One Buffalo Township supervisor seat is opening up at the start of 2026, and three Republican candidates are running for the position in the upcoming primary election.

Bob Buterbaugh, Heath Singer and John Haven, a former supervisor, are running for the seat which is currently held by Albert T. Roenigk. Roenigk chose not to run for reelection.

A fourth candidate, Donald Roenigk, was originally on the ballot, but later took his name off to focus on running for Freeport school board in 2027.

Buterbaugh, who has been a resident of Buffalo Township for nearly his entire life, works remotely as an enterprise sales manager for Raindrop Systems, a software company based in California. Although this is the first time he has run for political office, he does claim 25 years of experience in sales and management.

“I know that my experience in business development, business management and sales has prepared me well,” Buterbaugh said. “Years working in business and negotiating enterprise contracts with multibillion dollar organizations like Hershey, University of Pittsburgh, UPMC and many others has given me the chops needed to get people to the table and ensure Buffalo Township a more than fair shake.”

Those in Western Pennsylvania may be familiar with his voice, as Buterbaugh also works as a radio play-by-play announcer for Freeport Area High School football games during the fall.

He was appointed as an alternate to the Buffalo Township Planning Commission in 2024, and he noted that his grandfather served as a constable in nearby South Buffalo Township, in Armstrong County.

“I have spent 44 years already getting to know the people of Buffalo Township, and I am the approachable friend that many residents need in office,” Buterbaugh said.

Haven serves on the Freeport Area School Board as the second vice president. His term expires at the end of this year, and he has opted not to run for reelection, choosing instead to run for a return to the township.

Haven is no stranger to Buffalo Township’s board, as he served as a supervisor for a 10-year period, including seven as chairman. His record of public service also includes 12 years on the township’s parks and recreation committee, and 14 years on the board of the Municipal Authority of Buffalo Township — an organization that manages the township’s water and sewer system.

“Through serving on these various entities I have worked with many county and state agencies and leaders,” Haven said.

Aside from his public service, Haven has been retired since 2006. Prior to that, Haven spent 34 years as a senior production supervisor at ATI Materials. Haven also served for six years in the U.S. military in the late 1960s and early 1970s, which included a stretch in Vietnam.

Singer currently serves as public works director for Middlesex Township, but he is a resident of Buffalo Township. He is running for Buffalo Township supervisors to help the community where he resides.

“I enjoy helping my fellow neighbors, and I feel that my background in public works will be a bonus,” Singer told the Butler Eagle. “There are many problems that can arise with the daily dealings in a township and I feel that my experiences can be very useful.”

In addition to his role with Middlesex Township, Singer is also the owner of BH Excavating, an excavating contractor business located in Buffalo Township, and also works part-time at the Birdsfoot Golf Course in Freeport.

Buterbaugh: “My goals are attracting new business development to offset the tax burden on Buffalo Township residents, while maintaining our small-town character and farming community charm.”

Haven: “My goal for now, simply put, would be to bring more business and industry to Buffalo Township, to encourage good-paying jobs for our residents and hopefully our children and grandchildren.

“This could motivate them to live, work and stay here in Buffalo Township. Also, this could increase our earned income taxes.”

Singer: “My goal is to maintain the rural feel but try to bring in some commercial opportunities.

“We are losing a vital part of our community due to some of the heavy tax burdens and we need to work together to help alleviate the issue.”

Buterbaugh: “Buffalo Township has an aging population and with increasing costs everywhere, the supervisors should be working tirelessly to ease that burden.

“To do so, we must increase business development and our tax base from new businesses, not by building more homes.

“More businesses also solves another huge issue, which is the declining number of school-aged children in the community. The development that is occurring is not attracting young families but rather retirees to the community. With more businesses, more job opportunities are created and can help to attract those families we seek.

“Third, but certainly not the only remaining issue, is the increasing traffic on Route 356. The pace of recent housing development in Buffalo Township has made Route 356 difficult most days and impossible on others. My goal is working directly with PennDOT to move forward on projects to ease congestion.”

Haven: “Previously, as a supervisor, I attended every Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission meeting on transportation, and finally convinced them to improve and widen 356 here in Buffalo Township. We were put on the Transportation Improvement Plan, but have been pushed back until they finish the Route 228 project. I want it widened from Exit 17 to Sarver Road and Route 228.

“We should work with county and state officials to bring more businesses/ industries to our township to offset our real estate taxes, and also encourage the State Tax Equalization Board to reevaluate the county to county school districts tax base.

“We again need to encourage our county and state officials to help fund our local heroes. We must ensure that they are properly trained, funded and equipped to do their very dangerous work.”

Singer: “The 356 corridor definitely needs to be widened. The township building, I feel, needs to be updated.

“Lastly, the police department needs to have their own facility with an area for the vehicles. I also would love to see a community park for our area.”

Buterbaugh: “The people of Buffalo Township are what make it great! I have lived here for almost 45 years, my whole life. The people here are some of the best you’ll find anywhere on the planet. They are hardworking, family-oriented, community-minded and willing to step up for neighbors in need.

“We need to highlight the tremendous efforts and selflessness of many residents and provide opportunities for others to step up and make a difference in a positive way for the neighbors, friends and family around us.

“It would be a small goal of mine to increase community attendance at township meetings, school board meetings and planning commission meetings. We need to get our residents' voices heard and act on the needs of those in our township.”

Haven: “We have some of the most caring and generous people in the world living here. They are wonderful people and look out for each other.

“We have a great mixture of young and old. Over 30% are senior citizens. I would love to have the state forgive the school taxes for our senior citizens. They’ve paid their dues as good residents and human beings.”

Singer: “It is a great, hard working community. Between the fire departments, businesses and residents, there is no emergency that cannot be worked through.

“This last storm for example, people from Buffalo, Freeport borough and South Buffalo all came together to supply food and much needed necessities to neighbors who were stranded.

“Who would not want to be part of that? I am so very proud to be from this community!”

Buterbaugh: “We should never be putting character at risk. Development should be a benefit to the beauty of Buffalo Township, not at the expense of our town's character, or we will lose the soul of our glorious farming community.”

Haven: “Buffalo Township has three of the most heavily traveled highways in Butler County. We are at the apex of all three of those highways.

“It only goes to say, easy access to work. This is how we became a bedroom community. The people had easy access to work from here so they settled here.

“The rural character remains on the back roads and, I for one, would like to keep it that way. And I would like to see the farms remain in the hands of the farmers through subsidies and grants.”

Singer: “I think we need to look at keeping the lot sizes larger and the streets wider.”

Haven: “A comprehensive plan is the guidepost for any municipality. A good one can make the difference between good and bad planning. A multi-municipal comprehensive plan is an advantage in several ways. They share the costs and ideas on how to be compatible and make their entities a better place to live and work.”

“Yes, I am in favor of a multi-municipal comprehensive plan.”

Singer: “Absolutely. Being that I work in Middlesex Township, I am bringing to the table the knowledge and experience that could be beneficial to Buffalo Township.

“I think it is imperative to have a working relationship with neighboring communities. To be able to share ideas, knowledge and resources would strengthen Buffalo Township, but the other communities as well. We are stronger when we work together.”

Buterbaugh declined to comment on this item.

More election coverage can be found here.