Leadership of the Butler County Republican Committee appears to remain in dispute despite a new court order that dismisses a contempt of court petition filed by members of the original committee.

The yearlong struggle for control of the committee took a turn when Common Pleas President Judge S. Michael Yeager issued an order July 27 vacating an order he issued July 19 that required Bill Halle, Erik Edwards and Zachary Scherer to stop using the name “Butler County Republican Committee,” to immediately withdraw a fictitious name request filed with the Pennsylvania Department of State, and to dissolve the nonprofit entity.

The order, which also cancels a contempt of court hearing that was scheduled for Sept. 8, was mailed to the parties Tuesday.

The July 19 order from Yeager is the same as an order he issued May 10 based on a petition filed by attorney Leo Stepanian, who represents the original committee. Yeager dismissed the May 10 order on July 15 based on a petition filed by attorney Gary Vanasdale, who represents the new committee and serves as its co-chairman.

“What we have now is a brand-new organizational structure and a nonprofit organization, which means we're fully accountable to the public,” Halle, president of the new committee, said Tuesday.

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