Ben Holland, 26, of Connoquenessing Township is running for Butler County controller

A Republican, he is vying for the seat to be vacated by Controller Jack McMillin at the end of the year. McMillin, 60, of Zelienople on Monday announced his retirement.

Holland, who is the accounting manager for the Pittsburgh office of the McKesson Corp., said his experience in the private sector makes him qualified to assume the post in 2014.

“I believe I can be that independent watchdog,” he said.

Holland, who served on the Butler School Board from 2007 to 2011, pledged to forego any pay increases for himself if elected.

“It’s going to start with me first,” he said. “I’m not going to accept a pay raise.”

He said he would look to cut costs in the controller’s office first and then look at other areas in county government.

He said the cost of county government shouldn’t be going up when elderly residents are only receiving a 1.7 percent cost-of-living adjustment in their social security checks.

Holland has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Grove City College and is a 2005 graduate of Butler High School.