REGIONAL- Voters in Ely and Babbitt will have the widest selection of candidates for local offices in November, while several other area races drew only enough candidates to fill the available seats, or fewer.
In Ely, incumbent Mayor Heidi Omerza is being challenged by current city council member Emily Roose. Six candidates filed for three council seats, including incumbents Angela Campbell and Al Forsman. They are joined by Josh Brang, Abby Dare, Lacey Squier, and former council member Mark Zupec.
Council member Adam Bisbee, whose term expires at the end of the year, did not file for reelection.
Babbitt voters will also have choices in both city races. Cathy Hoheisel and current council member Duane Lossing filed for mayor. The seat is currently held by Andrea Zupancich, who did not file for reelection.
Six candidates are running for two seats on the Babbitt City Council. The field includes incumbent Joseph White, along with Glenn Anderson, Shyann Cersine, Claire High, Jacob Myers, and Terrance Switajewski.
Tower Mayor David Setterberg filed for reelection and is unopposed. Current council members Joe Morin filed for one of the two open four-year seats. John VanDeVoort, who was appointed to fill a council vacancy, filed for the open two-year seat to fill out the remainder of this term ending in 2028. There is the opportunity for a write-in candidate for the open four-year seat.
Cook’s city races drew only incumbents. Mayor Daniel Manick filed for reelection, while council members Jody Bixby and Liza Root are the only candidates for two regular council seats.
Ivette Reing is the sole candidate in a special election for another Cook council seat. Reing was appointed earlier this year to fill the vacancy.
Orr Mayor Robert Antikainen filed for reelection and is unopposed. Incumbent Bruce Black was the only candidate to file for two available seats on the Orr City Council, leaving the second position without a filed candidate.
Winton will have one contested city race. Incumbent council member Michele Richards faces former mayor Kathy Brandau for one council seat. Incumbent Mayor Marlene Zorman is unopposed, while Megan Rudesill was the only candidate to file for city clerk-treasurer.

School boards
The Ely School Board race drew six candidates for three seats, providing voters with the largest field among the area’s school elections.
Incumbent Jennifer Westlund is seeking reelection. She is joined on the ballot by Steve Hornstein, John Kannas, Derekah Kingery, Bailey McLinn-Belehar, and Joe Weise.
Three incumbents filed for three seats on the Nett Lake School Board. Janice Connor, Beverly Mae Steel, and Brian Whiteman Sr. are all seeking reelection, leaving no contested race.
Three seats are also up for election on the St. Louis County School Board, with incumbents filing in each district. Mallory Manick is unopposed in District 2, while Lynn Hilde is unopposed in District 5.
District 3 will have the school district’s only contested race, with incumbent Ron Marinaro facing Kerie Porter.

Township offices
Candidate interest was mixed among area township races, with several incumbents or other candidates filing without opposition and four positions attracting no candidates.
Crane Lake Township had one candidate file for each available office. Emily Schwanke filed for supervisor Seat A, Jeanne Shuck for supervisor Seat C, Cathy Truehenbach for town clerk in a special election, and Traci Bak for treasurer.
In Eagles Nest Township, incumbent Brian Harrington was the only candidate to file for supervisor Seat E. No candidates filed for supervisor seats A or D or for township treasurer.
No candidate filed for supervisor Seat 1 in Embarrass Township, while Mary Novak filed for treasurer.
Dean Broten filed for supervisor Seat C in Kugler Township, and Diane Meehan filed for treasurer. Michael Bodri was the lone candidate for supervisor Seat 1 in Owens Township.
All city, township, and school board races are nonpartisan and will appear on the Tuesday, Nov. 3, general election ballot.