PITTSFIELD — Incumbent Ward 4 City Councilor James Conant, running unopposed in the upcoming municipal election, appeared on WTBR’s Morning Drive this week to outline his priorities, acknowledge ongoing challenges, and advocate for continued community engagement in Pittsfield’s future.
During the broadcast hosted by Bill Sturgeon, Conant, a Pittsfield native and longtime public servant, said his decision to seek re-election comes from “a commitment to Pittsfield,” and a desire “to give back some time to my community and try to help it move along.” Among the most pressing issues facing the city, Conant cited “the lack of affordable housing” and “the continuing pressure against our taxpayers” as key areas that require both long-term planning and cooperation between local, state, and federal governments.
“Our local tax receipts can’t afford to take on the full weight of building housing or addressing homelessness,” Conant said. “We need help from our state and federal partners. Unfortunately, with the current political environment, those issues are going to move very slowly.”
He also warned that federal clawbacks of previously allocated funds are creating ripple effects. “Many people don’t realize that billions of dollars are sent by the federal government to the state of Massachusetts… A lot of that is getting clawed back,” he said. “There’s no replacement for these funds. We’re just going to have to budget things really tight and ride out the storm.”
On civil service for police and fire personnel, Conant questioned its continued usefulness, calling it “a system that slows down the hiring process to a crawl.” He argued that municipal unions today play a more significant role in protecting employee rights. “Civil service at one time was probably a great idea, but in this day and age, it’s just not effective and doesn’t really help either side,” he said.
Conant also emphasized the importance of respectful civic discourse, referencing heated public comment periods during council meetings. “We want people to express their feelings, but they need to do so in a calm, collective manner. Yelling and profanity just shuts everybody off,” he said.
Looking ahead, Conant pointed to Pittsfield’s underused infrastructure as a long-term challenge. “Our city is designed for 60,000 people, but we’re hovering around 43,000 to 44,000,” he said. “That infrastructure needs maintenance and some of it will need replacement.”
He expressed cautious optimism about economic development efforts, including progress on the redevelopment of former General Electric properties. “There’s a lot of good synergy going on there,” he said, noting that plans for a major office complex are in the works. He also advocated for “a high-speed train from Albany to Boston” that would stop in Pittsfield, describing it as a potential game-changer for the region’s economic outlook.
Despite running unopposed, Conant urged residents to cast ballots. “There’s no excuse for people to say they’re too busy. You can vote early, you can vote by mail. We want to make sure the citizens of Pittsfield have the people they want representing them,” he said.
Editor’s Note: This article is based on the October 29, 2025 broadcast of WTBR’s “Morning Drive” and was written in part using ChatGPT. To view the entire program, visit https://pittsfieldtv.org/program/?id=54226. WTBR’s “Morning Drive” airs weekdays at 7:30 a.m. on 89.7 FM in Pittsfield and 88.1 in Lee; and is simulcast on Access Pittsfield channel 1301. The full interview is available to view through PCTV Select.
