Susan Welch, left, a staffer for Susan Boser who's running in the newly formed 15th Congressional District, talks with Martha Manzato and Sally Ellison of Butler at the Butler County Democratic Committee Fall Dinner on Wednesday.

PENN TWP — As President Donald Trump rallied in Erie for Congressman Mike Kelly, R-3rd, the Butler County Democratic Committee leaders were rallying around their own candidates at their annual fall dinner. Their hope — to bring a sense of community to Democrats living in rural Pennsylvania.

More than 170 Democrats filled the dining room for the committee's annual fall dinner. The dinner acts as a fundraiser for the committee but also a space to help build the Democratic community and meet the candidates.

Catherine Lalonde, who started as chairmen of the Democratic committee in January 2017, is excited about the growth and noted last year's fall dinner turnout was 89 people.

In total, seven candidates for state and federal offices spoke at the event including: Boser, and IUP professor, running for 15th Congressional District; Ron DiNicola, a former Marine, running for 16th Congressional District; Lisa Boeving-Learned, a military veteran and former police officer, running for the state 8th Legislative District; Amy Fazio, a business woman, running for the state 4th Legislative District; and Dan Smith Jr., Butler native, running for the state 12th Legislative District.

Butler County Commissioner Kevin Boozel, Patton Mills; Mickey Sgro, director for American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees District Council 83; and Jon Fetterman, mayor of Braddock who is running for lieutenant governor alongside incumbent Gov. Tom Wolf, also spoke.

This is an excerpt — read the full story in Friday's Butler Eagle.