Omerza reelected as Ely Mayor, other incumbents retain council seats

ELY — Mayor Heidi Omerza won reelection Tuesday, defeating challenger Emily Roose and preserving her position for another two-year term. On the city council, incumbents Albert Forsman and Angela Campbell won reelection, alongside Mark Zupec.
Omerza defeated Roose, a sitting council member who sought to unseat the mayor. Omerza received 1,017 votes, or 57.4 percent, to Roose’s 754 votes, or 42.6 percent.
Roose was one of several candidates who sought to bring younger leadership to the Ely area, offering an alternative to the city’s current leadership.
The city council showed a similar response from voters. Newcomer candidates Lacey Squier and Abby Dare also failed to secure seats.
Mark Zupec, who has previously served on the council, will replace Adam Bisbee, who did not seek reelection. Zupec’s term will begin in January 2027.
In the city council election, the top three candidates by vote total were elected.
Forsman received 1,011 votes, Campbell received 955 and Zupec received 869. Lacey Squier finished fourth with 812 votes, followed by Abby Dare with 788 and Josh Brang with 248.
The results suggest voters were not ready for a broader change in the city’s leadership, choosing instead to retain much of the existing governing structure while adding a new member to the council.