Nominating petitions now available for Houghton special election

The City of Houghton’s May special election is technically already underway. Prospective candidates can pick up nominating packets at City Center during regular business hours. There are no fees charged for running, but anyone interested in having their name on the ballot must return a form filled with 40 to 60 signatures by January 18th.

The special election is to fill the seventh Houghton City Council seat, left vacant after Dan Salo retired in October. The body had three opportunities to name a replacement in mid-November, but all five applicants who were officially nominated for the position received an equal number of votes in each round. With the council deadlocked, the seat remains open.

The winner of May’s election will serve until November 2022, needing a win in the general to have a full term. Several councilors have expressed an interest in having more issues up for a vote in the special election, including Robert Megowan. To put additional items on the ballot, the council has to make a decision by January. They only have one meeting left in the month of December, scheduled for Wednesday, the 15th.