IRON MOUNTAIN — The majority of candidates filing for partisan offices across Dickinson County are Republicans as a June 7 deadline nears for Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson to certify candidates eligible to appear on the Aug. 6 primary ballot.
Candidates without political party affiliation seeking partisan offices have until July 18 to file qualifying petitions for the Nov. 5 general election ballot.
In the Aug. 6 primary, a number of Republican Party races will be contested, including four for Dickinson County board seats.
Two county millage proposals are also on the ballot, along with millage renewals in Sagola and Felch townships and a proposal in the North Dickinson County School District. A change in the Iron Mountain City Charter is also on the ballot.
Summaries are:
DICKINSON COUNTY BOARD
In District 1, incumbent Joseph Stevens of Kingsford will be challenged in the Republican primary by Angela Olson. There are no Democratic candidates.
In District 2, incumbent Ann Martin of Iron Mountain faces opposition from Kevin Sullivan in the Republican primary. William Revord is the lone Democratic candidate.
In District 3, incumbent Barbara Kramer of Iron Mountain is challenged by Dan Harrington in the Republican primary. Sandi Lefebvre is a Democratic candidate.
In District 4, incumbent Henry Wender of Breitung Township will be opposed in the Republican primary by Peter Swanson. There are no Democratic candidates.
In District 5, incumbent John Degenaer Jr. of Norway is unopposed in the Democratic primary, while Victoria Jakel is the lone Republican candidate.
DICKINSON COUNTY
Republican candidates unopposed are Aaron M. Rochon, sheriff; and incumbents Lisa Richards, prosecutor; Carol Bronzyk, clerk-register of deeds;
Lorna Carey, treasurer; Michael Ghere, mine inspector; and Kevin Trevillian, drain commissioner.
Two Dickinson County millage questions are on the Aug. 6 ballot. The county will seek a renewal of 0.4 mills, or 40 cents per $1,000 of taxable value for a period of three years for operating and equipping the Enhanced 911 system. The levy would generate an estimated $407,425 in 2025.
Dickinson County Library will seek a levy of 0.9 mills, or 90 cents per $1,000 of taxable value, for library maintenance and operations. The levy includes a renewal of 0.8988 mills and 0.0012 mills in new additional millage. The estimated revenue to be generated in 2025 is $945,000 and the levy is for five years.
NORTH DICKINSON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
The district will seek a property tax levy not to exceed 1 mill for eight years to create a sinking fund for the acquisition and maintenance of transportation vehicles. It would raise an estimated $148,975 in 2025.
IRON MOUNTAIN
Voters will be asked to approve a change in the city charter to raise council member pay to $30 per meeting — up from the current $10 — but capped at $1,500 per year. The current cap, in place since 1985, is $500.
BREEN TOWNSHIP
Incumbent Travis Woodward is the lone candidate for supervisor, while Robert Massie and incumbent Mick Reynolds are seeking the two trustee seats. All are Republicans.
BREITUNG TOWNSHIP
Five candidates have filed as Republicans for four trustee positions. They are Sharon Reuter and incumbents Michael Day, Ben Peterson, Paul J. Taff and Brent Johnson. Unopposed are Republican candidates Denny Olson, supervisor, and Heather Lieburn, treasurer, both incumbents.
FELCH TOWNSHIP
Incumbent Republicans are unopposed — Clerk Darrell Oman, Supervisor Robert Mattson, Treasurer Marilyn Steinbrecher and trustees Darwin Dixon and Greg Wille.
The township will seek a renewal of 1 mill, or $1 per $1,000 of taxable value, for four years for road repairs. It would raise an estimated $45,651 in 2024.
NORWAY TOWNSHIP
There are three Republican candidates for two trustee seats — Rene Skrumbellos, Brian Pellegrini and incumbent David Solda. In the clerk’s race, incumbent Joyce Giuliani is challenged in the Republican primary by Shannon Unrein. Unopposed are incumbent Supervisor Don Byczek, a Democrat, and incumbent Treasurer Jeffrey Edwards, a Republican.
SAGOLA TOWNSHIP
Three Republicans will vie for supervisor — Michael L. Dellies, William Lockhart and Ryan D. Mulder. There are three Republican candidates for two trustee seats — David Roell and incumbents Michael Kroll and Lucas Fleming. Unopposed are incumbent Republicans Julie Roell, clerk; and Robin Begarowicz, treasurer.
The township will seek three millage renewals. They are a renewal of 1 mill, or $1 per $1,000 of taxable value, for two years for fire protection, raising an estimated $73,199 in 2025; a renewal of 0.75 mills, or 75 cents per $1,000 of taxable value, for two years for ambulance protection, raising an estimated $54,899 in 2025; and a renewal of 1 mill, or $1 per $1,000 of taxable value, for four years for road repair, raising an estimated $73,199 in 2025.
WAUCEDAH TOWNSHIP
Incumbents unopposed in the Republican primary are Louis Sturm, supervisor; Lori Turri, clerk; and Amy Hebzynski, treasurer. Trustee incumbents Chuck Adams, a Republican, and Rick Smaniotti, a Democrat, are unopposed for two seats.
WEST BRANCH TOWNSHIP
Incumbent Republicans unopposed are Clerk Lisa M. Jacobson, Supervisor Penny S. Skogman and Treasurer Kim M. Oman.
MICHIGAN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 109th DISTRICT
State Rep. Jen Hill, D-Marquette, is challenged in the Democratic primary by Margaret Brumm and Randy Girard, both of Marquette. Republican candidates are Karl Bohnak of Negaunee, Burt Mason of L’Anse, George Meister of Marquette and Melody Wagner of Gwinn. The district includes Alger, Baraga and Marquette counties and the eastern part of Dickinson County — the city of Norway and Breen; and Felch, Norway, Waucedah and West Branch townships.
MICHIGAN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 110th DISTRICT
State Rep. Greg Markkanen, R-Hanco*ck, is unopposed in the Republican primary while Kim Corcoran of Ironwood is the lone Democratic candidate. The district includes Iron, Gogebic, Ontonagon, Houghton and Keweenaw counties and the western part of Dickinson County — the cities of Iron Mountain and Kingsford and Breitung and Sagola townships.
MICHIGAN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 108th DISTRICT
State Rep. David Prestin, R-Cedar River, in unopposed in the Republican primary while Christiana Reynolds of Escanaba is a Democratic challenger. The district includes Delta, Luce, Menominee and Schoolcraft counties as well as parts of Chippewa and Mackinac counties.
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, MICHIGAN 1st DISTRICT
Democratic candidates Callie Barr of Traverse City and Bob Lorinser of Marquette will square off in the Democratic primary. U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Watersmeet, faces Republican challengers Josh Saul of Roscommon and JD Wilson of Houghton Lake. Michigan Bureau of Elections staff, however, has invalidated the petitions submitted by the two Republican challengers, which would prevent both Saul and Wilson from appearing on the Aug. 6 ballot.
UPDATE: The Michigan Board of State Canvassers on Friday disqualified JD Wilson from the Aug. 6 primary ballot in the 1st Congressional District, but rejected a recommendation from Bureau of Elections staff to disqualify Josh Saul, who will remain on the Republican primary ballot to challenge U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Watersmeet.
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