County candidates set for stretch run
With six weeks until Election Day, the five candidates for Butler County commissioner are gearing up their campaigns.
The candidates are Republicans Leslie Osche and Kim Geyer, Democrats Jerry Johnston and Kevin Boozel, and Green Party candidate Michael Bagdes-Canning.
The top three vote-getters on the Nov. 3 ballot will become commissioners.
These three newly elected commissioners will enter office without any incumbents to guide them since the three current commissioners will leave office at the end of the year.
Here is a look at the candidates' campaigns.
<h3>Leslie Osche</h3>“From my perspective, it's going great,” said Osche of Butler Township, the former executive director of the United Way of Butler County.She said she has spent some time talking to GOP candidates who lost in the primary and their supporters, which she said has been successful.“We're all on the same page,” Osche said.She said she has about 40 to 50 core volunteers.Osche's background in fundraising helped her transition into campaigning for office, but she said it was not easy.“I knew what to do, but I was uncomfortable doing it,” Osche said. “You have to sell yourself.”She said she had help from her friends in selling her and her campaign to others.Osche said she did not do much door-knocking in the summer, but will resume those efforts soon.“Now, we're getting ready to ramp up,” Osche said.She said the campaign likely will target the northern and southern parts of the county — areas where she had fewer votes compared to the central part of the county.
<h3>Kevin Boozel</h3>Boozel of Mercer Township, the PA 211 Southwest project manager for the United Way of Allegheny County and president of the Butler County Fire Chiefs Association, said his campaigning has been successful.“I have support from all over the county that I didn't anticipate,” Boozel said.He said he has talked to the candidates — both Democrats and Republicans — who did not win in the primary to try to get support. He said this has been successful, but would not specify which candidates said they would support him.He said that knocking on doors is a big part of his campaign. As it has gone on, he has had volunteers do more of it. He said he has family in “every corner of the county,” who are helping to get the word out about him.A unique action he is doing is handing out nine-volt batteries with his campaign information attached. Because Election Day is two days after the daylight-saving time change — which is a time to check smoke alarm batteries — Boozel is handing out the batteries both as a campaign promotion and a useful safety tool.“It's cheaper than doing mailing cards,” Boozel said.Boozel said he has about 60 volunteers. He took a one-month break following the May primary, and then got back to campaigning.In his job, he works in 23 different counties. He said he has been talking to the commissioners in those counties. He has attended classes at the Local Government Academy in Pittsburgh to better learn what he would have to do in office.
<h3>Kim Geyer</h3>Geyer of Adams Township, who co-owns a commercial construction company with her husband and is the administrative assistant to Commissioner Bill McCarrier, said she will begin knocking on doors soon.“Just trying to get out and to meet as many people as possible,” Geyer said. “I'm trying to make use of all my time in a productive way.”She said she has about 50 volunteers.Throughout the summer, she has been going to community events — such as the Big Butler Fair and the Butler Farm Show — and said that will continue this fall.Geyer said she and Osche are looking to campaign together, and Osche said they are having some preliminary discussions about that.“That's our plan,” Geyer said.She said they are meeting periodically to discuss elections issues, and to see what their common ground is. She said they will keep their separate committees, but also will have a joint committee.
<h3>Jerry Johnston</h3>Johnston of Butler Township, marketing coordinator for Butler County Community College's off-campus locations and a freelance commercial and voice actor in radio and television, said his campaigning continued through the summer.“We really haven't stopped,” Johnston said.He said he has about 20 to 25 core volunteers and friends helping out.“I can't thank them enough,” Johnston said.In 2011, Johnston won in the primary, but lost in the general election. Four years ago, he said he had a full-time job with an odd schedule, making it difficult to campaign. This time, he is working part time.“This time, it's a little easier,” Johnston said.He said his campaign is looking at how he did in the primary this year and the general election from 2011 to see in what areas he was strong and weak.Johnston said his campaign did not spend a large amount of money in the primary, and said he would like to continue with that.“We're going to stick with what got us so far,” Johnston said.
<h3>Michael Bagdes-Canning</h3>Bagdes-Canning of Cherry Valley, a retired teacher who is vice president of Cherry Valley borough council and an organizer for Marcellus Outreach Butler, said he is not thinking of this as a campaign.“I'm thinking of this as building a movement,” Bagdes-Canning said.The way he sees it, the county has been run by the Republicans and Democrats for a long time, and they are not looking out for residents.He said he has about 20 people on his campaign committee, and he has been speaking with some residents. For instance, he said he has met with a resident at Cliffside Apartments in Butler who is concerned about noise and pollution from truck traffic near the building.“That's what I've been dealing with,” Bagdes-Canning said.He said he has been visiting areas like Cranberry Township, Adams Township, Zelienople, Middlesex Township and Slippery Rock.“I like knocking on doors,” said Bagdes-Canning, adding that people are receptive to his talking points.“I've had no problem getting people to talk to me,” Bagdes-Canning said. “I think it's because most people are disgusted by government.”He said his goal in campaigning is to “educate and mobilize.”
<h3>Commissioners helping</h3>The candidates have been invited by the commissioners to attend informational meetings regarding the costly, government mandated 911 radio upgrade and the 2016 budget.Commissioners McCarrier and Dale Pinkerton declined to run again, while Jim Eckstein lost his Democratic primary bid.McCarrier, board chairman, said the candidates were invited so they could be prepared to make important decisions.He said that happened before each of his two terms.“I was invited to all the budget meetings,” McCarrier said.The candidates said they appreciated the gesture.
