Three Way Mayoral Fight Highlights Pittsfield Primary
Pittsfield voters face a three candidate mayoral primary as incumbent Donald G. Butler former mayor Remo Del Gallo and George A. Purnell Jr contend for the top spot. Turnout is expected light with wards 5 and 7 offering other contests. Housing, library funding, taxes, roads and city power dynamics dominate the discussion as candidates’ views are published.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Pittsfield
Donald G. Butler
Remo del Gallo
George A. Purnell Jr
Butler
del Gallo
Purnell
Raymond JL. Haughey
del Galo
Edward D. Sottile
William A. Bunt
West Side
Ward 7 Council Candidates Offer Varied Fresh Faces
Ward 7 contenders include Han a Korean War veteran and Dodge Construction foreman leading an antipoverty group with six children. Fr aser a former naval serviceman and business partner seeks an at large seat, touting Democratic ties and near record. Rabideau seeks Ward 7 after 1963 bid. Rabideau works for General Electric and sells real estate part time, military and civil defense service noted. Maloney, long active in city government, presses for road, sewer, and dam improvements and laments storm sewer issues at Holy Family Church. Charles L Smith campaigns on Highland street expansions, dam safety and drug concerns, having prior state race attempts.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Holy Family Church
Rabideau
Civil Defense Police
General Electric
Polling Places Listed for Tuesday City Primary
City primary polling locations open 7 am to 7 pm Tuesday. Ward precincts include North Junior High School North Street, Morningside Plaza Tyter Street, Crane School Gertmouth Street, St Francis Church Morningview Drive, Mercer School First and Orchard Streets, Rice School Winter Street Connecticut Avenue, Plunkett School First and Fenn Streets, Hibeerd Seteo Nowell Street, Dawes Elm and Stratford, Egremont Egremont Avenue, Lane 4 East Street, High School East Ret, Ward 4 South Junior High Pomeroy Avenue, Ward 5 Pomeroy School Monadienie Streets 5 and S, West Housatonic, Steema Labanon Avenue, Tucker Linden Street Robbins Avenue, Crosby Junior High Want Street, Holy Family Church Seymour Street, Maly Family Church Hall 133 Seymour Street, Fire Stelleny Meck's 089.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
North Junior High
North Street
Morningside Plaza
Tyter Street
C. Crane
Gertmouth Street
D. St. Francis Chweh
Morningview Brive
A. Mercer
First
Orchard Streets
G. Rice Schesl
Winter Street
Connecticut Avenue
A. Plunkett
First and Fenn Streets
Robbing Avenue
Crosby Junior High
Want Street
Waray
Holy Family Church
Seymour Street
Maly Family
Stelleny Meck
Candidates for Mayor Answer Questions on the Issues
A debate on housing and schools features Butler Del Gallo and Parnell. They discuss tax impacts, zone changes, and immediate housing needs in Jubilee and Columbus areas, with focus on renewal projects, Victory Hill, and partnerships with banks, authorities, and nonprofits.
Housing rezoning debate on Melbourne Road and Osceola Street
Butler supports using influence to push mixed income housing on Melbourne Road with 10 percent low income, while Osceola would be a manufacturing zone risk. Del Gallo calls both projects not a short term fix and questions overlays for water, sewer costs, and timing. Parnell opposes Melbourne due to funding and water issues and seeks garden apartments first.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Melbourne Road
Osceola Street
Butler
Osceola
Proposed zoning debate on garden apartment zones and sites
Butler supports selective alteration of the proposed zoning map rejecting nonconforming areas and seeking alternative sites. Del Gallo and Parnell back theWest Side rehabilitation and renewal project but demand more information and funding details before deciding.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
del Gallo
Parnell
Conty
West Side
Butler
I. Parnell
First Street
Urban Coalition Deliberations on City Communications Role
A fragment cites a dialogue about the Urban Coalition and its function. Butler claims initiation and describes duties to seek and implement methods of communication among city groups and individuals, assisting applications where support is provided by the coalition.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Butler
Pittsfield Police Shortage Sparks Debate on Aid and Pay
Local officials and former mayoral figures discuss solutions to a Pittsfield police manpower shortfall of 17. They call for federal aid, faster hiring processes, higher pay and benefits, advanced education avenues, and revisiting Civil Service limits to recruit from all Massachusetts communities.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ruller
Parnell — TI
Civil
Pittsfield
Berkshire Community College
Cfsyj Htgten
Parnell
Re Veterans Services Department
Mayors discuss handling nonviolent demonstrations and sit-ins
Butler says avoid trouble and help solve problems, while Del Gallo expects no sit ins and promises open communication to prevent incidents. Parnell dislikes sit ins, would meet with spokesmen but reject occupation of city offices, urging peaceful departure if needed.
School additions discussed for multiple districts in debate
Butler supports new rooms for special education and more space at Ponloos uc School. Del Gallo notes talks of additions to Pontoosue Highland and Stearns and others. Parnell agrees additions are needed at more than one school and urges starting one soon with School Department selection.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Butler
Ponloosuc School
del Gallo
Pontoosue
Highland and Stearns
Parnell
Debates Over Building a New Library
Butler questions priority and finance, noting federal reimbursement likely unavailable for Nixon term and urging substantial outside funds. Del Gallo supports a library but says other priorities take precedence and favors a public subscription drive to cover about half the cost, with federal and state funds later. Parnell opposes pursuing a new library at this time.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Butler
Nixon
Brary Board
Pittsfield Mayoral Candidates Debate Offers Contrasting Visions
Butler promises full time mayoral service with no outside work and broad civic involvement. Del Gang pledges progressive leadership and decisive action. Parnell emphasizes keeping City Hall staffing intact, avoiding appointments and political interference, and delivering taxpayer clarity.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
City Hall
Pittsfield
Mayoral candidates lay out paths in Berkshires race
Donald G Butler 3a of 107 Boylston St Extension leads field as Republican incumbent facing Romo Del Gallo 44 of UF Holmes Rd and George A Purnell Jr 52 of 26 Windsor Ave in Berkshires mayoral contest. Butler, council member 16 years, bank executive on leave, seeks re election. Del Gallo, former mayor, active in Democratic committee, runs with family business ties. Purnell, GE assembler,long council service, Democratic candidate, veteran of World War I.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Donald G. Butler
Boylston St. Extension
Romo del Gallo
Butler
City Savings Bank
Pittsfield
Pittsfield High School
Hiltcrest Hospital
Berkshire Rehabilitation Center
Doreen Cooper
Richard R. Vanassey
Remo del Gallo
UF Holmes Road
del Gallo
Raymond L. Haughey
Newell Street
Democratic City Committee
Bertha Bonneau
Linda
Skidmore
Karen
Pittsfield High
George A. Purnell Jr
Windsor Ave
Conservation Commission
Purnell
St. Joseph's High School
Del
Ward 5 council candidates debate housing and neglect claims
Edward D. Sattile vocalizes opposition to mixed income housing on Ward 5 Rasa Road and defends constituents from spot zoning. Robert O. Carmon, 46, of Cloverdale Street, serves on Public Works, Public Safety and Claims committees and is a WWII Bronze Star veteran. William G. McVaughlin, 40, of Clairmont Street, laments Ward 5 neglect and mocks Barkersville West Pittsfield. Carmon, a Pittsfield native and ex-fireman, warns the city plans to dump the project on Ward 5. Eileen Sheridan is also mentioned with three...
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Edward D. Sattile
South St
Rasa
Robert
Carmon
Cloverdale St
Melbourne
Public Works
Souile
St. Joseph's High School
General Electric
TUE
Bernice M. Weaver
William G. McVaughlin
Clairmont St
Barkersville
Pittsfield
McLaughlin
Pittsfield National Bank
St. Joseph’s High School
Williams College
Berkshire Hills
American Institute of Banking
Korea
Rosemary T. DeNicola
Carmen
Navy
Eileen Sheridan
Butler and Del Gallo address water, crime and growth
Butler urges fixing low water pressure and drug crime with more police while promoting a climate for commercial construction. Del Gallo claims Windsor land purchases did not solve the water crisis and calls for eminent domain of Onota Lake rights, then broader solutions with council and capital outlay. Parnell stresses tax stabilization and a moratorium on nonessential spending, prioritizing city needs within affordability.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Butler
Nore
Windsor
Onota Lake
Council
Also Mentioned on This Page
By Grier Horner
the Eagle
Dodge Construction Co
NEW Antipoverty Organization
Patricia Eastland
Join F. Fraser
Stock Road
City Sewer Commission
Fraser
Ray & John's
Hancock Road
Rita Blair
Raymond J. Rabide
Seymour St
Lawrence J. Maloney
Maloney
Im Borkshire Auto Company
Anna Holian
Housatonic
Peter M
Charles L. Smith
North St
Ongta Lake
Smith
Thomas C. Wojtkowski
Patrick A
Sullivan
Briggs
Tucker
Supt. Af
Thomas J
Whalen
Father Sullivan
Victory Hill
Bradford Block
Melbowne
Jubilee
Cathey
Urban Coalition
Pport
Bie
Coalition
Cruit
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Dalton
del Gang
Remo del Galo
Thas
Dillon
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