Alger County’s final unofficial results show four-vote commission race, Rock River treasurer upset

Final unofficial election results | Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, 11:49 p.m.

A four-vote margin in an Alger County Board of Commissioners race, a reversal in the Rock River Township treasurer contest and the apparent election of three candidates to the Munising Public Schools Board of Education highlighted Tuesday’s general election.

Alger County released its final unofficial election results late Nov. 3, with all 10 reporting precincts accounted for, including the previously outstanding Hiawatha Township votes for the Munising school board race.

The Election Summary Report, generated at 11:49 p.m., showed 4,474 voters participating out of 6,840 registered voters, representing 65.41% turnout.

Although election-night reporting is complete, results remain unofficial until certified through the canvassing process.

Sommer holds four-vote lead in county commission race

Democrat Andy Sommer holds a narrow four-vote lead over independent Terry L. Pihlainen in the race for Alger County commissioner in District 4.

Sommer received 394 votes to Pihlainen’s 390, with all four precincts reporting.

The district recorded 970 ballots cast among 1,486 registered voters, representing 65.28% turnout.

The report also lists 13 unresolved write-in votes. With such a narrow margin, the outcome remains subject to the canvassing process.

In District 1, Republican Robert J. Hughes received 709 votes, with both precincts reporting. The district recorded 926 ballots cast among 1,355 registered voters, representing 68.34% turnout.

LeJeune overtakes Shega in Rock River Township

Republican Jenny LeJeune emerged with a 19-vote lead over independent Tammy Shega in the Rock River Township treasurer race after the township’s Election Day results were added to the unofficial totals.

LeJeune received 311 votes to Shega’s 292.

Earlier election-night returns had shown Shega leading 32-25 before the township’s precinct had fully reported. The additional votes reversed the standings.

The election followed the Rock River Township Board’s Oct. 27 vote to remove Shega from the township Planning Commission after a public hearing on allegations of misconduct. However, the validity of the 2-1 vote remains in question because Treasurer Jenny LeJeune abstained and Trustee Jim Rondeau recused himself, raising concerns about whether the board had the necessary quorum and votes to legally remove Shega. Whether the removal will stand remains unresolved.

In the township supervisor race, Gerald W. Melchiori received 405 votes. Registered write-in candidate Dave LaMere is listed with no votes yet attributed to his name, while 97 write-in votes remain unresolved in the report.

Rock River Township recorded 673 ballots cast among 1,019 registered voters, representing 66.05% turnout.

Both township contests have all precincts reporting, although results remain unofficial.

Brisson, Dolaskie and Pond lead Munising school board election

Jason Brisson, Thomas J. Dolaskie IV and Greg Pond finished with the three highest vote totals in the Munising Public Schools Board of Education election, according to the final unofficial results.

Four candidates competed for three seats.

Brisson led the field with 1,481 votes, followed by Dolaskie with 1,258 and Pond with 1,196. Melissa L. Carlson received 1,104 votes.

Pond finished 92 votes ahead of Carlson for the third seat.

The final report includes votes from Hiawatha Township, which had been missing from an earlier election-night update. All five precincts in the school board contest have now reported.

The school district recorded 2,327 ballots cast among 3,695 registered voters, representing 62.98% turnout.

Brisson, Dolaskie and Pond are the apparent winners of the three available seats, pending certification.

Superior Central school board

Ben Bartlett, Nicole Aho and Kristian Saile received the highest reported vote totals in the Superior Central School District Board of Education election.

Bartlett received 636 votes, followed by Aho with 602 and Saile with 474.

Three candidates appeared on the ballot for four available seats.

The report lists 30 unresolved write-in votes. The remaining seat will be determined through the canvassing and write-in review process.

All four precincts have reported, with 1,181 ballots cast among 1,846 registered voters, representing 63.98% turnout.

Burt Township school board

Lori Savage and Jennifer Williamson finished with the highest vote totals in the election for two four-year seats on the Burt Township School District No. 2 Board of Education.

Savage received 203 votes, while Williamson received 189.

In the separate election for a partial term ending Dec. 31, 2028, Krista Dudansky received 215 votes.

All precincts have reported, with 338 ballots cast among 427 registered voters, representing 79.16% turnout.

Savage, Williamson and Dudansky are the apparent winners of their respective contests, pending certification.

Au Train-Onota school board

Molly Carmody received 417 votes in the Au Train-Onota Schools Board of Education election.

Three seats were available, although Carmody was the only candidate listed on the printed ballot.

Registered write-in candidate James DeDecker is shown with no votes yet attributed to his name. The report lists 29 unresolved write-in votes.

Both precincts have reported, with 628 ballots cast among 872 registered voters, representing 72.02% turnout.

The allocation of the remaining seats is subject to the canvassing and write-in review process.

Munising city commission

Jordan Prunick received 657 votes in the Munising city commissioner election.

Prunick was the only candidate listed on the ballot for the seat.

The city recorded 898 ballots cast among 1,550 registered voters, representing 57.94% turnout.

All precincts have reported, and Prunick is the apparent winner pending certification.

Village of Chatham council

Three candidates appeared on the ballot for three seats on the Village of Chatham Council.

Daniel Rushford received 50 votes, followed by Gina M. Maki with 48 and Kit R. Fortney with 38.

The village recorded 77 ballots cast among 144 registered voters, representing 53.47% turnout.

All precincts have reported. Rushford, Maki and Fortney are the apparent winners, pending certification.

Onota Township clerk

Republican Pamela Ann Simmons received 174 votes in the election for Onota Township clerk.

The township recorded 282 ballots cast among 400 registered voters, representing 70.5% turnout.

All precincts have reported, and Simmons is the apparent winner pending certification.

Alger County Road Commission

Republican Cori-Ann Cearley received 3,116 votes in the election for a six-year term on the Alger County Road Commission.

In the separate election for a partial term ending Dec. 31, 2028, Republican Dan Nedeau received 2,995 votes.

Registered write-in candidate Marci Taskey is listed with no votes yet attributed to her name, while 188 write-in votes remain unresolved in the partial-term contest.

All precincts have reported. Cearley and Nedeau lead their respective contests, with the results subject to certification.

Steinhoff leads Alger County’s 11th Circuit Court vote

Robert T. Steinhoff received more votes than Brian D. Rahilly in the Alger County portion of the election for 11th Circuit Court judge.

Steinhoff received 2,286 votes to Rahilly’s 1,371, a margin of 915 votes.

All Alger County precincts for the judicial contest have reported.

The figures reflect only Alger County’s votes and do not represent the complete circuitwide election results. The outcome of the judicial race must be determined using results from all participating counties.

Grand Island Township levy renewal

Grand Island Township voters supported renewal of the township’s operating tax levy.

The proposal received 21 yes votes and two no votes, with all precincts reporting.

Turnout reached 85.19%, with 23 ballots cast among 27 registered voters.

Final unofficial results await certification

Alger County’s final unofficial Election Summary Report confirms that all reporting precincts have been accounted for, including the previously missing Hiawatha Township votes in the Munising Public Schools board election.

Several contests contain unresolved write-in votes, which remain subject to review during the canvassing process.

The District 4 county commission race remains particularly close, with Sommer leading Pihlainen by just four votes.

The Munising Beacon will continue monitoring the canvassing process and report any changes to the unofficial totals.

All results remain unofficial until certified by the appropriate board of canvassers.

Source: Alger County Clerk’s Office, “Nov. 3, 2026, General Election — Final Unofficial Election Summary Report,” generated Nov. 3, 2026, at 11:49 p.m. Results are unofficial pending canvassing and certification.