A Butler School Board member is the latest Republican candidate to join the race for Butler County commissioner.

Jim Keffalas, 60, of Butler Township, the owner of Keffalas Real Estate in Penn Township, announced Saturday that he is seeking one of two GOP nominations in the May 19 primary.

Keffalas said his business and fiscal background make him qualified to be commissioner.

“I feel I’m very well-qualified,” he said.

Keffalas, who is finishing his first term on the school board this year, said he’s running for a county seat because there needs to be better leadership.

“Over the years, I’ve often been dissatisfied with the leadership we’ve had in different levels of government,” he said.

Keffalas supports smaller, more efficient government. He said county human services need to be reviewed to determine if any programs not mandated by the state should be continued.

“Are we getting measurable results for the money we’re spending,” he said.

Keffalas said social services are needed for the children and the elderly, but may not be the best alternative for the people in between. According to Keffalas, drawing new business to the county would help people become more self-sufficient.

He said a major way to attract new business is improving the infrastructure, particularly enhancements to Routes 228 and 68.

“Both of those roadways are bottlenecks,” Keffalas said.

He supports the county giving some of its natural gas drilling impact fee revenue to municipalities.

Keffalas wants to be an advocate for homeowners by pushing for the state to eliminate the property tax by shifting the burden to income and sales tax.

He pointed out he has never voted for a property tax hike as a school board member.

Keffalas said it doesn’t matter who he would end up serving with on the board of commissioners.

“I will work with anybody who gets elected,” he said.

His intention is to not make a career out of politics.

“I’m a career businessman, not a career politician,” Keffalas said.

He is a 1972 graduate of Butler High School and has a bachelor’s degree in finance from Pennsylvania State University.

Keffalas is a Republican state committeeman and a part-time instructor at Butler County Community College.

He is treasurer of the Butler County Association of Realtors and a member of Joint Operating Committee of the Butler Vocational Technical School.

Keffalas is a former director on the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors board and was Butler County Realtor of the Year in 1990.

He lives in the township with his wife, Karen. They have two daughters, Tiffany, 20, and Jayme, 17.

Keffalas is the sixth Republican candidate for commissioner, joining Kim Geyer, Lisa Metcalfe, Leslie Osche, Jeff Smith and Larry Thompson.

Incumbents Bill McCarrier and Dale Pinkerton are not seeking re-election.

Along with incumbent Commissioner Jim Eckstein, Kevin Boozel and Jerry Johnston are vying for Democratic nominations.