IRON MOUNTAIN — Dickinson County’s five-member governing board is poised to see its most significant turnover in decades.

In Tuesday’s Republican primary election, three long-time county board incumbents were defeated, including Board Chairman Henry Wender of Breitung Township. Wender has served as chairman 17 straight years.

Also defeated were Commissioner Barbara Kramer of Iron Mountain, who has been on the board since 2013, and Commissioner Ann Martin of Iron Mountain, who has 17 years of board experience.

Commissioner Joe Stevens of Kingsford, a 30-year board veteran, turned back Republican primary challenger Angela Olson in District 1, 314 to 232. There were no Democratic candidates.

Wender, with 35 years on the board, was defeated in the District 4 primary by Peter Swanson, 588 to 477. There were no Democratic candidates.

Wender said Wednesday he was “disappointed at the outcome,” adding he didn’t understand why voters would decide to oust three members of “a very good board.”

“But I accept the results and will move forward,” Wender said.

The challengers who defeated Kramer and Martin will face Democratic opposition Nov. 5.

In District 2, Kevin Sullivan prevailed over Martin, 266 to 153. William Revord was unopposed in the Democratic primary and drew 241 votes.

In District 3, Kramer was defeated by Dan Harrington, 373 to 330. Sandi Lefebvre, the lone Democratic candidate in District 3, received 268 votes.

Kramer declined to comment on the results. Messages left for Martin and Stevens were not returned by deadline.

Democratic incumbent Commissioner John Degenaer Jr. of Norway, who has served 26 years, will be challenged in November by Republican Victoria Jakel. Both were unopposed in Tuesday’s primary, with Degenaer getting 381 votes and Jakel 559.

Wender, Stevens and Degenaer have been mainstays on the board dating back to the 1990s, keeping an incumbent majority in place. The results of Tuesday’s primary sets the stage for at least three newcomers to be seated next year.

The current county board has been status quo every term since 2013, with the exception of 2019 and 2020 when Democrat Kevin Pirlot represented District 2. In the November 2022 election, the five incumbent commissioners all ran without opposition.

Beginning with this year’s election, county board terms are four years. Previously, they were two years.

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Managing Editor Betsy Bloom contributed to this report.