Brett Argall will be Ishpeming’s next mayor after defeating Jason Chapman by a nearly 2-to-1 margin, 1,635 to 846, on Tuesday, Nov. 3, according to unofficial Marquette County results.

Argall, a city council member since 2022 and manager of Country Village Ace Hardware, told WZMQ he sees development as key to the city’s future.

He also said building relationships with state and federal representatives will be a priority. Argall named Anna Aho Rink and Dave Prestin as people he plans to contact early.

“That’s in the end what local governments are built on: their relationships,” Argall said.

Library millage passes with broad support

Ishpeming voters also approved the city’s first-ever dedicated library millage, securing funding for the Ishpeming Carnegie Public Library. Unofficial Marquette County election results show the measure passed 1,972 to 667.

The six-year levy of 2.5 mills will fund library operations and capital needs. According to the library’s millage FAQ, the millage was projected to generate $399,527 in its first year.

The city had funded roughly 85% of the library’s annual budget, with the rest coming from township service payments, state aid, penal fines and other sources, according to the FAQ. But Ishpeming’s general fund revenue was no longer enough to sustain its existing services, putting the institution’s future in question.

The library’s FAQ warned that rejection could mean service reductions and possible closure.

The Carnegie building, located on the corner of Barnum and Main streets, opened in 1904 and was designated a state historic site in 1980, according to a letter published in The Mining Journal.

Council races and charter amendments

In the race for two four-year city council seats, Bill Anderson led with 1,388 votes, followed by Collin Fleury with 1,278, according to unofficial Marquette County results. Kurt Kipling received 1,109 votes.

Voters also decided a partial-term council seat and approved several charter amendments. Andrea Jackson led the partial-term race with 1,275 votes, followed by Claudia Demarest with 611 and Justin White with 331.

Those amendments addressed city council elections, residency requirements for the city manager and competitive bidding procedures, according to WZMQ. All four charter amendments passed by wide margins in the unofficial results.

Ishpeming turnout was 50.13%, with 2,752 of 5,490 registered voters casting ballots. The results remain unofficial pending canvassing and certification.