As is routine in elections devoted to local offices, many positions are decided by write-in votes because no one officially sought to have his or her name on the ballots.

It's unfortunate that such a situation occurs, but in the end the positions usually are filled, if not by write-in votes then by appointment.

Local government goes on.

But while the lack of a declared candidate is something not rare for boroughs and townships, for the City of Butler not to have had an on-the-ballot candidate for a city council seat in the Nov. 3 election was unusual and eye-opening.

A reasonable question to ask is why no one was willing to come forward to campaign after Councilman Mike Kelly chose not to seek re-election this year. There had to have been more than a few people in the city with the time, energy and talent to run for the position.

Were the city's problems perceived as too daunting for those people to want to throw their proverbial hats in the ring? Did potential candidates regard the personalities of the city's other leaders as being at odds with their own viewpoints?

Fortunately, in the end, the city council did not have to go looking for someone to fill Kelly's seat. That's because Richard Schontz Jr., son of a former city mayor, asked several of his friends to write in his name on Election Day and that mini-effort ended up being successful.

Schontz, who is a teacher and coach at Butler Junior High School, tallied seven votes; his victory was certified Monday.

Despite not having talked with city voters prior to the election about issues facing the municipality, Schontz has since let it be known that he cares about the city's well-being and is looking forward to working with other members of the council.

"I've lived in the city most of my life," he said. "I have a strong interest in the city."

Meanwhile, Schontz, who pointed out that he is nearing retirement from his full-time employment, is no stranger to politics, having run his father's campaign for mayor.

No doubt, over the course of his father's three terms as mayor, he had many opportunities to discuss with the mayor what was happening in the city government, what shouldn't have happened or what should be happening.

Now, with that background and perspective, he will have a firsthand opportunity to have an impact.

Maybe this time the city lucked out in getting a person of Schontz's caliber elected at virtually the last minute. Still, that is not the way a city council seat should be filled.

In a city of Butler's size, there should be several people vying for open council seats.

Being elected to the council should be an exercise decided by the will of the general population, not a handful of friends.

Yet, in many instances, election by just a few write-in votes can in the end be more positive than for leaders of a municipality to appoint a crony who will just be a rubber stamp.

Schontz, upon taking office in January, should be his own man. He should work on behalf of the best interests of the city and its residents and not be reluctant to question proposed actions or policies with which he doesn't agree.

He will have power equal to other council members, and having been elected by a mere seven write-in votes won't diminish his opportunity to do good things for the city.

Still, Butler shouldn't have such difficulty attracting qualified candidates for its elected offices in time for the voters to evaluate their candidacy.