The fact that eight people are vying for appointment to a two-year unexpired term on the Butler School Board raises a question. That is why there is so much interest in this seat, while barely enough people tend to run for the seats up for grabs in elections — not only in the Butler district but in most districts.

No doubt some of the hesitancy to run stems from not wanting to endure the rigors of a campaign, such as going door-to-door to introduce oneself or incurring the cost of campaign signs or other printed information. For some people, the turnoff to running is the prospect of competing against seemingly entrenched incumbents seeking re-election.

In Butler’s case for the seat formerly held by Joe Wiest, whose resignation became effective Dec. 25, some of the healthy interest could be based on a desire to tilt the board in one direction or another.

Four of the five board members elected in November seem aligned against some of the ways the district has operated in the past. Three members remaining from the former board plus the fifth new school director form an alliance bent on keeping the district in line with the thinking that has guided the district in recent years.

For the good of the board, it would be refreshing if the person named to fill the vacancy is an independent thinker — someone who couldn’t be depended on to consistently line up with one side or the other.

That person’s only desire should be to make the right decisions for the district, regardless of which side considers the voting results a victory.

Of course, not every vote will have a 5-4 result.

President Judge Thomas Doerr will make the selection, possibly upon the recommendation of a three-member committee appointed to review the eight applications. Although Doerr is not bound by the committee’s recommendation, he should make the ability to think and evaluate independently one of the biggest factors on which he bases his selection.

It was the school board’s inability to reach a majority consensus on a replacement for Wiest that put Doerr in the position of making the selection — upon receiving petitions requesting his involvement.

According to Tom Holman, deputy court administrator, members of the committee, whose names have not yet been revealed, will review the eight candidates’ letters of application and create an objective system to evaluate the candidates and determine whether to conduct interviews.

After the committee’s work, it will be Doerr’s task to either concur with the committee or make another selection.

Being a board member requries a lot of time and work. A board position also involves a period of what amounts to on-the-job training — becoming familiar with all aspects of the district’s operation, including the district’s needs, finances and issues.

The eight people vying for Wiest’s seat are doing the district a great service in their desire to serve the school system and district taxpayers.

While only one of them will be appointed, unless something unexpected occurs, those unsuccessful this time should consider seeking a full four-year term in 2013.

The more candidates that voters have to choose from, the healthier the election process.