GRAND RAPIDS — Challengers Lonny Witkofsky and Robert Preble have defeated incumbents Cory Smith and John Johnson in their respective races for Itasca County commissioner, both rematches of the 2022 election.
Witkofsky, 65, of Itasca County defeated Smith, 48, of S. Lake in District 1, which includes the cities of Cohasset, Deer River and S. Lake.
Witkofsky is a retired construction project manager who focused on bringing manufacturing and other industrial jobs back to the county in his campaign.
In the primary on Aug. 11, Witkofsky beat Smith by 124 votes, which is more than 6 percentage points. As the top two candidates in the primary, both moved forward to the general election.
Smith won by just 31 votes in 2022.
Incumbent Johnson of Coleraine will not return for another term. Preble of Trout Lake Township defeated Johnson by a slim margin in District 3, according to unofficial results.
Preble is an over-the-road truck driver and ran on a platform of fiscal responsibility.
"The Government needs to be smaller and less wasteful," Preble wrote in the KAXE Election Guide. "Our Property taxes are out of control, and there’s too much wasteful spending. We also need real economic growth."
District 3 includes southeast Grand Rapids and the cities of LaPrairie, Coleraine and Warba.
Johnson won by 152 votes in 2022.
Johnson and Preble are on opposing sides of an ongoing lawsuit regarding alleged federal civil rights violations, with Preble and another citizen suing nine top county officials.
Cassidy Villenueve topped Devin Gorski in a resounding victory for Itasca County attorney. Both are currently assistant county attorneys.
Current County Attorney Jacob Fauchald did not run in the election. He was appointed to the position in 2024.
Dennis Barsness of Trout Lake Township defeated incumbent Marjorie Sella of Pengilly to represent District 4 on the Itasca Soil and Water Conservation District Board.
The winners of these Itasca County elections will begin their four-year terms in January.
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