Since no one can predict what issues might come before the Butler County Board of Commissioners during the remainder of 2011, the interim commissioner that President Judge Thomas Doerr will appoint in the coming days will be no less important than the two commissioners who have been serving since 2008.

Doerr will be filling the vacancy created by the resignation of longtime Commissioner James Kennedy, who last year announced that he would not be seeking re-election but who opted to leave before completing his current term to accept a position with the state Department of Agriculture.

Commissioner Dale Pinkerton, who is seeking re-election to a second term at the Government Center, would, if re-elected, be the only member of the current board remaining in January. Commissioner James Lokhaiser, the other current commissioner, lost his bid for re-election in the Democratic primary election in May.

None of the candidates for the interim position is expected to be on the November election ballot.

Doerr is correct in planning to speak with the candidates with whom he is not familiar, not simply rely on the submitted letters of application. That was disclosed Tuesday by a representative of the county's court administration.

In addition to reviewing the six application letters, Doerr plans to discuss the candidates' qualifications with the current commissioners, other Butler County judges, county row officers and the county Republican Committee.

Since Kennedy is a Republican, the appointee must be a registered member of the GOP.

For county taxpayers, the interim appointment raises a couple of interesting issues. In addition, one of the interim-appointment hopefuls has disclosed future political aspirations.

Judy Snyder of Clinton Township, who currently serves as Kennedy's administrative assistant, said, if appointed, she does not intend to hire an assistant, thus saving the county money.

Meanwhile, Jon Galante of Butler Township, who has a political background through work with state Rep. Brian Ellis and former Congressman Phil English, and in the 2010 campaign of Congressman Mike Kelly, has pledged not to accept a salary if he receives the interim appointment. The salary for a five-and-a-half-month term would be approximately $34,000.

As for future political aspirations, Rick Elias of Center Township, who formerly was head of juvenile probation and who has a business background, said he was looking forward to a commissioner candidacy in 2015.

The other candidates for the interim appointment are Bill Patterson of Mars, a former county chief clerk, court administrator and director of the county Area Agency on Aging; Robert Heaton, a Butler Township developer; and Pete Vogel of Cranberry Township, a retired state police lieutenant.

Only one of the applicants can be appointed, but county residents should respect the interest that the interim position has spawned. All of the candidates have good credentials.

With no controversies demanding the board's attention and no major county government projects to manage, much of the next five months will focus on the commissioners' desires to keep spending under control and produce a 2012 budget requiring no tax increase.

The interim commissioner could have a significant impact on that task.

County government has been operating on a steady, well-executed course and there is no reason to suspect that will change once the interim appointee is in office, but unexpected developments can never be ruled out.

Thus, it's Doerr's responsibility to make the best selection from the six qualified individuals seeking the appointment.