The Republican State Committee selected Tim Bonner of Grove City on Thursday evening to compete for the state House of Representatives' 8th District seat.

The seat is being vacated by Tedd Nesbit, who resigned at the start of the year to begin his new role as a Mercer County common pleas judge.

Bonner has practiced law in Grove City, working with Western Pennsylvania residents, businesses and governments since 1975.

He is a partner at McNickle & Bonner, which has locations in Cranberry Township and Grove City.

Bonner is a past chairman of the board of directors for Grove City Medical Center.

The selection committee, made up of 11 representatives from Mercer County and nine from Butler County, met at Grove City High School.

The winning candidate needed 11 votes to be selected.

Trish Lindsay, a co-vice chairwoman for the Butler County GOP, said Bonner was one of 12 people raised as candidates at a private meeting Monday.

“He has some experience in running some campaigns and knows what it takes,” Lindsay said.

Bonner will run against a nominated Democratic candidate in the March 17 special election that was called for by Speaker of the House Mike Turzai.

Lindsay said many rules have been added for the May 15 primary, but they will not apply to the special election.

“People will go to the polls and vote,” Lindsay said. “They will be using the old rules for the last election for this special election.”

The winner of the special election will finish the remainder of Nesbit's term, which extends through Dec. 31.

The candidates would need to run in the primary in May to continue their chances for the two-year seat in 2021.

Tim Bonner