IRON COUNTY—The big statewide and national races reach their climax in November, but for Iron County residents election year 2008 comes down to next Tuesday, Aug. 5.

That is the day of the primary election. In Iron County, the vote totals from Aug. 5 will tell the tale due to the absence of Republican candidates, although some candidates have filed as independents.

Among the races on next week’s ballot:

--A three-way race for the open sheriff’s seat.

--A two-way battle for prosecutor.

--Nomination battles for two of three available seats on the Road Commission. (The third will be decided in November.)

--Some townships have contested primary races. Others do not.

--Several ballot proposals go before voters, including the Forest Park schools’ effort to extend bond payments for one year, along with allocation board, senior center millage and a township levy.

It all comes down to Aug. 5. The legislative, statewide and presidential races will continue for another three months to Nov. 4. but in Iron County, most of the decisions will be made next Tuesday.

County Board

Only one of the five county commissioners faces opposition in the primary election.

That’s in District 4 (city of Crystal Falls plus Mastodon Township), where Carl L. Lind is challenging incumbent Lawrence M. Harrington for the Democratic nomination.

The other four incumbents are running unopposed for new two-year terms: George Brunswick in District 1, Francis A. Wills in District 2, Rosalie A. King in District 3 and Robert Black in District 5.

Several candidates have filed as independents, however, and will be on the ballot in November. Their names will not be on the primary ballot.

County officials

County officials serve four-year terms, and since Iron County voters seldom vote out an incumbent, the races for sheriff and prosecutor dominate this election. The other county incumbents are all running unopposed.

Robert Remondini’s decision not to seek a new term as sheriff has sparked a three-way battle for the Democratic nomination among two deputies in his department—Mark Valesano and Ian Gill, both of Crystal Falls—along with Thomas Anthony Angeli of Iron River.

For prosecutor, Melissa Powell Weston was appointed to that position following the death of Joseph Sartorelli in a traffic accident. Now she seeks the Democratic nomination for a full term and is being opposed by Dennis Tousignant.

Facing no opposition are the following incumbents: Joan Luhtantn, county clerk; Marcia C. Cornelia, treasurer; Mark J. Selmo, register of deeds; Thomas C. Karvala, mine inspector; and Thomas Clark, drain commissioner. All are seeking new four-year terms.

Road Commission

Due to the vote that expanded it from three to five members, there are three separate races this year for seats on the Road Commission. Two will be decided by the primary and one in the general election.

Wayne Wales was elected to the Road Board six years ago and is seeking a new term. He is opposed by Ernest J. Schmidt in the primary.

Catherine Faccin was appointed to the Road Commission when it expanded. She is running for a two-year term on the board, opposed by Joe A. Sabol of Caspian.

There also is a four-year seat on the Road Commission, now held by Peter B. Djupe, the only person who filed for a county-wide office as a Republican. He will be opposed in November by Dan Germic, who filed as a Democrat. Both candidates will advance to the general election on Nov. 4.

Township races

Bates Township: There are no contested primary races in Bates Township, but an important millage renewal is on the ballot. The township is seeking renewal of its three-mill levy: two mills for general township purposes and one for road maintenance. The period is four years, 2008 through 2011.

Crystal Falls Township: No contested races in this township.

Hematite Township: No contested races in this township. Besides the township offices, voters will also vote for six Library Board members, with six candidates on the ballot.

Iron River Township: Voters will decide a two-way race for the Democratic nomination for treasurer between Joan M. Vogel and Beth Nies. The winner advances to face Republican Nancy Clements in November.

Four candidates are seeking two trustee seats. With two Democrats and two Republicans, all four will advance to November.

Mansfield Township: There is one contested race in Mansfield: the open clerk’s seat. Two Democrats filed for the job, Tara Peterson and Cheryl Richter. Only one will make it past Aug. 5. No Republicans filed.

Mastodon Township: Voters will decide a three-man race for two seats as trustee. Since all three filed as Democrats, only the top two vote-getters move on to November. The candidates are Sheri L. Skrzyniarz (an incumbent), Bruno J. Scarite and Robert Ball. No Republicans filed.

Stambaugh Township: No contested races in this township.

Note: Several people filed as independent candidates in township races. Their names will not be on the primary ballot.

Ballot proposals

Besides the Bates Township millage vote, all county voters are asked to approve the allocated millage and senior citizen millage. Forest Park voters are also asked to extend a bonding authorization.

The allocation is for two years, 2009 and 2010, and the county is asking for a renewal of the current 7.85-mill split: 6.53 to the county, 1.15 to the townships and 0.17 to the Dickinson-Iron Intermediate School District.

The senior center millage seeks approval of 0.27 mills for four years, 2009 through 2012. Of the total, 0.25 mills is for operating senior centers in the county and 0.02 mills is to cover program administration costs.

Voters in the Forest Park district are being asked to extend the 1997 millage that raised funds to build the new elementary school. The bonding was approved for 20 years, and nine years are left.

The district wants to extend the levy for one more year. The amount needed to pay off the bonds (principal and interest) will remain unchanged, and the millage rate decreases as the district’s SEV grows.

The bond millage was originally 4.0 mills. This year, the district collected 3.0 mills, and next year’s millage, said Superintendent Tom Jayne, will be no higher than 2.85 mills—even if voters approve the bond proposal next week. Earlier, Forest Park refinanced the loan, saving taxpayers about $466,000 in future interest payments.

The additional money will be used for energy efficiency, security cameras, light sensors and refurbishing the outside athletic and academic complex. Because of several factors (enrollment, state aid, rising costs), Forest Park does not have enough money in its general fund for this work.