Kim Geyer

Kim Geyer will appear on the fall general election ballot as a Republican candidate for Butler County commissioner after Bob O'Neill conceded the primary election to her.

O'Neill called Geyer on Monday afternoon to concede.

“We had a great conversation,” said Geyer, 52, of Adams Township.

The final tally of votes for the two candidates is 4,288 for Geyer and 4,285 for O'Neill.

Geyer will be on the Nov. 3 ballot with Republican Leslie Osche of Butler Township, who was in first place. On the Democratic side, Jerry Johnston of Butler Township and Kevin Boozel of Mercer Township will be on the ballot.

The top two vote-getters in each party from the May 19 primary run in the November election.

Geyer initially beat O'Neill in the primary for second place by two votes, with a total of 4,283 votes to O'Neill's 4,281.

On May 27, the county elections board considered 27 provisional ballots, which are used to record a vote when there are questions about a voter's eligibility. Only six ballots were approved that day. They gave O'Neill three votes and Geyer two votes, leaving them separated by only one vote.

On Friday, provisional ballots that were contested by attorneys representing Geyer and O'Neill were considered in a separate hearing. Only two ballots were approved there, giving O'Neill and Geyer each one extra vote.

Then later Friday afternoon another meeting of the elections board was held to consider a few write-in votes. County solicitor Mike English said this meeting was not closed to the public, but was held in an impromptu fashion.

At that meeting, Geyer received two additional votes. English said O'Neill received one write-in vote, but it was thrown out because the voter already had voted for O'Neill on the ballot.

O'Neill of Cranberry Township had until Monday afternoon to file an appeal in court to further dispute any provisional ballots, but that did not occur.

Geyer, who owns a business with her husband and is the administrative assistant to county Commissioner Bill McCarrier, said the process was stressful, with only a few votes separating her and O'Neill, and so much uncertainty.

“I am glad we had the process ... but I wouldn't wish this for any fellow candidates,” Geyer said.

She said that having the process was important, which she said O'Neill agreed with.

Geyer said her next step is to speak with the other candidates. In the fall, she said her platform will emphasize the need for a county budget analysis, reevaluating what programs and services the county offers, and working to increase economic development.

O'Neill, a corporal for the Cranberry Township police, did not return a call for comment.

There initially were 10 Republican candidates. The others were Lisa Metcalfe of Cranberry Township, Larry Thompson of Oakland Township, Jeff Smith of Butler, Jim Keffalas of Butler Township, Justin Trainor of Penn Township, James Butler of Prospect and Mark Lux of Clay Township.

Osche, Geyer, Johnston and Boozel will compete in the fall for three commissioner seats.