Iron County voters head to polls Tuesday

By RICHARD JENKINS

[email protected]

Iron County voters will cast ballots Tuesday, deciding on everything from the presidential primaries to state and local contests.

While many of the candidates running for president have suspended their campaigns, the filing deadlines for the Republican and Democratic races mean they will still appear on Tuesday’s ballot.

In addition to the national race, voters will decide between JoAnne Kloppenburg and Rebecca Bradley for a seat on the state Supreme Court.

Thomas Hruz is running unopposed as a court of appeals judge.

All 15 seats on the Iron County Board of Supervisors are up for re-election, with 11 incumbents running unopposed, including:

—District 1: Paul Mullard.

—District 2: Joe Pinardi.

—District 3: John Jack Prospero.

—District 4: Larry Youngs.

—District 5: William Thomas.

—District 7: John Smith.

—District 10: Scott Erickson.

—District 12: Opal Roberts.

—District 13: Thomas Thompson.

—District 14: James Kichak.

—District 15: Brad Matson.

In District 6 (Montreal) newcomer Ken Saari is running unopposed to replace Mitch Koski, who chose not to seek re-election.

Three races — districts 8, 9 and 11 — are contested. In District 8 (Saxon-Gurney), Leslie Kolesar is challenging incumbent Karl Krall.

In District 9 (Pence, Upson), Daniel Swetkovich and Patrick Hanson are fighting to replace George Nasi.

In District 11 (Mercer), incumbent Vic Ouimette is facing a challenge from John Sendra.

Pinardi is also running unopposed for another term as Hurley’s mayor.

In the Hurley City Council race, seven candidates are running for six seats.

The city’s voters will be able to select no more than six candidates from the pool of incumbents Terrence Seibel, Jamey Francis, Jay “Budgey” Aijala, Robert “Robbie” Lanctoe, Steven Lombardo and Joanne Bruneau, and challenger Stephanie Innes-Smith.

David Pajula and Michael Fontecchio are running unopposed for re-election to the Hurley School Board.

In Mercer, Bill Brundage, Michael Lambert, Sendra and Ouimette are competing for a pair of seats on the town board. Voters will be able to vote for their top two choices, with the two candidates receiving the most votes capturing the seats. Sendra is an incumbent in the race.

Mercer also has Denise Thompson, Deanna Pierpont and Christa Reinert competing for a pair of seats on the school board. As with the town board, voters will cast votes for two candidates and the top two vote-getters get seated.

In Montreal, Steve Evans and Todd Haeger are competing to replace Koski as mayor. Two seats on the Montreal City Council are also up for election, with incumbent Karen Secor facing off against challenger Wayne Berglund in Ward 1. Joseph Leoni is unchallenged in his campaign to retain his Ward 2 seat.

A third school board race is on the ballot, with voters in the town of Sherman participating in a race for three seats on the Chequamegon School Board. Incumbent Matt Brenholt will appear on the ballot for one of the two Park Falls seats on the board.

Iron County Clerk Michael Saari said Larry Palecek has become a registered write-in candidate for the other Park Falls seat, while Douglas Reine — another registered write-in candidate — will be the only one vying for Glidden’s seat on the board.

Saari said Sherman voters will be able to vote for all three.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.