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ISHPEMING -- Anyone know when and who was the first female elected to the Ishpeming City Council? It happened in 1957, when Hilda Holmgren was elected, by write-in vote, to the city council. She never served, however.
In late July of 1957, the Women’s Civic League was formed with the stated purpose of finding “ways and means of raising the moral tone of the community.” (Mining Journal, July 25, 1957). Some members of the community were concerned with the number of saloon owners either on the city council or running for city council. The league decided to sponsor write-in candidates for the city election that would take place on August 6.
“The league hopes to sponsor two candidates for the city council on write-in votes and may endorse one of the present petition-nominated candidates so that there will be three candidates for the election having the backing of the group. There will be three council seats vacant.”
At the meeting, which was held at the Wesley Methodist Church, 27 women attended as representatives of various organizations. Officers were duly elected with Mrs. Clarence Shimmin president, Mrs. Gordon Goodney, secretary and Mrs. Paul Coron, treasurer. Campaign headquarters were set up at 203 S. Main St.
With only weeks until the election, the league could not afford to drag its feet. Voting machines were set up at the league headquarters so voters could learn how to vote by writing in a candidate’s name. These were furnished by the city for the purpose of educating voters. “City Clerk Wilfred Brewer said this morning that any organization wanting a machine for instructional purposes could use one, but that individuals would not be able to obtain a machine.”
By the end of July, it was apparent that the list of candidates was lengthy. “Six candidates nominated by petitions and at least two running on slips are seeking berths on the Ishpeming City Council in the August 6 municipal election.” (Mining Journal, July 30, 1957) The six running on petitions were Arthur Nault, Robert Hill, Leonard Altobello, Walter Walsh, Theodore Trondson, and Conrad Christiansen. The write-in candidates were Hilda Holmgren and Lawrence Arnold.
“Activity was slow this morning at the office of the Women’s Civic League on S. Main St., where instructions on voting and information on city council candidates was being given interested persons. It was expected to speed up after noon, when the ladies’ baked goods sale got underway. Relatively few persons were stopping in at the campaign headquarters for instruction and information, the women complained today. They said men seemed especially reluctant to come into the office.” (Mining Journal, August 1, 1957)
An editorial appeared in The Mining Journal the day before the election. “The striking thing about the election is that it is attended by more interest than any local election in Ishpeming within recent memory and this is a healthy sign.
Reflecting the heightened interest in this election has been the formation of the Ishpeming Women’s Civic League, an organization that has pledged itself to work for a good, clean business-like government in our city” (Mining Journal, August 5, 1957)
“Election day is here, and the polls at the city’s 10 precincts did a hustling business this morning. Lines formed at some polls this morning as voters turned out in unusually large numbers. Representatives of the league climaxed their campaign by standing near polls with gummed labels with the names of their candidates on them. If the women’s league is successful in electing their candidates, it will mark one of the few times that this has been done in Ishpeming.” (Mining Journal, August 6, 1957)
The next day the results were in. “Voters returned two incumbents to the Ishpeming City Council and added a woman with write-in balloting in the annual municipal election yesterday.” (Mining Journal, August 7, 1957)
Two of the three candidates the league backed were elected, with Hilda Holmgren garnering 1,078 votes. “Women’s Civic League officers said they were ‘very pleased’ with results of their work in the past three weeks. In placing a women on the council with write-in votes, the achieved what is usually considered a near-impossible feat.” (Mining Journal, August 7, 1957)
But there were problems. “Lack of understanding of the write-in process on machines cost the Civic League an estimated 300 votes. It was reported that voters pasted the slips on the outside of the machine, put them in without wetting them and used the incorrectly in other ways.
Voters who wrote in names with pencil, as the league suggested by sound truck later in the day, often did not include the initials of candidates. This made them invalid.” (Mining Journal, August 7, 1957) This lack of understanding may have cost Lawrence Arnold a seat on the council, as 300 votes would have put him in third place and thus given him a seat on the council.
An editorial appearing in The Mining Journal several days later declared the Women’s Civic league had scored an impressive victory. “One of the league-supported candidates was a woman, Hilda Holmgren. She became the first woman ever elected to the Ishpeming City Council. Mrs. Holmgren not only carried off an unprecedented feat in city council annals, but she did it the hard way – by running as a write-in candidate.” (Mining Journal, August 9, 1957)
However, she would not take a place on the city council and shortly after her victory, submitted a letter declining the position. The city charter at that time required three years continuous residence within the corporate limits of Ishpeming. “Because of lack of housing facilities, the Holmgren family had lived in Negaunee until about two and one-half years ago. However, Mrs. Holmgren was a resident of Ishpeming prior to moving to Negaunee.” (Mining Journal, August 15, 1957). The league formed a mere three weeks before the election and the residence requirements were overlooked by both the league and Holmgren.
A final editorial on the election came out the next day. “Hilda Holmgren, the first woman ever elected to the Ishpeming City Council, also very likely established a record for serving the shortest term. She declined this week to continue in office because of a technicality. We submit that Mrs. Holmgren holds another distinction. Her record is perfect. Her lone act as a councilwoman was one of complete honesty and integrity. The chance that anyone would have questioned her eligibility under the rule she cited in declining is very remote.
Councilmen of all our towns can profit by her example.” (Mining Journal, August 16, 1957.)