Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026
Ishpeming Mayor & City Council Election 2026
3 of 5 council seats are on the ballot, with 8 candidates running. Updated Oct 20, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check
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How to vote · 11 days left
Early in-person voting begins at the Negaunee Township Community Center (Oct 24): the election office's noticeThese links go to official state and county election sites. Hours and rules differ by state; your election office has the final word.
The candidates
Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.
Mayor
1 seatCity Council
Vote for up to 2- William Anderson Jr.Former Negaunee City Council member and former Negaunee water and sewer supervisor. He lists nearly 30 years in municipal government.2sourced
- Collin FleuryJourneyman and current president of his IBEW union local, an IBEW member for 11 years.2sourced
- Kurt KiplingIncumbentLifelong Ishpeming resident who has served on the City Council and as mayor. He attended Ishpeming Public Schools.9sourced
City Council
1 seat- Claudia DemarestIncumbentIshpeming native first elected to the City Council in 2008, serving two terms. She was appointed to a vacant council seat in April 2026.9sourced
- Andrea JacksonNorthern Michigan University public administration graduate with small business and event management experience.3sourced
- Justin WhiteWithdrawnWithdrew from the race; his name remains on the ballot for the partial-term council seat.1sourced
All contests are citywide. Voters pick one mayor from the two council members whose terms continue (Brett Argall or Jason Chapman), up to two candidates for four-year council seats, and one candidate for a partial-term council seat.
Also on your Nov 3 ballot
We research city races only. For these races, go to the state's official guide or a nonpartisan one.
- Governor
- Jocelyn Benson · Democratic Party
- John James · Republican Party
- Anthony Hudson · Libertarian Party
- Donna Brandenburg · U.S. Taxpayers Party
- Douglas Campbell · Green Party
- U.S. Senate
- Abdul El-Sayed · Democratic Party
- Mike Rogers · Republican Party
- Lydia Christensen · Libertarian Party
- Tim Long · U.S. Taxpayers Party
- Douglas P. Marsh · Green Party
- Walter P. Kristy · Natural Law Party
- Also statewideSecretary of State · Attorney General · Member of the State Board of Education · Regent of the University of Michigan · Trustee of Michigan State University · Justice of Supreme Court
- Statewide measures2 on the ballot: the state's official explanations
Districts come from 2020 Census blocks and the district maps for this election. Your address decides your districts.
What the next council decides
01City finances and the general fund4 sourced facts
Where it standsCity officials told residents in May 2026 that the general fund has been declining since 2019, and the council accepted a Deficit Elimination Plan in August 2026.
What's on the tableThe new council will adopt future budgets and decide whether to cut services, seek new revenue such as a millage, or both.
- City officials said in a May 2026 presentation that the general fund had been on a steady decline since 2019. WLUC TV6 · May 28, 2026
- City Manager Randy Scholz said the city would need about 2.5 mills to stop the general fund's decline. WZMQ 19 · May 27, 2026
- On August 19, 2026 the council voted 5-0 to accept a Deficit Elimination Plan for the general fund and send it to the state. City of Ishpeming · Aug 19, 2026
- The council adopted the 2026 budget and an amended Capital Improvements Plan unanimously on November 19, 2025. City of Ishpeming · Nov 19, 2025
02Library millage4 sourced facts
Where it standsVoters will decide on November 3 whether to levy 2.5 new mills for the Ishpeming Carnegie Public Library for six years.
What's on the tableThe council will set library funding in future budgets, with or without the millage.
- The ballot proposal would levy up to 2.1 mills for library operations and 0.4 mills for library capital costs for 2026 through 2031, raising about $399,527 in the first year. Marquette County Clerk
- The library says the city funds nearly 85% of its annual budget. Ishpeming Carnegie Public Library
- The library says this is the first proposal for dedicated library funding ever put to city voters. Ishpeming Carnegie Public Library
- The council voted 4-0 on July 15, 2026 to adopt the resolution placing the library millage on the November ballot. City of Ishpeming · Jul 15, 2026
03Malton Road land and housing4 sourced facts
Where it standsThe council declared city land along Malton Road surplus and available for development, approved a deal for six duplexes there, and agreed to buy more land from Cleveland-Cliffs.
What's on the tableThe new council will choose developers for the remaining land and approve rezonings and development agreements.
- On April 30, 2026 the council approved a purchase agreement to buy land from Cleveland-Cliffs for $239,753. City of Ishpeming · Apr 30, 2026
- On July 15, 2026 the council voted 4-0 to declare all property along Malton Road from the Cliffs purchase as surplus property available for development. City of Ishpeming · Jul 15, 2026
- On September 9, 2026 the council unanimously approved a purchase agreement with Midtown Apartments Properties LLC for six duplexes on Malton Road. City of Ishpeming · Sep 9, 2026
- On August 26, 2026 the council agreed to form a Developer Evaluation Committee to review developer proposals for council approval. City of Ishpeming · Aug 26, 2026
04City manager's contract3 sourced facts
Where it standsIn June 2026 the council approved an amendment to the city manager's contract on a 3-2 roll-call vote after debate over a full-year severance.
What's on the tableThe council appoints the city manager and decides any future changes to the manager's contract.
- On June 17, 2026 Jason Chapman, Claudia Demarest and Kurt Kipling voted yes and Mayor Pat Scanlon and Brett Argall voted no on the city manager's contract amendment. City of Ishpeming · Jun 17, 2026
- Brett Argall said he was not comfortable approving a full-year severance, and Mayor Pat Scanlon called it exorbitant. City of Ishpeming · Jun 17, 2026
- City Council members appoint the city manager. League of Women Voters of Marquette County: November 3, 2026 General Election Voter Guide
05Streets, water and sewer2 sourced facts
Where it standsTwo large water and sewer projects are under way, and the city has applied for more wastewater funding.
What's on the tableThe new council will decide how to fund the next phases of sewer work and street paving.
- On July 1, 2026 the council awarded the 2026 wastewater improvements contract to Payne and Dolan, capping the city's contribution at $2 million. City of Ishpeming · Jul 1, 2026
- A Rural Development wastewater application discussed on August 26, 2026 has an estimated total cost of about $6 million. City of Ishpeming · Aug 26, 2026
3 notes on these statements
Justin White has dropped out of the partial-term race but remains on the ballot. WZMQ 19 · Oct 6, 2026
The city lists the council terms of Brett Argall and Jason Chapman as running through 2028. City of Ishpeming
The same ballot includes the library millage and four Ishpeming City Charter amendments. Marquette County Clerk
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Who matches you?
Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.
1. Should the city make its Malton Road land available for housing development?
2. Should the council have approved the June 2026 city manager contract amendment with a full-year severance?
3. How should Ishpeming pay for street, water and sewer repairs?
Key dates
- Last day to register other than in person with the local clerk (in-person registration continues through Election Day)Marquette County ClerkOct 19, 2026
- Early in-person voting begins at the Negaunee Township Community Center (9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Nov. 1)Marquette County ClerkOct 24, 2026
- Election Day (vote at KD Hall, St. John's Church, 325 S. Pine Street)City of IshpemingNov 3, 2026
The seat math
0 stay (not up this year): 3 on this ballot
5 council seats. The council decides by a 3-vote majority.
- The Ishpeming City Council has five members elected from the city at large; each serves a four-year term and may serve no more than two consecutive terms. City of Ishpeming
- The mayor is elected at each general city election, and council members whose terms do not expire after that election are automatically candidates for mayor. City of Ishpeming
- The mayor serves a two-year term, presides over council meetings, has the same speaking and voting rights as other members, and has no veto. Mining Journal · Oct 13, 2026
- The council enacts local legislation, adopts annual budgets, sets city policy and appoints the city manager. League of Women Voters of Marquette County: November 3, 2026 General Election Voter Guide
- Voters choose one candidate for a two-year partial term and up to two candidates for four-year terms. League of Women Voters of Marquette County: November 3, 2026 General Election Voter Guide
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