In the race for the Republican nominee for Butler County controller, youth was not an insurmountable obstacle.

According to unofficial results from the county elections bureau, Ben Holland, 26, of Connoquenessing Township on Tuesday defeated Karen Diehl, 57, of Franklin Township with 5,944 votes, or 56 percent, to 4,625 votes, or 44 percent.

Although there no Democratic candidates on the ballot, there were 398 Democratic write-in votes. If Diehl or another individual got at least 250 of those write-ins, that person will be the Democratic nominee.

Shari Brewer, county elections bureau director, said the process to identify the names on the write-ins will start Friday. She expects the results to be determined next week.

Holland said his victory was due to him being recognized as an independent candidate.

“It was referendum by the voters that they wanted a change in county government,” he said.

Controller Jack McMillin did not seek re-election. He is retiring at the end of the year.