Pittsfield Sees Certified Candidates, Plans Preliminary Election

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city is planning a preliminary election in September to narrow the fields for City Council and School Committee based on the projected number of candidates for several seats. 

As of now, the preliminary will include races for councilor at large, Ward 2 and Ward 6. 

Several potential councilors have had their papers certified, and the School Committee has more than 10 potential candidates. The preliminary election will be on Tuesday, Sept. 16, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 4. 

Incumbent Michele Benjamin had her papers certified for city clerk, and council incumbents Kathleen Amuso, James Conant, Alisa Costa, Patrick Kavey, Kenneth Warren, Peter White and Matthew Wrinn have been certified. Former councilor Karen Kalinowsky has also been certified. 

Nomination papers became available on April 3, and certified papers are due by Aug. 1. 

Tayshialynn Chaloux has taken out papers to challenge Benjamin for the city clerk seat but not yet had them certified.

Nine people have taken out papers for the four councilor-at-large seats: incumbents Amuso, White, Costa, and Earl Persip III, and Lawrence Klein, Alexander Blumin, Kalinowsky, School Committee member Sara Hathaway, and Danielle Munn. 

In 2023, both Mayor Peter Marchetti and Kalinowksy eschewed re-election for councilor at-large to instead run for mayor; Kalinowski did not make it past the preliminary election.

Wrinn is the only candidate for Ward 3 and Conant for Ward 4. In Ward 5, Michael Grady has taken out papers to challenge incumbent Kavey. 

Edward Carmel, incumbent Dina Lampiasi, and Walter Powell have taken out papers for Ward 6. Carmel unsuccessfully ran for the seat in the 2021 election. Lampiasi has been representing Ward 6 since 2020.

Former Ward 7 councilor Anthony Maffuccio is looking to make a return, as he and Katherine Moody took out papers for that seat. Moody has been certified. Rhonda Serre, who won the seat two years ago, indicated she will not run again. 

With a recent staffing scandal and several big changes ahead in the Pittsfield Public Schools, the School Committee has 11 interested parties to fill the six-seat committee. On Wednesday night, the committee took a historic vote on a proposed middle school restructuring, and next school year will see a new superintendent and assistant superintendent. 

Middle School Restructuring Committee members Sarah Muil, Hathaway and Vicky Smith; Carolyn Barry, Ciara Batory, Geoffrey Buerger, incumbent Daniel Elias, Jacob Klein, Kelly Ott, Heather McNiece and Katherine Yon have taken out papers for the School Committee. Yon and Smith are former committee members. Buerger, Hathaway and Smith have had their signatures certified.

Allendale Pines North Affordable Manufactured Homes Sell Fast

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:17PM / Saturday, August 22, 2026

Developer Teton Management cut the ribbon on the first six hopes in the manufactured housing community earlier this year. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Just a few months after Allendale Pines North cut the ribbon on its first six homes in the new manufactured home community, units in the planned development are selling fast with both first and second phases all but sold out.

 

For several years, Teton Management Corp. has been planning to expand its existing Allendale Pines Mobile Community with the development of 22 planned manufactured housing units. The new development has its own entrance at 395 Cheshire Road. 

 

The need for attainable housing has never been higher, Teton President George Whaling said. 

 

"And where we sought the opportunity to help with that demand is, we can get folks into a home at Allendale Pines North for essentially a couple of $100 less than what it would cost for someone to rent a three-bedroom of the same quality," he said. 

 

The corporation took over Allendale Pines, now referred to as Allendale Pines South, about 6 1/2 years ago, Whaling said. 

 

Since then, the corporation has invested $1,000,001 in infrastructure improvements, including replacing all water and sewer lines, paving the community and installing the infrastructure needed for 10 additional units, he said. 

 

Additionally, it has been working to clean up and improve the community, which was lacking during previous ownership, said Jason Nocher, owner of Nocher Realty, which has been hired to help sell the units.