Phil Heasley

Democratic leaders put forth a Center Township man as the party's nominee for the upcoming March special election to fill the state House's 8th District seat vacated by Republican Tedd Nesbit, who resigned at the start of the year to begin his new role as a Mercer County common pleas judge.

Phil Heasley has been nominated to run on behalf of the Democrats in the special election for the seat, which covers 13 northern Butler County townships.

Catherine LaLonde, chairwoman for the Butler County Democratic Committee, said another person originally asked to be considered for the nomination, which would have been done at a Wednesday event aimed at making a final decision on the party's nominee.

“Over the weekend, he (the other potential candidate) called and decided not to run,” LaLonde said, which led to Wednesday's meeting of area Democratic leaders being canceled.

LaLonde said Heasley is a motivated person who will make a good candidate.

“He is a young fellow, 29 years old, but he's been very active in politics,” she said. “He's an extremely hard worker. He's a very honest person. He's very committed.”

Heasley graduated from Butler High School and Edinboro University.

“I have lived in this district my whole life, even before it's redrawing,” Heasley said. “I recently bought a home two miles from my childhood home.”

Heasley has been involved with the Democratic committee for the last five years.

He said he would like to focus on accessible health care in rural areas, the opioid crisis, and expanding broadband access to rural areas.

Heasley said he will focus most of his campaign on meeting as many people as possible and letting them know that the special election differs from the primary election in May.

The special election will be on March 17 and will be based on the same rules as last year's elections.

“Independents can vote in the special election as well,” Heasley said.

The winner of the special election will finish the remainder of Nesbit's term, which extends through Dec. 31.

The candidates would need to run in the primary in May to continue their chances for the two-year seat in 2021.

“I'm running in the primary as well, but I'm hoping to be the incumbent heading into the November election,” Heasley said.