Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
VOTERS GATHER in the auditorium of the Memorial Building in Ironwood Tuesday to vote in the Michigan primary election. The ballot included state and local races, including a millage proposal by the Ironwood Area Schools for buses and upgrades. The measure was approved 59-41 percent.
IRONWOOD - Jim Byrns defeated Paul Grbavcich 131-107 in Tuesday's primary for the Gogebic County Board of Commissioners District 3 seat.
The two Ironwood men were both running as Democrats. Since no Republicans were on the ballot, Byrns will face no opposition on the ballot in the Nov. 6 general election for the two-year term.
It was the only contested race among candidates for the seven Gogebic County Board of Commissioners seats in Tuesday's primary election.
All of District 3 is in Ironwood. Current District 3 commissioner Jim Oliver did not seek re-election. Newcomer Joann Balduc, of Bessemer Township, was un-opposed in District 4 as a Democrat to replace Jeff Wasley, of Erwin Township, who was also not seeking re-election. She received 242 votes, against one write-in. Again, there were no Republicans on the primary ballot, so Balduc will see no competition on the ballot in November.
District 4 encompasses Erwin Township and parts of Bessemer Township and the city of Ironwood. The other five commissioners were running unopposed for re-election - all on the Democratic ticket - and will face no opposition on the ballot in November. They, with the vote totals, include: Dan Siirila, District 1, Ironwood Township, 291; Tom Laabs, District 2, Ironwood, 245; Joe Bonovetz, District 5, Bessemer and Bessemer Township, 261; Bob Orlich, District 6, Wakefield and Wakefield Township, 200; and George Peterson III, District 7, Watersmeet Township and Marenisco Township, 137.
-Larry Holcombe
