Butler County commissioners reelected in uncontested race
All three Butler County commissioners secured their third terms in office by sailing through Tuesday’s election with no challengers.
Republicans Leslie Osche, chairwoman of the commissioners, and Kim Geyer and Democrat Kevin Boozel won four more years in office.
Osche and Geyer won Republican nominations over three other candidates in the primary. Boozel was not challenged in the primary.
Osche received 30,532 votes, or 38.40% of the vote; Geyer received 28,654, or 36.04% of the vote; and Boozel received 19,928 votes, or 25.07% of the vote, according to unofficial election results.
Osche, who has served as chairwoman for both of her terms in office, said she has helped to build a budget fund balance from $1 million to about $11 million without raising taxes, secure nearly $100 million in grant funds for infrastructure projects, establish the Infrastructure Bank program using Act 13 Marcellus Shale impact fees, generate $36 million in infrastructure investments, create the southwest Butler County stormwater collaborative, and allocate $12 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to prevent future flooding. She also said she launched the empowerment training program with Butler County Community College to help people recover from addiction.
Geyer said she has helped change a budget deficit that existed before she was elected into a fund balance of more than $30 million, secure two federal Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Transportation Grants totaling $45 million, create the Infrastructure Bank program and increase investments in county parks and trails.
Boozel said he has worked collaboratively to obtain millions of dollars for county infrastructure, including some earmarked specifically for rural portions of the county as well as the southern freight corridor. He also said he has helped maintain a capital program and reduce deferred maintenance work without raising taxes. He has held leadership roles in the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania.