As the primary election approaches, make sure you’re informed at the polls by subscribing to the Butler Eagle.

Before you cast your ballot, consider subscribing to the Butler Eagle where we’ve interviewed dozens of candidates and written about more than 20 local, contested races, which affect every single municipality in Butler County.

Plus, the Butler Eagle team will offer live, election night coverage, posting the results at butlereagle.com into the evening and even the early hours of Wednesday if need be.

New county commissioners to be selected: Republicans participating in the May 16 primary election will choose two of five candidates to likely become county commissioners. Three Republicans — Joseph King, Ryan Covert and Zachary Scherer — are challenging Republican incumbents Leslie Osche and Kim Geyer for party nominations.

Butler County Common Pleas Court judge on ballot: Maura Palumbi, assistant public defender, and Terri Schultz, assistant district attorney, are competing to replace Judge William Shaffer, who retired in January 2022 and now serves as a senior judge.

Magisterial District judge to be chosen: Jack D. Ripper, Penn Township police officer since 2001, and Christopher Bauman, owner and operator of Bauman’s Compute-a-Line in Jefferson Township, are running for district judge in Southeastern Magisterial District 50-3-03. District Judge Sue Haggerty is not seeking reelection, and her term expires at the end of the year.

8 Contested school board races: Butler Area, Seneca Valley, Knoch, Moniteau, Karns City Area, Slippery Rock Area and Freeport school districts feature contested school board races.

There are six candidates running for five seats on the Butler Area School District’s board.

Two regions within the Seneca Valley school district have contested elections. Voters in the Cranberry West I and II precincts will choose between two candidates, and voters in Zelienople will choose between two other candidates.

A total of eight candidates, five incumbents and three newcomers, are vying for five spots on the Knoch School District board.

Eight candidates in Moniteau School District will face off for five seats on the school board.

In Karns City Area School District, seven candidates are competing for five open seats on the board.

A current member of the Slippery Rock Area School District’s board will face off against a newcomer for a chance at the Region II seat.

Seven candidates will vie for five seats in the Freeport Area School District, which educates students in Buffalo Township in Butler County and portions of Armstrong County.

In school board races, many candidates cross-file, meaning they will appear on both the Republican and Democratic ticket in the May 16 primary election.

More than a dozen more contested races in municipalities across Butler County: Numerous townships and boroughs will see contested races on their ballot. These include races in Cranberry Township, Zelienople, Adams Township, Center Township Slippery Rock, Franklin Township, Jefferson Township, Prospect, Clay Township, Forward Township, Summit Township, Lancaster Township, Connoquenessing Township, Brady Township, Donegal Township, Seven Fields and Middlesex Township.

Two candidates in Cranberry Township are vying as Republicans for a single four-year term.

Four Republican candidates are facing off in a race for three seats on Zelienople borough council.

Three candidates are on the Republican ballot in Adams Township, competing for two seats.

Four Republican candidates are running for two seats on the Center Township board of supervisors.

Five Republicans are on the ballot for Slippery Rock borough. The winners compete against Democratic competitors in November for four available seats.

Three candidates are seeking the Republican Party nomination for one six-year term as a supervisor in Franklin Township in the May 16 primary election.

Two men who grew up on Jefferson Township family farms will contend for one spot on the Republican ticket for a supervisor seat.

Three seats are open in Prospect, where four candidates are on the Republican ballot.

Two Republican candidates will vie for one open seat on the Clay Township board of supervisors.

In Forward Township, three candidates are competing as Republicans for one six-year term as supervisor.

A lifelong resident will challenge township supervisor chairman in Summit Township.

The Republican ballot in Lancaster Township will feature two people vying for one seat.

Two candidates are running for Connoquenessing Township supervisor on the Republican ticket this primary.

A newcomer and a current supervisor are vying as Republicans for a single seat on the Brady Township board of supervisors in the May 16 primary election.

One six-year term is up for grabs in Donegal Township.

In Seven Fields, the Republican ballot includes three candidates aiming to earn one open seat.

Middlesex Township voters will see two names on the Republican ballot. The two candidates are competing for one seat.

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