With two seats up for grabs on Butler Township’s board of commissioners, a newcomer is hoping to unseat one of the two candidates running for reelection.

Jeffrey Pakutz, a Democrat, is challenging incumbents Sam Zurzolo and Edward Natali in the general election on Nov. 4. The winners’ terms will last four years.

Edward Natali

Born and raised in Butler Township, Natali is a graduate of Gannon University and works as senior project manager in the engineering department at Cleveland-Cliffs, Butler Works. He is running for reelection as a Republican.

Outside of his 40 years in the private sector, Natali also served in leadership roles in professional societies such as the Association for Iron and Steel Technologies as well as community service organizations such as the Butler County Symphony Association and North Main Street Church of God.

He said some of his greatest accomplishments during his first term include upgrading the intersection of Hansen Avenue and Whitestown Road, increasing staffing at the police department, implementing a strategic plan for fire and EMS services, as well as developing the Pullman Recreational Complex.

He said his private-sector experience coupled with his faith in God and love for township residents builds the foundations for the decisions he makes.

Jeffrey Pakutz

Pakutz, another lifelong resident of Butler Township, is a recent retiree from the role of assistant vice president and complex claim director for American International Group Insurance. He is running for election as a Democrat.

During his 36-year career, he was able to budget a $500-million reserve, make hiring decisions, listen to clients, negotiate settlements and interpret police and procedures with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Workers’ Compensation.

Outside of his career, Pakutz serves on the Butler County Bureau of Elections Computation Board and volunteers with the St. Vincent DePaul Food Bank and St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church.

He said he believes the work he did in his career is full of translatable skills that will apply to municipal governance well.

Sam Zurzolo

Zurzolo is a Marine Corps veteran who retired after 30 years of service. He is running for reelection for his fourth term.

He worked for 18 years as maintenance manager at Moraine Pointe Plaza and spent 16 years on the township’s planning commission.

Zurzolo said he has seen the good and bad possible in the township but believes that with the work of commissioners and township officials, it is a great place to live.

Natali said he ran for a second term because of his love for the community and the residents of the township. He also said he hopes to complete unfinished business from his first term, such as implementing the new emergency services strategic plan.

Pakutz said he has been interested in running for quite some time, but was unable due to a work conflict. Now that he is retired, he hopes to have a role in the township’s growth and the betterment of its communities.

Zurzolo said he decided to run after being asked to run again, which he said he was honored by.

Natali said his biggest goals would be completing implementation of the emergency services strategic plan, continue expanding the township’s police department and completing the next phases of the Pullman Recreational Complex project — all without raising taxes.

Pakutz said his goals involve ensuring good management of the Butler Area Sewer Authority sale proceeds, working to improve response times for ambulance calls and building a stronger relationship between residents and the township.

Zurzolo said the township has no big problems on the horizon, thanks in part to the BASA sale proceeds. However, he said he would like to see continued improvements to public safety and developments to the Pullman Recreation Complex.

Natali said the issues the township is experiencing are a result of being a growing community. He said he would look to further expand the police department with additional staff to keep crime rates low as population increases.

He also said he would hope to address both the shifting demographic in types of calls as well as the staffing crisis in emergency services. He said the best way to do this is to continuously improve delivery methods, which can be done through the emergency services strategic plan.

Natali also said he is concerned about increases in traffic as the township grows. He said cooperation between the township, county and state will be paramount. He pointed to the Hansen Avenue and Whitestown Road intersection project as a sign of successful cooperation.

Pakutz said the biggest issue would be inadequate roads and stormwater management throughout the township. He said he would aim for heavy infrastructure investment, possibly using a portion of the BASA sale proceeds.

He also said he would want to address the ongoing challenge of recruiting and retaining first responders. He said he would continue to strengthen the partnership with the ambulance service and would consider wage scales for retention.

Pakutz also said he believes local governments should be consistent with enforcing zoning and ordinances, meaning the township needs to work with property owners to ensure that their homes or properties are within code.

Zurzolo said he does not see any major issues in the township, but would primarily focus on improving emergency services. He said he would like to look at assisting ambulance services and would consider a new fire hall for Butler Township Volunteer Fire District.

He also said he would look to support continued housing development in the area. He noted two recent developments as signs of positive growth in the township.

Zurzolo also said it is still a priority for the township to find a new parks and recreation director.

Natali said the commercial areas are already seeing steady and varied growth, which offers amenities for a broad spectrum of age groups. He said he would continue to make sure growth is varied and would refuse to play favorites when someone comes forward with a business plan.

Pakutz said he supports growth and development but believes it should happen at a pace that can be managed without neglecting preexisting communities. He said the keys to selecting projects to move forward with are transparency and open communication.

Zurzolo said the township is growing and growth represents new opportunities for its residents. However, he said it is important to monitor development, as the township will inevitably run out of land to develop.

Natali’s ideal future is a community built on “faith, liberty and freedom” where residents are welcomed, safe and engaged. He said this is represented in his entire goal for his second term, from expanding the police department to completing the Pullman Recreation Complex project.

Pakutz said he believes the township will continue to grow as the southern region of the county reaches its limit on development. He said the township needs to prepare by planning responsibly for the long-term and prioritizing investments in roads, stormwater management and public safety.

Zurzolo said he believes the township is already well-organized and well-managed and expects that trend to continue. He said focus should be on finishing the Pullman Recreation Complex and keeping on top of the township’s financial obligations.