Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
THE VOTING booths are set up and ready Monday in the gymnasium in Ironwood Township's township hall ahead of today's mid-term election. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
By RICHARD JENKINS
Voters around the country are voting in the general mid-term election today; including those in Gogebic and Iron counties where national, state and local races are on the ballot.
Both Wisconsin and Michigan have their respective governor, attorney general and secretary of state offices up for election. Wisconsin's state treasurer office is also on the ballot.
Polls in both states are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Today's election will also decide who will represent the region in the Michigan House of Representatives, Michigan State Senate, Wisconsin State Senate and Wisconsin State Assembly for their next terms.
Along with the state races, the ballot also features a U.S. Senate race in both Wisconsin and Michigan. Wisconsin's 7th Congressional District and Michigan's 1st Congressional District seats are also up for grabs.
While Iron County's local races are all uncontested, there are three contested races in various jurisdictions in Gogebic County.
Both the Ironwood and Bessemer school districts have contested races. In Ironwood, five candidates are running for four seats. In Bessemer, four candidates are running for three spots. Two local attorneys are also seeking to be the county's next probate judge, replacing Joel Massie who is retiring.
Voters in the Bessemer School District will also vote on a ballot measure seeking to renew a Headlee Amendment override that would allow the collection of up to 18 mills on non-homestead properties.
One mill translates to $1 per $1,000 of taxable value.
Other local ballot measures included a proposal to renew 1 mill for road maintenance in Ironwood Township and a countywide proposal for 1 mill intended to fund an ambulance service in the county.
In Bessemer, voters will also decide three city ballot measures. Proposal 1 will make the time one must be a resident in order to serve as a city elected official one year instead of two. Proposal 2 raises the minimum price for which the city council can sell a piece of property without asking the voters from $2 per capita to $50 per capita. With a population of 1,905 in the 2010 census, the minimum would go from $3,810 to $95,250. Proposal 3 asks for permission to sell three lots in the Industrial Park for up to $10,000 each.
There are also three statewide proposals on Michigan ballots. Proposal l asks if it should be legal to possess, use and cultivate marijuana products by those 21 years of age and older, and commercial sales of marijuana through state-licensed retailers. Proposal 2 asks to amend the state constitution to establish a commission of citizens to adopt district boundaries for the Michigan state senate and state house, as well as the state's U.S. Congressional districts every 10 years. Proposal 3 would make voter registration automatic for those applying for, or renewing, a driver's license unless the person declines, allow absent voter ballots without providing a reason and allow voters to cast a straight-ticket vote for all candidates of a particular party when voting in a partisan election.
Statewide, there is also a non-partisan election for two seats on the State Supreme Court. Voters will also find partisan races for the State Board of Education, as well as for governing boards for the University of Michigan, Michigan State University and Wayne State University.
