ELY – City of Ely residents will go to the polls on Tuesday, Aug. 10 to vote in a primary election for the mayoral seat. A two-week filing period for the city of Ely mayor and three city council seats ended Tuesday in a flurry of candidacy filings.
One city council member, Heidi Omerza, is willing to give up her current position to seek the city’s top job as mayor, and another council member, not up for re-election, is also vying for the job. They will be joined on the primary ballot by Mark Haarman.
Omerza threw her hat in the ring a week ago in another bid for the city’s top elected position. She lost to incumbent Roger Skraba by just 13 votes in a special election last year. Skraba is running for a seat in the state legislature, currently occupied by State Rep. Rob Ecklund, and is giving up his seat as Ely mayor.
This is the third time Omerza has sought the mayoral position. As her council seat is up for election this year, Omerza would exit Ely politics if she loses her mayoral bid.
Council member Paul Kess is also seeking the mayor’s seat for the third time. He has served on the city council for about two decades, starting in the 1990s.
“I hope to continue the progress Ely has made in our economy and infrastructure,” Kess said. I serve on the budget committee and am continue to help keep our taxes low. I am committed to making Ely a better place.”
Harmon has lived “off and on in the Ely area for 50 years.” He lists his residence on Kawishiwi Trail, outside the city limits.
“I have 30 days before the election to provide an affidavit of (city) residency, which I will do,” he said. “I am looking for a manufacturing facility where I will also have a permanent mailing address.”
In running for mayor, Harmon said, “I would like to have a say in what happens here. In two years, I will prove that I’m a good mayor in what I will provide the city as far as jobs.”
For the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 8, Ely voters will choose the mayor from the two top vote-getters in the primary. The new mayor will serve a two-year term.
For the four-year city council posts, to be elected Nov. 8, three candidates are vying for the three open seats.
Angela Campbell and Albert Forsman are both seeking re-election. Newcomer Adam Bisbee, 1004 E. Chapman St., is also seeking a seat on the council. Six or more council candidates would have also forced a primary election.
Over at the Ely School District, ISD 696 will also hold school board elections on Nov. 8. Positions now held by Tony Colarich, Ray Marsnik, and Rochelle Sjoberg are up for grabs for four-year terms. The position held by Chad Davis, who was appointed earlier this year to fill a board vacancy, is also open for a two-year term. Candidacy filing will take place later this year No primary election will be held.