Marquette County Board seeks applicants to fill commission vacancy after Numinen resigns
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MARQUETTE -- The Marquette County Board of Commissioners is seeking applicants to fill a District 1 vacancy following Commissioner Karl Numinen's resignation, effective immediately Tuesday.
Numinen, who did not attend Tuesday's board meeting, submitted his resignation in an email to County Clerk Linda Talsma, according to a copy of the email obtained by The Mining Journal.
"Ms. Talsma: Please consider this email my resignation from the Marquette County Board of Commissioners effective immediately. Please relay this to the Board. Thank you. Karl Numinen," the email stated.
Numinen did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday. He was appointed to the board on Oct. 14, 2025, to fill the District 1 seat vacated by the retirement of longtime Commissioner John DePetro. Before joining the board, Numinen served as civil counsel to the county board, a position he left to become a commissioner.
A Democrat, Numinen lost in the August partisan primary and was scheduled to leave office at the end of the calendar year, according to Cory Beth Grigg, the county's chief deputy clerk.
The District 1 seat represents portions of Marquette, specifically city Precincts 3 and 4. According to the county's announcement, the district includes areas bounded by the city limits, Wright Street, Lincoln Avenue, Fair Avenue, McClellan Avenue, Washington Street, Fourth Street, Fisher Street, Front Street and Whetstone Brook.
The county board announced Wednesday that it is accepting applications from eligible voters interested in filling the vacant seat. Resumes must be submitted to the Marquette County Clerk's Office, 234 W. Baraga Ave., Marquette, by 4 p.m. Oct. 20.
Under Michigan law, MCL 46.412, the county board may appoint a suitable person to fill the vacancy. The appointee will serve the remainder of the term, which expires Dec. 31.
Applicants must be registered voters in Marquette City's District 1. Resumes may be sent or delivered to the county clerk's office before the Oct. 20 deadline.
The board will appoint a replacement to serve through the end of 2026.