Copper Country Voters To Decide Several Key Races

Election Day is finally here.

Though much of the nation’s attention will be focused on the presidential race, there are many important decisions being made right here.

Copper Country voters will cast ballots for our representative in the U.S Congress and the State House.

Democrat Lon Johnson, Republican Jack Bergman and Libertarian candidate Diane Bostow are all running in Michigan’s 1st Congressional District.

Democrat Scott Dianda is running for his third term in the 110th District and is being challenged by Republican Greg Markkanen for his seat in the State House of Representatives.

In Houghton County, three of the five County Commissioner seats are being contested (1st District:Tom Tikkanen, Republican–Rick Kasprzak, Democrat; 2nd District: Albert Koskela, Republican–Valorie Toesch, Democrat; and 4th District: Tim Palosaari, Republican–George Rajala, Democrat), plus there are contested races for Sheriff (Brian McLean vs. Derek Poyhonen) and Prosecutor (Michael Makinen vs. Douglas Edwards).

There are also several city, village and township races, as well as local ballot proposals to be decided.

Though there are no county-wide proposals on the ballot, there are two local items that are of interest.

Voters in Chassell Township will once again decide whether to pull out from the Portage Lake District Library. The proposal was defeated in August but township officials decided to immediately put it back on the ballot.

Hancock city residents will vote on a Recreation Millage. The additional 0.8 mills for five years would fund capital recreation improvements at about $85,000 a year.

The city councils of both Houghton and Hancock will look a little different.

In Houghton, Philip “Buck” Foltz is on the ballot for a four-year term.  Current council member Craig Kurtz is retiring.

Greg Markkanen and John Slivon are stepping down from the Hancock City Council. Dan Seguin is running unopposed in Ward 2 but no candidates filed for Ward 3, so that office will be determined by write-in.

Baraga County has one contested Commissioner’s race in District 4, between Calvin Koske and William Menge.

The largest ballot item is in the L’Anse School District, where the school is seeking a 1 mill sinking fund millage.

Keweenaw County has a three-way race for its 2nd District Commissioner seat between Raymond Chase, Paul Michael Mihelcich and Jim Vivian.

Republican William Luokkanen and Democrat Dale Yeo are running to replace retiring Sheriff Ron Lahti.

A county-wide Police Protection Millage Renewal is also on the ballot in Keweenaw County.

Ontonagon County has two contested races for Commissioner and a three-way race for Sheriff.

You can preview what’s on your ballot by visiting the Michigan Voter Information Center at www.Michigan.gov

Polls are open until 8pm tonight.