Daniel Anschutz, left, is sworn in as Harrisville mayor by Butler County Judge Joe Nash during a borough council meeting Monday evening, July 8. Eddie Trizzino/Butler Eagle

HARRISVILLE — Council appointed former police officer Daniel Anschutz as mayor during a meeting Monday, June 8, to fill the unexpired term of the late Gary Hughes, who died June 1.

In his letter of interest to council, Anschutz, who had been a police officer in Harrisville for more than a decade before retiring in 2019, said he wanted to continue to serve the borough. Anschutz will complete Hughes term, which ends in 2026.

Anschutz said he always had wanted to run for mayor, but did not want to challenge Hughes, whom he called a great borough leader.

“I have really big shoes to fill,” Anschutz said. “The mayor runs the police department, so I’ll listen to the officers to see what they need.”

Council received two letters of interest from residents hoping to fill in as mayor; one from Anschutz and the other from longtime resident Bob Barnes. Neither applicant received a majority of votes from the council during a special meeting June 24, but Barnes rescinded his letter after the special meeting.

Following an executive session after the June 24 meeting, council created a vacancy board to fill the mayor’s seat within 30 days of the role becoming vacant, as per state law. The board consists of the six members of borough council, plus a seventh member from outside the council — Dennis Blom — whom council appointed Monday. Blom had served on borough council in the past.

In addition to Anschutz, Councilwoman Mary Ann Hughes, who is Gary Hughes’ widow, nominated herself to fill in as mayor, but did not receive a second. The vacancy board voted to appoint Anschutz in a vote of 4-1, with Hughes dissenting and Councilwoman April Anschutz abstaining, because she is Anschutz’s wife.

Following the appointment of Anschutz as mayor, council members reverted to their original roles; Kathy Bray, who was acting mayor, to council president, and John McFadden, who was acting council president, to council vice president.

Anschutz was sworn in to his new position by Butler County Judge Joe Nash.