The winning councilors celebrate at Patrick's Pub on Tuesday night.

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — There is new leadership in a couple of wards, but the majority returning to the City Council are incumbents.

On Tuesday, Earl Persip III, Peter White, Alisa Costa, and Kathleen Amuso held their seats as councilors at large. Persip was the top vote getter with 3,172 votes, according to unofficial results, followed by White with 3,110 votes. 

This was not an election year for mayor, as that post now has a four-year term. That may have led to low turnout, with 5,535 votes cast out of 32,261 registered voters, or 17 percent.

Many of the winning councilors celebrated at Patrick's Pub on election night. 

Katherine Nagy Moody secured representation of Ward 7 over Anthony Maffuccio, 508-162, and Cameron Cunningham won the Ward 2 seat over Corey Walker, 357-150. Both are new to the council. 

"I feel terrific, I am so excited," Moody said. "Seventy-five percent of the vote is a big deal and I can't wait to have boots on the ground." 

Last month, Ward 7 Councilor Rhonda Serre stepped down to work for the Pittsfield Public Schools, and Moody urged constituents to come to her with issues before the new term starts. 

"I'm here, I'm ready to work right now," she said. 

Moody thinks that people are ready for an even and smart approach to government where research and homework is done beforehand, and communication is maintained. 

"It's not a hard computation to make," she said. "You just want someone that represents you and you feel heard, and your problems get worked on, and I think that's important. I think that's what got us here today." 

Cunningham said he is incredibly grateful. 

"I think civic participation, especially at the municipal level, is something that has been dropping off, we will see it in our voter turnouts, so that issue isn't necessarily getting better, but I am incredibly grateful for everyone who participated," he said. 

He thanked Walker for running and said civic engagement is what will help the city.  He thinks what best resonated with voters is the feeling that something new is needed. 

"There is this growing sense that something needs to change in Pittsfield and the council needs to take some drastic action to fix some of these issues in our city. We need to move. We need to take action," Cunningham said. 

"We can't have death by committee. We can't have death by regulation. We need to move if we want to fix this city." 

He would first like focus on housing production and addressing public safety. 

In Ward 5, Patrick Kavey easily retained his seat, winning the race over Michael Grady 613-257.  Similarly, Dina Lampiasi will continue to represent Ward 6 after coming out on top over Walter Powell, 500-251. 

Ward 1 Councilor Kenneth Warren, Ward 3 Councilor Matthew Wrinn, and Ward 4 Councilor James Conant were re-elected in uncontested races. 

Kavey said he was incredibly grateful and humbled that the people of Ward 5 continue to support him.  He thinks his track record, hard work, and the way he continues to show up for constituents resonated with voters. 

"And also, how optimistic and positive I am for the outcome of our city," he said. "People want you to understand that you also see the issue that they see, but that you have a plan to fix it." 

He said he couldn't have done this without his constants, family, friends, and volunteers. 

"Knocking on doors is a lot of work, and it's a lot easier when you have someone by your side doing it," Kavey said. 

"I am incredibly grateful that people believe in me, that they want to continue to support me, and that they are willing to take time out of their Saturday or Sunday to spend, six, seven, eight hours walking through neighborhoods with me." 

Lampiasi looks forward to serving another term, and continuing to have a collaborative relationship with residents. 

"I think what resonated most is simply just showing up at their doorstep, being available when they call, and focusing on those ward issues, and coming through for them for the day to day stuff," she explained. 

"But also, looking at the city through a more global sense and how we move forward to build a city that my children can thrive in and that we can all age in and be well."

Persip is glad that he earned people's trust in a way that earned him top vote getter, and feels that this reinforces his assurance that he is doing a good job. 

"When it comes down to the larger issues, people can agree or disagree on certain issues. When it comes down to what a city councilor can do for you in the neighborhoods and who is actually serving the neighborhoods and doing the day to day stuff that is not at the City Council meetings, I think that's really what got people re-elected," he said, adding that all four of the elected at-large councilors do that, and that's what people really care about. 

He urged interested people to run for office in the future. 

"No one here thinks they have all the answers, but they think they can work with others to get the answers that we all need," Persip said. 

"And government moves slow, but I think as a team we can move Pittsfield forward and I think that's important." 

White said the council has had a great, collegial two years and he looks forward to working with this group over the next term. He feels that being steady, calm, and consistent is what led councilors to be re-elected. 

"And we've been working on the issues that people want us working on and not chasing things that we can't get done and really working on the things that can be," he said. 

"We discuss things in a way that people can understand and I think trying to make good decisions for the city." 

Costa was excited that voters came back and said she was doing a good job. 

"And so, it's my job now to deliver on those promises of working for more housing for our community and making sure that those who are disenfranchised and struggling in our community have a voice and continue to have that voice on City Council," she said. 

"I am excited to work with the new council members and whatever we align on to make Pittsfield a thriving place for everyone." 

Costa feels that voters and very concerned about housing and appreciate how she communicates transparently about how government works. 

Ciara Batory, Sarah Muil, Daniel Elias, Catherine Yon, Heather McNeice, and Carolyn Barry were elected to School Committee. McNeice was the top vote-getter with 3,995 votes. 

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