County offices, positions up for vote in ballot

By TOM LAVENTURE

tlaventure@yourdailyglobe.com

There are several local township and Gogebic County offices to be decided along with ballot questions and federal offices in the Nov. 3 general election.

All ballots across the county will include the contested Drain Commissioner contest with Dan Woods, Democrat, facing Michael Foley, Republican. Incumbent Ramona Collins is a Democrat running unopposed for Gogebic County clerk and register of deeds. She is the current deputy register of deeds to Gerry Pelissero, who is not running for reelection.

County offices with uncontested races include incumbents Pete Matonich, sheriff; Lisa Hewitt, treasurer; Nicholas Jacobs, prosecuting attorney, and Michael Pope, circuit court judge.

All members of the Gogebic County Commission who are up for election are running unopposed.

Commissioner James Lorenson will appear on the ballot in Bessemer Township Precinct 1A, and 1C; Erwin Township, and the city of Ironwood Precinct 3.

Commissioner John Bonovetz will appear on the ballot in the city of Bessemer and for Bessemer Township Precinct 1B.

Commissioner Bob Orlich will appear on the ballot in Wakefield Township, and the city of Wakefield.

Commissioner George Peterson will appear on the ballot in Marenisco and Watersmeet.

Commissioner Dan Siirila will appear on the ballot in Ironwood Township.

Commissioner Tom Laabs will appear on the ballot in the city of Ironwood precinct 1.

Commissioner Jim Byrns will appear on the ballot in the city of Ironwood precinct 2.

Bessemer Township

Unopposed candidates on all Bessemer Township Precinct ballots include Jeffrey Randall for supervisor, Debbie Janczak for clerk, Hope Tarnaski for treasurer and Beverly Ikola running for one of two open trustee seats. All four candidates are incumbents.

Erwin Township

Unopposed candidates in Erwin Township include Larry Grimsby for town supervisor, Betty Perkis for clerk and Roberta Nuce for treasurer. William Hellen and James Anderson are the two candidates seeking two open trustee seats.

Ironwood Township

There are six candidates who are seeking one of four trustee seats in Ironwood Township. The Democrats include Gabe Justinak, Sandy Lahtinen, Vicki Nelson and incumbent Kevin Lyons. The Republicans include Brenda Aili-Angus and James Simmons Jr.

Jay Kangas is running unopposed for township supervisor. Simmons is running for Trustee.

Mary Segalin is running unopposed as the incumbent township clerk. Maria Graser is running unopposed as the township treasurer.

Marenisco Township

Bruce Mahler is running unopposed for town supervisor. He would be replacing Richard Bouvette, who is retiring.

Other uncontested contests include incumbents Donna Kenney for town clerk, along with Kelly Dunbar and David Earl Hagen for the two open trustee seats. Newcomer Kathy Leonard is running unopposed for town treasurer to replace Diane Dean.

Wakefield Township

Mandy Lake, the current township clerk, is running unopposed for township supervisor. She would replace John Cox.

Jennifer Ahonen is running unopposed for the town clerk seat. She would replace Lake.

Denice Laessig is running unopposed for treasurer. She would replace Joan Dalman.

There are two trustee candidates running for two seats. Incumbent Gerald Niemi is seeking reelection and newcomer Robert Drier would replace Jim Spencer.

Watersmeet Township

There are three candidates seeking to become the next Watersmeet Township supervisor.

Incumbent Supervisor Mike Rogers, a Democrat, is being challenged by current town trustee Bill Neumann, a Republican, and Nick Christ, who carries no political affiliation.

The incumbent clerk Julie Mathiesen, a Democrat, is being challenged by Kirsten Boehm, a Republican.

There are three candidates seeking two open trustee seats. The three include incumbent trustee Alan Piel, a Republican, along with newcomers Peter Lievense Jr., Republican, and Russ Diethert, who has no party affiliation.