Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By RALPH ANSAMI
Republican Greg Markkanen squeaked by Democrat Ken Summers in Michigan’s 110th State Representative race Tuesday.
The final vote tally, tabulated well after midnight, was 17,980 to 17,401.
Summers, from L’Anse, beat Markkanen, from Hancock, 3,485 to 2,895 in Gogebic County. Summers campaigned extensively in the western Upper Peninsula.
Markkanen defeated Brady Tervo, Kirk Schott and Keith LaCosse to advance to the mid-term election.
He listed the biggest campaign issues as auto insurance, energy costs, revenue sharing and school funding.
Markkanen served for two decades with the military and has taught at high school and college levels, including for Gogebic Community College.
Summers said he had congratulated Markkanen.
“While knocking doors and talking to voters, I heard from seniors who have to choose between the medicine they need to live and food. I talked to parents who think we need to better fund our public schools. These issues aren’t going away in Lansing. Although I won’t be serving as state representative, I’ll be sure to keep working to make certain that Michigan families have access to everything they need to succeed,” Summers said.
In the 38th District Senate race, Republican Ed McBroom, of Vulcan, won comfortably over Scott Dianda, of Calumet, 58,605 to 46,985.
“I couldn’t be prouder of the campaign we have run and the hard-working team of volunteers who knocked doors, made calls, and helped us get out the vote,” Dianda said.
“I’ve called and congratulated Ed McBroom on his victory in this race to represent the people of the Upper Peninsula. I wish him the best as he works to fix our roads, clean up our drinking water, and restore funding to public education in the state of Michigan,” he added.
Dianda had served as the 110th District State Representative. He had solidly defeated Markkanen in the 2016 110th district election for another two-year term.
Dianda and his wife, Debbie, live in Calumet and own a small business in Houghton.
McBroom became a key force in the attempt to keep the Ojibway prison in Marenisco from closing.
Republicans kept control of the Michigan House of Representatives, continuing an eight-year run leading that chamber.
Republicans won control during the 2010 mid-term elections.
Outgoing Gov. Rick Snyder congratulated the GOP on retaining the legislative majority.
“The state legislature will play an important role in ensuring Michigan’s reinvention continues on our path forward. We are firmly positioned to pay down long-term debt, improve our infrastructure, and retain Michigan’s role as a leader in manufacturing job growth and the mobility sector. We must not lose sight of where we came from, nor where we are going if we want Michigan and all Michiganders to succeed,” Snyder said.
