Julie LaCost Home: Kingsford Family: Son, Vincent Mancuso. Education: Iron Mountain High School, 1980. Bachelor of arts degree in French, University of Michigan, 1984. Doctorate in law, Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Lansing, 1988. Professional background: Practiced law for 30 years, the past 23 years in this region. District judge for the past eight months. Deputy public defender, San Diego County in California, 1988 to 1995.

Julie LaCost appears to have secured three more years as 95-B District Court judge for Dickinson and Iron counties.

LaCost drew a total of 8,244 votes between the two counties to top challenger Grant Carlson of Norway, who garnered 7,568 votes.

Voters in Dickinson County gave the edge to Carlson with 5,542 votes to 5,396 for LaCost. But Iron County went strongly for LaCost, 2,848 to 2,026 for Carlson.

Gov. Rick Snyder appointed LaCost to the bench in February after Christopher Ninomiya was moved up to circuit court. With the win, her term will end in 2021.

LaCost, of Kingsford, previously was a practicing attorney in Michigan, Wisconsin and California. Carlson is a partner in the Mouw & Celello P.C. law firm in Iron Mountain.

In Iron County, Donald S. Powell defeated Roy Polich, 2,962 to 2,183, for a six-year term as probate court judge. The seat is being vacated by Judge C. Joseph Schwedler.

Powell has practiced law more than 32 years, returning to Iron River from Texas in 1992. Polich has been a practicing attorney in Iron County since 1981.

In Dickinson County, incumbent Probate Judge Thomas D. Slagle was unopposed for a six-year term. He drew 9,490 votes.

Ninomiya, too, was unopposed for a term ending in 2021 as 41st Circuit Court judge and garnered 9,421 votes in Dickinson County. The 41st Circuit includes Dickinson, Iron and Menominee counties and also is served by Chief Judge Mary B. Barglind, whose term ends in 2023.