Voters in two western Massachusetts communities — Agawam and Pittsfield — elected their City Council presidents to serve as mayor, after the incumbents opted not to seek reelection.
Voters in Pittsfield chose City Council President Peter Marchetti for their next mayor, defeating former City Councilor John Krol with more than 60% of the vote.
Throughout the campaign, Marchetti pointed to his 16 years of experience serving on the City Council.
Thanking supporters, he said he'd build on the success of previous administrations — and took a jab at his opponent's campaign for change.
"Thank you, Pittsfield, for recognizing the difference between someone who knows how to stay the course and make improvements as compared to someone who's just going to throw everything out and start from scratch," Marchetti said.
Marchetti said he'll meet with the current mayor on Wednesday about starting the search for a new police chief.
Also on Wednesday, the bank he works for is supposed to respond to a workplace discrimination lawsuit that came to light last week.
Pittsfield's current mayor, Linda Tyer, declined to seek reelection.
Agawam City Council President Chris Johnson will be the town's next mayor after winning 53% of the vote over longtime City Councilor Cecilia Calabrese.
Johnson was Agawam's first mayor, in 1989, and was reelected several times.
On Tuesday night, standing among supporters at local restaurant, he said since his first foray into city politics, he's learned to be a better, more effective leader.
"When I was younger, politics were different then. It was more 'charge ahead' like the bull in a china shop sometimes. And now I've realized how to work collectively together. I mean, I'm proud of the fact that virtually all of my city councilors were supporting my candidacy because we work very well together as a group."
And they'll continue to work together as many were reelected.
Johnson also credited as a model — among others — outgoing Mayor Bill Sapelli, who endorsed him.
Five other communities in the region had contested mayoral races featuring an incumbent and challenger. Incumbents won in all but Greenfield.
Nancy Cohen, Sam Hudzik, Jill Kaufman and Elizabeth Román contributed.
