Election Central 2011: Butler County Race Results

Two out of three faces will be new on the Butler County Commission in 2012.

With all 89 precincts reporting, incumbent Commission Chairman Dale Pinkerton and William L. McCarrier, a Republican businessman and former commissioner, led the voting Tuesday. They will be joined by Jim Eckstein, who edged out fellow Democratic contender Jerry Johnston for the third seat on the commission.

Pinkerton, who gave his victory speech alongside McCarrier Tuesday night, promised to work to ensure Butler County would remain among the nation's areas with the fastest rates of job growth.

"We’re excited to have won," he said. "We’re certainly going to do the best we can in the next four years for the taxpayers and the employees of Butler County."

McCarrier, who was a commissioner from 1996 to 1999, said he was honored to serve the people again.

"I'm certainly grateful to the hundreds of people who worked so hard for me and for those who were kind enough to vote for me," he said.

Butler County is in a position to envy compared to the areas that surround it because of its high employment and low tax rates, he added.

"I hope to continue that and to make it even better," he said.

Eckstein and Johnston did not immediately respond to phone messages requesting comments. 

All results are unofficial until the Butler County Bureau of Elections certifies them.

Also Tuesday, voters affirmed the candidacies of incumbents who were not contested in the races for County Treasurer, Prothonotary, Recorder of Deeds, Register of Wills/Orphans Court Chief Clerk and District Attorney. 

With 100 percent of the votes counted, unofficial results are:

The top three vote-getters win the commission seats.

Republican candidates included:

• William L. McCarrier,  a former teacher, founder of Interstate Pipe & Supply Co. in Butler, and a former Butler County commissioner, of Butler Township
• Dale Pinkerton, an incumbent and chairman of the commission, former operator of Pinkerton Goodwill Tire, of Butler

Democrat candidates included:

• Jim Eckstein, a past commission candidate and frequent gadfly at commission meetings, of Butler Township
• Jerry Johnston, a youth care worker at Adelphoi Village and retired advertising and public affairs manager for the former North Pittsburgh Telephone Co., of Butler Township

• Name of Candidate Party Total Winner Jim Eckstein D
  11,168 ***
  Jerry Johnston D
  10,727
  

Republican candidates included:

• Diane R. Marburger, the incumbent, of Adams Township

Democrat candidates included:

• None listed, write-in only

Republican candidates included:

• Incumbent Richard A. Goldinger, an attorney, of Penn Township

Democrat candidates included:

• None listed, write-in only
• Name of Candidate Party Total Winner Richard A. Goldinger R 23,399
  ***
  Write-in
  
  113
  
  

Republican candidates included:

• Glenna M. Walters, the incumbent, of Clinton Township

Democrat candidates included:

• None listed, write-in only
• Name of Candidate Party Total Winner Glenna M. Walters, R 23,748 ***
  Write-in
  
  56
  
  

Republican candidates included:

• Michele Mustello, the incumbent, of Donegal Township

Democrat candidates included:

• None listed, write-in only

• Name of Candidate Party Total Winner Michele Mustello R 23,875 ***
  Write-in
  
  65
  
  

Republican candidates included:

• Judith Moser, the incumbent, of Winfield Township

Democrat candidates included:

• None listed, write-in only