Pignatelli loses Lenox vote

LENOX – The reactions to Scott Pignatelli losing the Lenox vote in the Democratic Primary for the Berkshire Middle District Register of Deeds varied among different residents, but they all shared one thing in common: surprise.

“I was absolutely shocked and just astounded that he lost the Lenox vote,” said Lenox Selectman and lifetime town resident Edward P. Lane in comments to The Beacon. “He and his family have done so much for Lenox.”

“I can’t venture [to say] why Scott lost Lenox or why he lost by that margin,” said Robert McNinch, another longtime resident.

Mr. Pignatelli came in second in Lenox to the primary’s winner, current Assistant Register of Deeds Patsy Harris of Hinsdale, who ended up carrying all 12 communities in the Berkshire Middle District by a substantial margin. Mr. Pignatelli finished a distant third in the district as a whole.

“Lawn signs don’t vote,” said Lenox resident and community activist Sonya S. Bykofsky, paraphrasing Ms. Harris, whom she supported in the primary.

“I know neighbors in Lenox who felt pressured to put a Pignatelli sign on their front lawn,” said Ms. Bykofsky, “even though they were not necessarily determined to vote for him.”

This mirrored a claim Ms. Harris made to The Beacon during the campaign that some people with Pignatelli bumper stickers weren’t planning on supporting him.

A less pugnacious analysis of the reason for Mr. Pignatelli’s loss came from Lenox resident and real estate agent Bob Romeo in an email to The Beacon.

“…I guess I would think that most folks, even friends, but especially people who didn’t know him, apparently felt that he didn’t have any definitive background related to the operation or function of the registry (other than small business management),” said Mr. Romeo, who added he voted for Mr. Pignatelli.

Mr. Pignatelli, a small business owner and master electrician, argued in his campaign that the Berkshire Middle District Register of Deeds was a managerial position that required no clerical experience. By contrast, Ms. Harris, an 11-year employee in the register of deeds office, asserted that knowledge of registry documents was the most important qualifier for the job. Apparently, voters found Ms. Harris’ argument to be more compelling.

Mr. Romeo also cited Ms. Harris going door-to-door as an additional probable reason for why she was able to prevail.

“I think she worked very, very hard,” Mr. Romeo said in comments to The Beacon. “Going door-to-door I know had to be a big plus for her.”

“The truth is I don’t understand why this is even a political thing,” said Gateways Inn owner Eiran Gazit, who voted for Mr. Pignatelli, but believes the position should be appointed. “Why this should go to the voters is a bit incomprehensible to me.”

Posted by Bera B. Dunau on September 13, 2012. Filed under Community News,News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry