham and Corey Walker are running to fill that seat. 

Incumbent Matthew Wrinn is the only candidate for Ward 3, and incumbent James Conant for Ward 4. In Ward 5, Michael Grady will challenge incumbent Patrick Kavey.

Walter Powell is running against incumbent Dina Lampiasi in Ward 6. Ward 7 Councilor Rhonda Serre, who won the seat two years ago, indicated she will not run again. Anthony Maffuccio is running to regain the seat he lost to Serre two years ago against newcomer Katherine Moody. 

With a recent staffing scandal and several big changes ahead in the Pittsfield Public Schools, the School Committee has 10 interested parties to fill the six-seat committee.

Middle School Restructuring Committee members Sarah Muil and Vicky Smith; Carolyn Barry, Ciara Batory, Geoffrey Buerger, incumbent Daniel Elias, Jacob Klein, Heather McNiece, and Katherine Yon are running for School Committee. Both Yon and Smith are former committee members, with Yon spent 12 years on the committee, including as chair, until stepping back in 2021. 
 

City Clerk
Michele Benjamin
 
At-Large 
Kathleen Amuso
Alisa Costa
Sara Hathaway
Karen Kalinowsky
Lawrence Klein
Earl Persip III
Peter White
 
Ward 1
Kenneth Warren, Jr
 
Ward 2
Cameron Cunningham
Corey Walker
Ward 3
Matthew Wrinn
 
Ward 4
James Conant
 
Ward 5
Michael  Grady
Patrick Kavey
 
Ward 6
Dina Lampiasi
Walter Powell
 
Ward 7
Anthony Maffuccio
Katherine Moody
School Committee 
Carolyn Barry
Ciara Batory
Geoffrey Buerger
Daniel Elias
Sara Hathaway
Jacob Klein
Heather McNeice
Sarah Muil
Vicky Smith
Katherine Yon

 

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