Sorting their mail one day last week, thousands of Butler County residents found a curious letter mixed in with the junk mail and bills. It was an official letter from the county — at least that’s what it looked like.

The return address printed on the upper left corner of the envelope was the county government center. The letter endorsed a switch to electricity supplier First Energy Solutions and the letter, featuring an image of the county logo and letterhead, was signed by the three county commissioners

Despite the deliberate attempt to make the envelope and material inside appear to be a direct appeal from the county, it was not an endorsement, according to the commissioners office.

Having taken the time to study it, most county residents realized that the material was simply a marketing pitch by First Energy. But by featuring the government center’s return address, the official county seal and signatures of the commissioners, most residents spared the letter the quick trip to the trash that other junk mail makes.

Clearly, that was the company’s intent. But it was wrong for county officials to participate in that effort and cooperate by providing the county logo and their signatures to the sales pitch.

County officials, even if they now say they were not endorsing a switch to First Energy Solutions, certainly were made to look it by First Energy’s marketing department.

But the company’s marketing department appeared to have missed something; a color pamphlet included in the envelope promoted an “exclusive” deal for Butler County residents, but referred to a website described as “the exclusive Mercer County web page.” So much for an exclusive deal.

When asked about the First Energy mailing, county officials said they signed the letter — written by First Energy. Yet they say they did not intend to endorse a switch to First Energy. Did they read the letter they signed?

The county’s incentive appears to a commission of sorts, a $5 payment for every customer that switches to First Energy — in exchange for the county’s mailing list. Some residents view the sale of the county’s mailing list as an invasion of privacy. Besides, the company could have bought a mailing list elsewhere.

Someone in the commissioners’ office apparently is not paying attention to what documents they sign or what deals they agree to. Or at least officials there are tone deaf about how the impression the First Energy mailing would make.

The sales pitch from First Energy with such obvious county involvement did get the company noticed. But many residents are questioning the wisdom of county officials appearing to endorse one private company over others. Do they sell their signatures to the highest bidder?

What might county residents find in their mail next week? Maybe the county commissioners will endorse a cellular phone company or car dealership offering a money-saving deal? Will commissioners William McCarrier, Dale Pinkerton and James Eckstein send residents a letter encouraging they take in the dinner special at a local restaurant?

The county commissioners might be right that more people should know more about their options when it comes to the electricity market, but partnering with First Energy in an apparent endorsement deal was not the way to do it.