While Tuesday's general election balloting in Butler County didn't display a radical anti-incumbency mood beyond the displeasure expressed against two state Supreme Court justices who were eyeing retention, the changes that voters chose to make in municipal offices and on school boards showed that the voters were paying attention to the candidates and the issues.

That is not to imply that those who were ousted were bad or incompetent public officials; that was not the case at all.

But change, even on a limited scale, is healthy because it oftentimes is the foundation for new, positive ideas and directions. So, hopefully, the newcomers who defeated incumbents will be the source of much that is good, and it is to be hoped that those who will be leaving their seats will find other ways to help their communities.

There were two negative aspects to the election and neither had to do with the actual balloting. Instead, they were the low turnout — 29.7 percent, including Cranberry Township's dismal 17 percent showing — and the lack of competition for county row offices and a county judgeship — a "free ride" that also existed in the spring primary balloting.

If the Butler County Democratic Party really is committed to the principle of two-party government, it ought to make a statement to that effect by recruiting and supporting qualified candidates who are energetic and eager to discuss issues — for all offices. The party can be judged as having failed miserably in 2005, despite some party successes on the municipal level, including two important positions in the City of Butler.

Still, the party's voice, for the most part, remained nearly silent when stacked up against the opportunities it had to bring about dialogue regarding important considerations.

The two main Democratic successes in the city were Maggie Stock's victory in the mayoral race and Kathy Kline's capturing of a council seat. In the city balloting, incumbent Councilman Joseph Bratkovich was defeated in a re-election bid. Republican Mike Kelly won the other council seat up for grabs.

Incumbent Mayor Leonard Pintell and Councilman Charles Savannah did not seek re-election.

Bratkovich merits praise for his dozen years of dedicated council service, but he apparently was a victim of the city's ongoing financial dilemma, a troubling issue that the two new council members, new mayor and the two councilmen whose seats were not up for election this year must address.

Meanwhile, Republican Drusilla Rensel, who lost in the mayoral race, should be commended for the manner in which she accepted her defeat, pledging to "help (Stock) in any way she likes" to help the city become better and overcome its problems. Hopefully, Bratkovich, based on his city government experience, will embrace such an attitude and stay involved.

Outside the city, there were some notable defeats of incumbents, including:

Bonnie Raudebaugh, a member of Slippery Rock Borough Council.

Ann Reale, a Seneca Valley School Board member.

Daniel Cox, chairman of the Center Township supervisors.

Marianne Hill, a Buffalo Township supervisor.

James Butler, mayor of Prospect Borough.

Like Bratkovich in the city, those five people and others whose re-election bids were unsuccessful should remain committed to their community's betterment and be willing participants in a smooth transition for the new officeholders.

County voters showed that they paid attention to the legislative pay-raise issue and the high court's role in allowing that situation to unfold. Sixty-seven percent of the votes cast on Justice Russell Nigro's retention for another 10 years on the Supreme Court were "no" votes. A total of 61 percent of the county's voters said "no" to Justice Sandra Schultz Newman's retention.

Statewide, Newman managed to win retention, but Nigro was ousted — the first state judge to lose a retention vote.

Tuesday's election in Butler Township showed why every vote counts. In the unofficial tally, Democrat Sam Zurzolo and Republican David Kowal both got 2,205 votes for a seat on the township board of commissioners. If one more voter had gone to the polls, the election wouldn't have ended in a tie.

Another example of closeness came in the race for district judge, where incumbent Democrat Kevin O'Donnell defeated Butler police Lt. Ronald Pate by only 85 votes out of 5,329 ballots cast in Butler Township's eight precincts.

Despite a generally low-key municipal election campaign, the election itself was far from boring and didn't merit the negative description of "off-year election." With the election now past, it's time to look ahead with the hope that those who were successful Tuesday can make a positive impact in the responsibilities with which they have been entrusted.

It's also important that voters not forget that next year's elections will focus on legislative seats and the controversial legislative pay-raise issue that state lawmakers had hoped would be forgotten by now, but which has continued to fester and grow.