Any Butler County voters considering sitting out the May 19 primary may want to reverse course, according to election and party officials.

Shari Brewer, county elections bureau director, said the primary often decides what direction the county commissioners take during their term because there are only three seats.

“People need to realize the importance of the primary,” Brewer said.

With 61,345 Republicans and 41,021 Democrats registered to vote in the county, the GOP nominees are favored to win in November.

“If history repeats itself,” Brewer said.

Only twice has there been a Democratic majority on the board over the past few decades.

The last time the board had two Democrats was in the early 1990s, when the Democratic commissioners were Jim Green and Glenn Anderson and the sole Republican was Paul Montgomery.

The prior board with a Democratic majority was in the late 1970s and early 1980s with Democrats Green and Merl Roth and Republican Leon Gant.

Ed Natali, chairman of the county Republican Committee, agreed the primary likely would set the tone for the 2016 board, but said it’s not a certainty there will be two Republicans on it.

“Nothing is ever guaranteed,” Natali said. “It’s totally dependent on who does or doesn’t run.”

There are nine Republican candidates who have announced they are seeking one of two party nominations in the primary: Kim Geyer, Jim Keffalas, Mark Lux, Lisa Metcalfe, Bob O’Neill, Leslie Osche, Jeff Smith, Larry Thompson and Justin Trainor.

GOP incumbents Bill McCarrier and Dale Pinkerton are not running for re-election.

Four Democratic candidates so far are vying for nominations: incumbent Commissioner Jim Eckstein, Kevin Boozel, Dave Johnston and Jerry Johnston. The Johnstons are not related.

Georgiann Kerr, chairman of the county Democratic Committee, is pushing for voters in November to elect two Democratic commissioners.

But before that, Kerr is looking for Democrats to challenge incumbent county row officers, who typically don’t have opponents.

“I don’t think people realize how important local elections are,” she said.

The row offices up for re-election are district attorney, treasurer, prothonotary, coroner, register of wills/clerk of orphans’ court and recorder of deeds.

Of those offices, District Attorney Richard Goldinger and Treasurer Diane Marburger are the only incumbents who have announced re-election bids.

Register of Wills/Clerk of Orphans’ Court Judy Moser is retiring at the end of the year. Sarah Fair Edwards and Eric Gordon are seeking the GOP nomination for that dual row office.

As of this morning, there were no challengers for any row office seats.

Four district judge seats — Butler, Cranberry Township, Evans City and Slippery Rock — are up for re-election.

Butler District Judge Pete Shaffer and Slippery Rock District Judge Tim Shaffer are retiring this year.

There are three candidates — attorney Patrick Casey, Assistant District Attorney William “B.T.” Fullerton and state constable Robert Geagan — for the Butler seat.

Bill O’Donnell, former chief county clerk, is running for the Slippery Rock seat. He is the brother of Butler Township District Judge Kevin O’Donnell.

County Judge Timothy McCune is up for a retention vote, but that does not occur until the November election.

Kerr pointed out local elected officials, who include municipal and school boards, affect property taxes.

“Please get out to get to know the candidates,” she said. “Use your right to vote.”

Natali said it’s also important to ensure there are candidates for township supervisors and borough councils.

“I’m trying to encourage people to run for municipal offices,” he said.

The first day to circulate candidate nomination papers was Feb. 17.

Candidates for county offices need a minimum of 250 signatures from voters in the same party. District judge candidates need 100 signatures.

Candidates for city offices need 100 signatures while those running for seats on all the other municipalities’ boards just need 10.

Petitions for Butler School Board candidates need 100 signatures while those running for other school district boards need only 10.

Other election deadlines are:

The last day to circulate and file nomination petitions is March 10.

The first day to file nomination papers is March 11.

The last day for candidates who filed petitions to withdraw is March 25.

The last day to register to vote or to switch parties is April 20.

The last day to apply for an absentee ballot is May 12

The last day for the elections bureau to receive civilian absentee ballots is May 16.

Military absentee ballots must be postmarked by May 18 and received by May 26.