Three years ago, Ely’s Joe Baltich needed a recount and a one-vote victory in the primary before winning a seat on the Lake County Board by a more comfortable 28 votes.
Now, a rematch is in store. Baltich is seeking re-election to the county board seat he won via special election in 2023, and he’s facing a challenge from Colby Abazs of Finland.
In the primary election of 2023, Baltich got second place over Abazs, collecting 100 votes compared to 99 for Abazs.
The initial count ended in a tie but Baltich gained a vote in the recount, and he went on to beat Jack Nelson in the general election in November.
Baltich won a seat that was made vacant when former commissioner Pete Walsh passed away.
This year, there’s no primary and Baltich and Abazs will square off in a contest for a four-year term on the county board.
The district includes Fall Lake Township and spreads to Crystal Bay, Beaver Bay, part of Silver Bay and an unorganized township.
In a related note, St. Louis County Commissioner Paul McDonald of Ely seems destined for another four years on the county board.
McDonald, who first won election in 2018 and was re-elected in 2022, is seeking a third term in the November election but is running unopposed.
Two other county board races are contested in other parts of the county, while sheriff Gordon Ramsey and attorney Kim Maki are also unopposed.
