The Butler County commissioners on Wednesday debated the process for selecting board members for Butler County Community College.

Commissioner Jim Eckstein protested the nomination of Gail Paserba of Penn Township to fill a vacant seat, accusing fellow commissioners Bill McCarrier and Dale Pinkerton of picking their friends to sit on the college’s board.

“It disgusts me,” Eckstein said.

McCarrier rebutted Eckstein’s claims, saying nominees are qualified to sit on the board.

“The system has worked well for many, many years,” McCarrier said.

Eckstein said Paserba, who is the president of International Quality Consultants of Butler, was chosen because of her ties to Pinkerton.

“Gail Paserba just happens to be a friend and financial backer of Dale Pinkerton,” Eckstein said, referring to a contribution to Pinkerton’s past political campaign.

Paserba, who did not attend the meeting, could not be reached for comment.

McCarrier said in an interview Pinkerton was not who suggested Paserba’s name for consideration.

“Her name was presented by me,” McCarrier said.

Paserba sits on other boards, including the Butler Memorial Hospital Foundation board.

During the meeting, McCarrier pointed out Eckstein opposed the nomination of three out of four female board nominees during their term in office.

In all cases, Eckstein was outvoted by McCarrier and Pinkerton.

Among those women was Kim Geyer, McCarrier’s administrative assistant. At the time, Eckstein opposed her appointment, citing a conflict of interest.

McCarrier also accused Eckstein of holding a grudge against Paserba because she is critical of Eckstein’s conduct.

“She has been very vocal against you,” McCarrier said.

He said Eckstein was hypocritical by advocating transparency in government while not being truthful about why he opposed Paserba’s nomination.

“I think everyone can see through you on this one,” McCarrier said.

Eckstein denied McCarrier’s comments were accurate, saying his opposition to the nomination wasn’t a personal vendetta or being sexist.

But Eckstein admitted Paserba had been chiding him via “vicious e-mails.”

He insisted the commissioners aren’t qualified to come up with the names of board nominees, saying they should come from the college.

Eckstein said he would not ever suggest anyone to fill a future vacancy on the college board.

“If I did, I’d be a damn hypocrite,” he said.

Eckstein said the commissioners were premature in appointing Paserba due to her being interviewed by college officials today.

However, McCarrier said that interview is meant to inform new board members what their responsibilities are.