ESCANABA – Only two Delta County communities, Escanaba and Gladstone, have items on the ballot for elections Tuesday, Nov. 4.

ESCANABA

— Escanaba City Council: The three candidates for three four-year terms are all incumbents — Mark Ammel, Ronald J. Beauchamp and Todd Flath. All three have served on council since 2021.

— Gas fund proposal: City residents are being asked to support authorizing the city to use the principal and interest received from the 1965 sale of the city’s gas utility to pay for unfunded pension liabilities for retired employees.

If approved, the proposal would remove old restrictions voters backed Nov. 2, 1965. This will only apply towards existing pension debts as of Tuesday, Nov. 4, and would not increase employee pension benefits, officials state.

GLADSTONE

— Gladstone City Commission: Four candidates are running for three four-year terms — Whitney Maloney, Mike O’Connor and incumbents Steve O’Driscoll and Joe Thompson.

O’Connor served on the commission from 2016 to 2017. O’Driscoll has been a commissioner since June 2024 and Thompson since 2015, as well as being mayor since 2017. Incumbent Robert Pontius did not seek reelection.

— Gladstone Mayoral Advisory: Four are vying to get the public’s backing for mayor — Judy Akkala, Brad Mantela, Steve O’Driscoll and Joe Thompson. It is, however, advisory only and does not bind the commission to follow that choice.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4. Absentee ballots are available by calling the city clerk in those municipalities.