Butler County President Judge Thomas Doerr is accepting letters of interest from county residents wishing to succeed Butler County Commissioner James Kennedy, who has accepted a job with the state Department of Agriculture.

Kennedy will start as the district representative for the Western Pennsylvania region on July 18. He will have offices in Gibsonia and Meadville.

His last day as a county commissioner will be July 15.

Kennedy said he’s pleased to be an advocate for farmers across the region.

To be eligible for Kennedy’s seat, a county resident must have been registered as a Republican for at least 3Z\x years.

Letters of interest should be sent to: Candace Graff, Court Administrator, P.O. Box 1208, Butler, PA 16003. The deadline is 4:30 p.m. July 8.

Kennedy’s term ends at the end of 2011.