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Filings for Ely seats close Tuesday
Despite a previous 16year stint on the Ely City Council, Heidi Omerza said it took some time to adjust to her new role as the city’s mayor.
But Omerza said Wednesday that “I’m finally feeling the hang of it,” and she will ask Ely voters this fall to keep her in office.
Filings for Ely’s city elections began in late-May and close Tuesday, and as of deadline Omerza was the only candidate for mayor.
Three city council seats also go up for grabs in November and longtime council members Jerome Debeltz and Paul Kess have filed. They’re joined thus far by first-time candidate Emily Roose, who serves on the city’s planning and zoning and projects committees. Also filing on Thursday was former Ely Police Chief John Lahtonen.
The third incumbent, Ryan Callen, had not yet entered the race.
Barring a late entry to the race, Omerza has clear sailing to a second term in office.
After losing a special election by a mere 13 votes in 2021, she was elected mayor over fellow council member Kess in 2022.
A kindergarten teacher at Washington Elementary School, Omerza said the work from the mayor’s seat at the council table has been different.
“The learning curve was steep, let me start with that,” said Omerza. “But I feel like now I’m understanding my role in running the meeting, and letting everybody else have their turn talking and making sure everybody gets a chance to speak. Sometimes I give my opinion and sometimes I just run the meeting and I’m feeling more comfortable in that role.”
Under Omerza’s watch, the city has moved forward on several fronts, including plans for a new workforce housing project and further development of the trailhead on Ely’s west end.
She called the next two years important as Ely moves forward with those and other projects.
“It’s time for us to start finishing what we started,” said Omerza. “We’ve been getting ready to get ready to do a lot of projects and we’re at a point where we are going to be starting a lot of things. It’s going to be an exciting summer.”
Omerza pointed to the west end development, noting “we’ve been talking about that since before I got on council and now it’s really got some legs.”
In addition to her work at City Hall, Omerza has been active representing Ely beyond its boundaries, serving stints as president of both the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities and the League of Minnesota Cities.
If one more candidate files for mayor, it would set up a general election contest in November. If there are three or more candidates, an August primary would be held.
It would take at least seven candidates for force a council primary.
Two of the current contenders have vast experience at the council table.
Debeltz is Ely’s longest- running city council member. He has served continuously since first winning office in 1993.
Kess has spent the bulk of the last 25 years in office, first joining the council in the mid-1990s, losing a re-election bid in 2004 and returning to office eight years later.
Filings are accepted until the close of business Tuesday at City Hall.
