Mike Lahti

HANCOCK – Mike Lahti was well-known throughout the Copper Country both as a businessman and a former state representative, and a powerhouse of economic development. Died Monday at the age of 80. Many knew him in relation to his State Farm insurance agency, which he operated for more than 50 years.

He opened his agency office in 1968, a year after he graduated from Northern Michigan University. He was also a real-estate developer with various local residential and commercial properties and businesses.

In addition to his business career, Lahti also had a remarkable political history, both locally and at the state level.

The Hancock native and alumnus of Hancock Public Schools, was elected to the Hancock Board of Education in 1994 and served for the next seven years. Also in 1994, Lahti was appointed to the Finlandia University Board of Trustees, where he served for 13 years.

Lahti was also a board member of the Keweenaw Convention and Visitors Bureau and President of the Keweenaw Trail Services, and served on the board of Keweenaw Memorial Hospital.

In 2000, Lahti was elected to the Houghton County Board of Commissioners, where he served for the next six years, as Chairman of the Board. In 2006, he entered the race for the 110th District of the Michigan State House of Representatives on the Democratic ticket, soundly defeating Mike Schmidt 64% to 34%. Lahti ran for re-election in 2008, defeating Republican John Larson. He did not run for re-election in 2010.

Daily Mining Gazette Community Editor Mark Wilcox covered Lahti’s time in the State House as well as his community involvement. He remembers Lahti’s openness and availability. “What always struck me about Mike is that he put community first,” Wilcox said. “His devotion to the area was so apparent every time you talked to him.”

Wilcox remembers Lahti as always available and willing to discuss important and often complicated issues. “If I didn’t understand something, Mike never hesitated to explain legislative issues in a real common-sense manner. He was invaluable to this community and will be missed.”

In addition to his political achievements, Lahti is also remembered for his contributions to the economic development of the city of Hancock and beyond. Houghton County Board Trustee Glenn Anderson is a former Hancock City manager. He recalls Lahti as a family man, a gentleman and a developer. “Lahti was certainly the biggest developer in modern times, specifically the city of Hancock,” Anderson said, “but he did development in Houghton, Calumet and Lake Linden, as well – really the whole Copper Country.”

Just a few of the projects Anderson mentioned within Hancock were the rehabilitation of the former Scott Hotel on Quincy Street and rehabilitation of 116 Quincy Street, after it was severely damaged by a deadly fire.

“He built townhouses on Hancock Street, he renovated what is now the OHM Advisors office building on Hancock Street,” Anderson said, and added that Lahti also built two subdivisions in the city.

In Calumet, he completely renovated the former Morrison School. “He was also instrumental in creating the stone memorial to the victims of the Italian Hall Disaster,” Anderson said.

When Lahti was a State Representative, he was a member of the Capital Outlay Committee, Anderson said, and was instrumental in securing funding for the Great Lakes Research Center at Michigan Technological University.

Anderson said Lahti had told him at one point it was then Governor Jennifer Granholm who talked him into running for State Representative.

Anderson recalled early in his tenure as Hancock City manager when Lahti proposed a development project. “He proposed building the Ramada Inn during my first week on the job,” said Anderson. “The city owned that parcel. It was part of the old Portage Lake Water and Sewer Authority.”

The Ramada Inn was the first project Anderson worked with Lahti to accomplish, Anderson said.

“He was a quiet man; he kept a low profile in spite of his success,” said Anderson. “He was a very humble man. He was the ultimate family man.

“And I would rank him one of the great men of Hancock’s history for what he actually did. He brought Hancock respect in investment, taxable value, and places for people to live.”