Bonner wins 8th House seat in special election
Republican Tim Bonner won the 8th Pennsylvania House District special election Tuesday, according to unofficial election results posted by the Department of State.
“I am humbled by the support shown to me by the voters and want to thank them for entrusting me with their vote,” said Bonner, of Grove City.
Bonner led over Democrat Phil Heasley of Center Township in all 15 Butler County precincts, according to unofficial returns.
“I want to assure all residents of the district that I will be a strong voice on their behalf on the House floor,” Bonner said. “I will tirelessly serve our district with honor and respect for others as I seek to earn the trust and confidence of the residents of the 8th House District.”
Bonner will fill the vacancy left by Republican Tedd Nesbit, who resigned at the start of this year to begin his new role as a Mercer County, Common Pleas judge.
He will serve the remainder of 2020, but will run in the April primary election for the 2021-22 term. Heasley also is on the primary ballot.
The district represents 13 municipalities in Butler County, which experienced low voter turnout throughout its precincts.
Butler County had an 11.51 percent voter turnout with 1,776 of the county's 15,434 registered voters in the district casting their ballots.
Mercer County saw 16.71 percent voter turnout over its 31 precincts within the 8th District.
Harrisville had the highest turnout at 17.88 percent.
Center Township, District 2, had the lowest turnout at 9.3 percent, but the other two Center Township districts also struggled.
The polls looked barren, according to a local man voting at the Center Township precinct.
He was the only voter at the poll at that time, which in part could be attributed to the novel coronavirus 2019 pandemic or because the polling site was a change from the precinct's normal site.
For the special election only, Center Township's voting site was moved to the Church of God Prophecy Church on Mercer Road. The previous site was at Trinity Lutheran Church on Sunset Drive, but the location had a conflicting arrangement.
Democratic candidate Heasley is a Center Township resident and Butler High School graduate.
“With the pandemic going on, the turnout was very low today,” Heasley said. “After this election, we're really going to be pivoting toward signing people up for vote by mail.”
Heasley said he respects Bonner and was thankful to have an opportunity to meet him at one of the polls. He said he looks forward to running against him in the primary.
“I wish him all the luck and hope he goes to Harrisburg and gets things done for this district,” Heasley said. “I will continue to be a voice for the people for the future.”
Bonner said he was impressed by Heasley's professionalism.
“I also want to congratulate Phil Heasley on running a positive campaign, and I look forward to facing him again in November,” he said.
Bonner is a partner of the McNickle & Bonner law office, which has locations in Cranberry Township and Grove City, Mercer County.
Bonner is anti-abortion and NRA-endorsed. He brings with him experience in the fields of criminal justice, health care, education and the non-profit.
“I want to thank all the volunteers who worked endlessly to achieve this election victor,” Bonner said.
