Leadership shake-ups sweep through southeastern Butler County
Due to a series of retirements and turnovers in the most recent election, nearly every municipality in the southeastern and south central part of Butler County is experiencing a change in its leadership structure at the start of 2026.
Only one — Middlesex Township — has its entire board of supervisors intact from last year.
After 46 years on the township board of supervisors, Albert “Ouch” Roenigk declined to run for another term in 2025. He attended his last board meeting in December.
Three candidates ran for the seat on the board. Bob Buterbaugh ultimately defeated Heath Singer and former township supervisor John Haven in the May primary. Buterbaugh was officially sworn in as supervisor at January’s reorganization meeting.
Retaining their positions as supervisors are board chairman Ron Zampogna, vice chairman Matthew Sweeny, Gary Risch, and Michael Oehling.
The tenure of longtime Clinton Township supervisor Kathy Allen came to an end after she lost the election to challenger Gary McCall. McCall was officially sworn in at the reorganizational meeting on Jan. 5.
Jason Davidek and William Duncan remain on the board of supervisors, with Davidek appointed chairman and Duncan appointed vice chairman.
After a three-decade run on the township board of supervisors, L. John Cypher stepped down at the end of 2025. He lost in the May primary to challenger Ford Stepp, who was officially sworn in at a reorganizational meeting on Jan. 5.
Lois Rankin and Braden Beblo remain on the board of supervisors, with Rankin appointed chairman and Beblo appointed vice chairman.
One municipality in the southeastern part of Butler County saw no changes to its supervisor makeup.
Middlesex Township’s three-person board of supervisors still consists of Mike Spreng, Donald P. Marshall, and Rob Brash. Spreng was unopposed in his run for reelection for his board of supervisors seat last year, while the terms of the other two supervisors don’t expire until 2027 and 2030, respectively.
At a reorganizational meeting on Jan. 5, the contract of township manager Jeffrey Winkle was extended to the end of 2026.
Longtime township supervisor and board chairman Samuel Ward lost in the Republican primary to newcomer Matthew Salina, putting an end to his 36-year tenure.
Salina was officially sworn in at a reorganizational meeting on Tuesday. Doug Roth and Bert Mowry remain on the board of supervisors, with Roth being elevated to chairman and Mowry becoming vice chairman.
Former borough council member Dave Johnston was officially sworn in as mayor on Jan. 2 at the Butler County Courthouse. He replaces William Gillespie, who announced in early 2025 that he would not seek reelection for another term as mayor. Johnston ran unopposed in November, winning the election for mayor of Saxonburg.
Council member Mia Mazza-Petruzzi also chose not to run for reelection in 2025. Two new faces are joining the council in 2026 to replace her and Johnston. Joining the council are Tate Pacek and Bryan Farney.
Keeping their seats on the borough council from last year are Aaron Piper, Brian Antosyk, Joyce Hutterer, Ray Koegler, and Jason Goehring.
Glenn Nagle, who sat on the Winfield Township board of supervisors for 30 years, chose to step down at the end of 2025 rather than run for reelection. He attended his last board meeting in December.
Rob Moser ran unopposed for Nagle’s open seat in 2025, and will replace him on the board of supervisors in 2026. He will join incumbent supervisors Matthew Klabnik and Michael Robb.
