Candidates file for county, town government

By TOM LAVENTURE

[email protected]

The filing period for the next Gogebic County primary election has closed for candidates seeking county and township offices in the Aug. 4 primary election. 

The top vote getters in each party will advance to the Nov. 3 general election.

The August ballot will also include several countywide millage proposals. (See related story on page 5).

Ironwood voters will face a millage question asking for a 1 mill renewal to support the Pat O’Donnell Civic Center.

County offices 

There are three candidates for Gogebic County Sheriff. 

Incumbent Sheriff Pete Matonich, is being challenged by Joseph J. Cayer, and David E. Kinnunen. All running as Democrats. The top two vote getters will appear on the November ballot.

There are two contested seats on the Gogebic County Board of Commissioners.

District 2 (Ironwood) Commissioner Tom Laabs, the incumbent, is being challenged by Michael Wiemeri. Both are Democrats and the August winner’s name will appear alone on the November ballot.

District 4 (Ironwood) Commissioner James Lorenson, appointed incumbent, is being challenged by Cory Niemela. Both are running as Democrats. Again, the winner’s name will appear alone in November.

The remaining commissioner seats are running unopposed with incumbents including Dan Siirila in District 1 (Ironwood Township); Jim Byrns in District 3 (Ironwood); Joe Bonovetz in District 5 (Bessemer); Robert Orlich in District 6 (Wakefield), and George R. Peterson III in District 7 (Watersmeet). All are running as Democrats.

Michael Foley is running for county drain commissioner as a Republican. He is challenged by Dan Wood, a Democrat. They will face each other on the November ballot.

The current clerk and register of deeds, Gerry Pelissero, is not seeking reelection. Ramona Collins, the current county deputy register of deeds, is running unopposed in her bid to replace Pelissero. She is a Democrat. 

Other unopposed candidates running as incumbents for county offices include Nicholas J. Jacobs for prosecuting attorney, and Lisa Hewitt for treasurer. Both are Democrats. 

There are no candidates filed to run for county mine inspector.

Bessemer Township

There are two contests in Bessemer Township. 

Beverly Ikola, an incumbent trustee and Debbie Janczak, clerk, are running unopposed. Both are running as Democrats. The town supervisor, treasurer, and second trustee seats are not up for election.

Erwin Township 

Larry Grimsby is running unopposed for reelection as the Erwin Town Supervisor. He is a Democrat.

Betty Perkis is a new candidate running for town clerk as a Democrat. The incumbent clerk, Vicky Finco, is not seeking reelection.

Roberta Nuce is a new candidate running for town treasurer as a Republican. The incumbent treasurer, Sylvia Mussatti, is not seeking reelection.

Ray Brown is not seeking reelection as a town trustee. James Anderson, an incumbent Republican, and newcomer William Hellen, a Republican, are filed to run for the two seats.

Ironwood Township

Jay Kangas is a new candidate for the town supervisor, running as a Democrat. The current supervisor, James Simmons Jr., did not file to seek reelection.

Mary Segalin, the incumbent town clerk, is seeking reelection as a Democrat. She is being challenged by Marlene Saari Mieloszyk, a current town trustee who is also a Democrat. The winner will be unopposed on the November ballot.

Maria Graser, the incumbent treasurer, is running for reelection unopposed as a Democrat.

There are four trustee seats up for election with two incumbent trustees Kevin Lyons and Bernard Brunello, seeking reelection as Democrats. Current trustee Beverly Michaels is not seeking reelection and Saari Mieloszyk will vacate her seat in her bid for clerk.

Other Democrats running for trustee include newcomers Gabriel Justinak, Sandy Lahtinen and Vicki Nelson. The top four Democrats will appear on the November ballot.

Republicans Brenda Aili-Angus, and James Simmons Jr., are also running for trustee in the primary and will appear on the November ballot, as well.

Marenisco Township 

The current town supervisor, Richard Bouvette, is not seeking reelection. Newcomer Bruce Mahler, a Republican, is the only candidate seeking the supervisor chair.

Donna Kenney, the current town clerk, is running unopposed as a Democrat.

Diane Dean, the current town treasurer, is not seeking reelection. Newcomer Kathy Leonard is running for treasurer as a Democrat.

David Hagen and Kelly Dunbar, the two current trustees, are both running unopposed as Democrats.

Wakefield Township

John Cox is not running for reelection as the town supervisor. Mandy Lake, the current town clerk, is the sole candidate running for supervisor, as a Democrat.

Newcomer Jennifer Ahonen is running unopposed for town clerk, as a Democrat.

Joan Dalman has not filed for reelection as town treasurer. Newcomer Denice Laessig is the lone candidate for treasurer, as a Republican.

There are two town trustee seats open with Gerald Niemi, Democrat, the only incumbent to run for reelection as Jim Spencer did not file. Newcomers Michael Heikkila and Robert Drier are also running as Democrats.

Watersmeet Township

There are two candidates running for town supervisor.

The incumbent, Michael Rogers, is seeking election as a Democrat, while Harold Neumann Jr., a current trustee, is running against him as a Republican.

Unopposed incumbents running include Paul Kemppainen for town treasurer, and Julie Ann Mathiesen as town clerk, both Democrats. Alan Piel is seeking reelection as a trustee. He is a Republican.

Newcomer Peter Adrian Lievense Jr., is running as a Republican for the remaining trustee seat that will be vacated by Neumann.