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Election day has come and gone. Counties in the Copper Country have shared unofficial results for the area’s local races and proposals. Residents in Houghton and Portage Township did accept the HPTS school district bond millage extension, 1,820 to 1,790. The proposal will fund facility security upgrades and construct additional space at the elementary level. Elm River Township Schools and Dollar Bay Schools voters also passed district millages.
At the County level, Joel Keranan returns to the commissioner’s table beating Casey VerBerkmoes. He’ll rejoin commissioners Glen Anderson, Roy Britz, Gretchen Jansen, and Tom Tikkanen, who all ran unopposed. Out in Ontonagon County, the 5th district chose Ron Store for representation at the county level. He defeated Marlene Bromei with 62 percent of the vote. Keweenaw County Commissioner Donald Piche will return to his seat, defeating AJ Kern, 213 to 140.
Keweenaw County residents have also voted no to countywide zoning, voting against 879 to 673.
Phillip Foltz will join returning Houghton City councilors Brian Irizarry and Virgina Cole at the council’s organizational meeting next Tuesday.
Hancock will also have a full council going into the new year. Dean Woodbeck will presumably take the Ward two seat as the city’s only registered write-in candidate. Lyn Gierke has won the Chassell Supervisor position against David Mattson. Portage Township has elected Brandon Scholie over Bruce Peterson. Over 1800 votes were cast in the Portage township supervisor race. In Stanton Township Marty Rajala will take on the Supervisor role after beating out Mike Pionke 529 to 430.
At a local level in Keweenaw County, Rich Probst Jr. earns the supervisor role in Eagle Harbor Township. Richard Schaffer and Bryce Holden earned 163 and 122 votes in the Eagle Harbor Township trustee race, respectively. Meg Vivien-North will take on the Supervisor role for Grant Township with 170 votes. Grant Township trustee candidates earned 358 votes, split 126 for Stacey Gibson-Kiesel, 122 for Art Davis, and Bob Pokorski with 110 votes.
In Baraga County George Danielson earned over 1000 votes for the Baraga Township supervisor role. While L’Anse voters also cast over 1400 ballots for Peter Magaraggia as the L’Anse township supervisor. Also in L’Anse township Jennie Nordstrom defeated John Rolliband for the constable race 1304 to 974.
At the state level, incumbent representative Greg Markkanen held off challenger Kim Corcoran from Ironwood. In Houghton County, Markkanen earned 11,700 votes, and Keweenaw and Ontonagon County voters earned him 3,497 votes.
He will join Karl Bohnak, who has won the 109th district in a historic victory. Bohnak’s defeat of incumbent representative Jenn Hill is the first Republican victory in the district since 1984. In Baraga County, Bohnak earned 2,849 votes.
Other races for the House of Representatives and the Senate in Washington D.C. have not been fully counted yet. We hope to bring more information as the day progresses.
You can find full unofficial results for elections in Baraga, Houghton, Keweenaw, and Ontonagon counties below. Find more information on state and national races here.
Baraga County November 2024 Unofficial Results
Houghton County November 2024 Unofficial Results
