Candidates for political offices have announced their intention to run for their party’s nomination in the May 20 primary.

However, none of them are official candidates yet. They have to get on the ballot first. To do that, they need to get voters to sign their nominating petitions.

Tuesday was the first day for them to begin circulating petitions to be on the ballot.

For offices such as governor, Congress and state representative, petitions have to be filed with the state, not the county, according to Shari Brewer, county director of elections.

These petitions can be obtained by candidates by mail or by using the state Department of State’s website. Then, candidates or petitioners have to circulate the petitions to collect signatures from voters.

Brewer said candidates for governor have to collect 2,000 signatures, including more than 100 each in at least 10 counties.

She said candidates for U.S. Congress have to collect 1,000 signatures from their district. If candidates go into different counties, different petitions have to be filed for each county. There is no requirement for candidates for Congress to get signatures from different counties if the district covers several counties.

Candidates for the state House of Representatives have to collect 300 signatures in their district.

The last day for candidates to file these nominating petitions is March 11.

Governor’s race

Heading the GOP primary ballot, Gov. Tom Corbett is seeking re-election. Bob Guzzardi, a Montgomery County businessman, has said he will run against Corbett in the primary.

Eight Democrats have said they will run for their party’s nomination. They are former state Department of Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger; Lebanon County Commissioner Jo Ellen Litz; state Treasurer Rob McCord; former DEP Secretary Kathleen McGinty; minister Max Myers; U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz; former Auditor General Jack Wagner; and former state Revenue Secretary Tom Wolf.

Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski was a candidate, but he dropped out.

Republican Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley will run for re-election. Six Democrats, Mike Stack, Mark Critz, Brad Koplinski, Brenda Alton, Mark Smith and Jay Paterno, have said they will run for their party’s nomination for that position.

Georgiann Kerr, chairman of the county Democratic Committee, said that a meet-and-greet with Democratic governor and lieutenant governor candidates will be from 3 to 6 p.m. March 8 at the American Legion Post 778, 150 Memorial Lane, Lyndora.

Congressional race

U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-3rd, of Butler is running for re-election.

Two Democrats, Matt Ryan, 31, and Dan LaVallee, 26, both of Cranberry Township, have said they will run in the primary for their party’s nomination.

Rob Joswiak of Concord Township had announced his candidacy, but Kerr said he dropped out of the race on Wednesday due to family issues.

Jeff Smith, chairman of the county Republican Committee, said that Kelly’s presence will help Corbett’s chances in the county.

“I think Butler County is very proud of Mike Kelly,” Smith said.

Kerr said the primary race between the two Democrats should be tight.

“I think it will be close,” Kerr said.

Legislative candidates

Candidates for state House of Representatives also are up for election.

Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-12th, will be challenged by Gordon Marburger of Adams Township for the GOP nomination.

No Democrats have announced for that seat, but Kerr said one will announce soon.

Because State Rep. Dick Stevenson, R-8th, will retire, Republicans Tedd Nesbit of Grove City, Jeffrey Black of Grove City and Herman Bauer of Franklin Township will run for their party’s nomination in that district.

No Democrats have announced their candidacy in the 8th District.

When there are multiple Republican candidates, Smith said that the committee’s policy is to give no endorsements. He said it is up to the voters to decide.

“There are going to be some spirited races in the primary,” Smith said.

Rep. Jaret Gibbons, D-10th, Rep. Brian Ellis, R-11th, and Rep. R. Lee James, R-64th, also are up for election, but they have no announced challengers.

Due to redistricting, the county also will have two new state House districts.

Residents in Jackson and Lancaster townships as well as Evans City, Harmony and Zelienople will be a part of the 14th District covered by Republican Rep. Jim Marshall of Big Beaver.

Residents in Buffalo and Winfield townships will be a part of the 60th District, covered by Republican Rep. Jeff Pyle of Ford City.

Smith said he has met with Marshall and Pyle, and has helped them circulate petitions and meet county residents.

“They’re officially part of the Butler County family,” Smith said.

State committees

Additionally, Republicans will vote for six members of the Republican State Committee while Democrats will vote for three members of the Democratic State Committee.

Those candidates have to collect 100 signatures from county residents.

The last day for people to register to vote in the primary is April 21.

Only the county’s 62,037 Republicans and 42,549 Democrats are eligible to vote in the primary.

Unless there is a referendum, which Brewer said there is not this year, the county’s 16,403 independent voters cannot vote on May 20.

Brewer predicted that voter turnout on May 20 will be about 30 percent.

During the last gubernatorial election year in 2010, turnout was 32 percent. And, during that election, U.S. and state senators were on the ballot.

“We don’t have either one of those (this year),” Brewer said. “I don’t know if that will make a difference or not.”

Poll workers sought

Brewer also said that the county is seeking poll workers. She said these positions are supposed to be elected, but the county always has trouble filling them, so they have to actively seek people to do it.

Workers would need to be at the polling places from about 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Election Day twice a year. They get paid $130 to $155 per day.

People interested in being a poll worker can visit www.co.butler.pa.us/poll or call 724-284-5308.