Above is a map that shows the Butler County townships an boroughs that are covered by District 11.

Interviews scheduled for Saturday aim to manage the significant local Republican interest in running to replace Brian Ellis, who resigned from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Monday.

The Republican and Democratic nominees to replace Ellis will be selected not by voters, but by party committee members within the 11th district. The district's voters will decide between the candidates nominated by each party in the May 21 special election.

Butler Democrats released this week the names of three people interested in the House seat - Sam Doctor, 28, of Butler; Chris Kubiak, 42, of Butler; and Dave Zarnick, of Butler Township. Doctor is a crane operator for AK Steel. Kubiak is the education director for the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania. Zarnick is a commissioner for Butler Township.

Republicans appear to have a mounting contest behind the scenes to replace their former colleague Ellis, who resigned amid rape allegations. Multiple Republicans vying for the votes of their party's 34 committee members confirmed to the Eagle on Friday that anywhere from six to 10 viable candidates were interested in the seat.

Both parties reported planning to convene their committees for meetings and selecting a candidate within the next week.

Read more in Sunday's Butler Eagle.