The top four vote-getters are Margaret Brumm, Jenn Hill, Mike Plourde and Jenna Smith. Plourde and Smith currently serve on the commission, with terms expiring in November.

Smith received the most votes with a total of 1,448; Hill received 1,221; Brumm garnered 945; and Plourde got 848 votes.

Four other candidates will not advance to the general election. They include Jermey Ottaway, who received 690 votes; Brian Miller, who received 360 votes; Matthew Luttenberger, who received 252 votes; and Aaron Andres, who got 163 votes. There were also 18 write-in votes.

Smith, in an email, thanked the voters who supported her at the polls.

Jenn Hill

“I am grateful for your confidence in me and I am looking forward to the general election in November,” she said. “I hope to be able to continue serving our community as a Commissioner. I would like to thank my family, friends, and supporters for your unwavering encouragement these last few months, I wouldn’t be where I am without you!”

In her statement, Hill thanked the city workers and others working the polls during Tuesday’s election.

“They did a great job. My precinct went over really went,” she said. “I also want to thank the eight folks who stood up to run. I heard from several people when I was out campaigning on all the people taking on the challenge. I’m thrilled to have more than a one thousand votes on my first time out and I’m just really grateful. I’m looking forward to November and I want to continue to run on transparency, affordable housing, and balanced development and continue the conversations I had going door-to-door in this race. Folks had lots to say so I want to continue taking the people’s views with me to city government.”

Brumm said she heard about her third-place finish from her brother.

“The opportunity to be of service to my home town as a member of the Marquette City Commission is something I’ve worked hard for and it means a great deal to me,” she said. “I want to thank everyone who voted for me, everyone who put up a sign for me, everyone who wore a T-shirt with my name on the front and a picture of me and my dog Stormy on the back, everyone who listened to me and everyone who took the time to share their concerns with me for the city we all love. I also want to thank the seven other candidates for the two seats on the city commission — over the course of the campaign, I learned from listening to all of them the many different points of view to be considered.”

Jenna Smith

Plourde said the election showed that there were a lot of strong candidates who care about the city.

“I appreciate everyone who came out to vote and it’ll be a tough choice in November,” he said.

The non-partisan seven-member commission acts as the legislative branch of city government.

Commissioners serve three-year terms and may not serve more than two consecutive terms.

The duties of the commission are to represent the citizens of Marquette, establish policies and approve the budget. The commission also has the power to hire a city manager and city attorney, and to appoint citizens to serve on numerous advisory boards and commissions.

Vote totals are unofficial, pending a meeting of the Marquette County Board of Canvassers later today.

Jaymie Depew can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 206. Her email address is jdepew@miningjournal.net.