Polls will be open until 8 p.m. as voters around the county cast ballots for a number of local offices and judicial races.
This is the first election in the county with the new voting machines, which will require voters to fill-out their ballots on paper. After filling-in the ovals for the candidates you select, polling volunteers will then direct you to a scanning machine, where you will insert the paper ballot.
As for what will be on the ballot today, the Butler Radio Network has compiled a list of races that many Butler County residents will vote on.
JUDGE OF THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
There will be one candidate appearing on the ballot for the Butler County Court of Common Pleas and that’s Butler attorney William “Wink” Robinson won both the Democratic and Republican primaries earlier this year.
However, Jennifer Gilliland-Vanasdale announced a write-in campaign last month, after she narrowly lost the Democratic primary to Robinson in the spring. Her name will not appear on the ballot.
JUDGE OF THE SUPERIOR COURT
There will be four candidates for two seats to be judges for Pennsylvania’s Superior Court…which is one of two intermediate appellate courts in the Commonwealth.
- Amanda Green-Hawkins, a Democratic candidate City of Pittsburgh resident who is currently counsel for the United Steelworkers union.
- Daniel McCaffery—a Democrat who serves on the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas
- Republican Megan McCarthy-King—the Deputy District Attorney in Chester County.
- Christylee Peck—is a Republican who serves on the Court of Common Pleas in Cumberland County.
VOTING TO EXTEND JUDICIAL TERMS
There will be yes or no vote to extend the terms of four state judges. On the State Superior Court—Anne Lazarus, a Philadelphia Democrat and Judy Olson, a Republican from Allegheny County are seeking another 10 year term. On the Commonwealth Court—Kevin Brobson, a Republican from Dauphin Co. and Allegheny County Republican Patricia McCollough are up for another 10 year term.
Locally, Judge William Shaffer is facing a yes/no vote to extend his term on the Butler County Court of Common Pleas another ten years.
COUNTY RACES
All three incumbent Butler County Commissioners are on the ballot after facing no opposition in their party’s primary earlier this spring.
Republican Leslie Osche is the current chair. She serves alongside Republican Kim Geyer of Adams Township, and Democrat Kevin Boozel of Slippery Rock.
The race for pronthonotary features Kelly Ferrari, who won the Republican nomination in the spring, and Paula Painter, who despite losing the primary race against Ferrari, was selected by Democrats after their candidate—Daniel Smith Jr. announced he would run for Congress in 2020. Ferrari is business owner and says she has experience working in the county’s civil court system. Painter has worked in the pronthontary office for the last 18 years.
Rich Goldinger is running unopposed seeking his fourth term as the county’s District Attorney.
Diane Marburger is unopposed for County Treasurer.
Also sole candidates on the ballot for their respective races—Michele Mustello for Recorder of Deeds and Sarah Edwards for Register of Wills Clerk of the Orphans Court.
SCHOOL BOARDS
Voters living within the Butler Area School District will see the names of six candidates listed on ballots. There are five seats to be decided so voters can choose up to five of the listed candidates or write in names of candidates not on the ballot to add up to a total of five selections.
Voters living in parts of northern Butler County will see the names of six candidates for Moniteau School Board listed on their ballots. Once again, five seats are open so voters can choose up to five people to serve a four year term.
Voters residing within the South Butler County School District will have a total of seven candidates to choose from to fill five open seats. Only two of those candidates are incumbents so at least three new members will join that board.
Five seats are also open on the Karns City Area School Board with the names of six candidates appearing on the ballots of voters within that district.
Finally, voters in the Mars Area School District will have nine candidates to choose from to fill five open seats with only one incumbent among those candidates.
PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT (CRIME VICTIM RIGHTS)
On Monday, the state Supreme Court upheld a decision from a lower court that will not allow the state to certify the votes on the Marsy’s Law, a proposed victims amendment. Voters can still cast ballots on the amendment today, but the results won’t be tallied until the legal challenge is completed.