ELY – There will be at least one new member of the Ely City Council next year as incumbent Gordon Sheddy had the least number of votes among 10 candidates in the primary election on Tuesday.

About 33 percent, 766 of 2,148 of registered voters in Ely, turned out and also chose Paul Kess and Chuck Novak to advance to the general election in November for mayor of Ely. Incumbent Ross Petersen did not seek a second term.

Sheddy received 129 votes and was eliminated from the field, along with Angela Campbell with 169 votes, Mark Zupec at 183, and Mike Hillman with 196 votes.

The top vote-getter for city council was Daniel Forsman, with 278 votes, followed by incumbent Heidi Omerza with 256, Albert Forsman (Dan’s uncle), 243, incumbent Warren Nikkola, 234, Kayla Tedrick, 207, and Ryan Callen, 206. These six will vie for three seats on the council on Nov. 4.

Former mayor and councilman Chuck Novak lead the mayoral race with 336 votes, current council member Paul Kess had 281 votes and Dennis Wickman was eliminated with 126 votes.

Novak said he felt good about the results of the primary and thanked all those who voted for him. “We now have to focus on the whole theme of the election,” he said Wednesday morning. “We need to preserve the integrity of the history of Ely and work to improve our economy. We need to get taxes under control and get more businesses and jobs in town. It will be a tough job, but I feel the council can make that happen.”

Kess said he was grateful for the support he received. “I look forward to the general election,” he said Wednesday morning. “We have two good candidates and that’s what our democracy is all about. I look forward to re-energizing the debate come this fall.”

Clerk-Treasurer Harold Langowski said he was surprised by the turnout at the Senior Center on Tuesday. “It was steady all day,” he said. The polls were open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. A total of 60 residents registered to cast their vote on Tuesday. There were 43 absentee ballots counted.

Ely voters overwhelmingly chose Tom Rukavina for 4th District Commissioner for St. Louis County with 418 votes. Christina Hujanen trailed with 155 votes and Kirsten Reichel garnered 115 votes.

Town of Morse voters followed suit with 121 votes going to Rukavina, 71 to Hujanen and 45 to Reichel.