Anthony Stella, a local attorney who has been critical of the mine, noted that each race drew fewer than 200 voters, and most were decided by a few dozen ballots, in a county where a candidate’s family history and personal connections often trump differences on public policy.

“For three incumbents to lose a county board race here is kind of a big thing,” Stella said. “It’s hard to say if (AFP) had any effect, but you could be sure they didn’t have the effect they wanted in those four races.”

AFP Wisconsin director David Fladeboe didn’t return phone calls or emails seeking his comment. County board chairman Joe Pinardi also couldn’t be reached.

The Madison-based group sent a field organizer to Iron County after a strongly pro-mine candidate for the board was defeated in a three-way primary in February.

AFP mailed full-color flyers on March 19 accusing seven opponents of pro-mine board members of being radical environmentalists. AFP also made plans to telephone potential voters and talk to them door-to-door, and the group sent a second mailing that lauded eight board members and one challenger.

Gogebic Taconite is preparing to apply for a mining permit under relaxed mining regulations approved in 2013 by Republicans who control state government.