Independent candidate files November county commission race

Voters for Butler County’s eastern district commissioner’s race will have a second candidate to vote for in November.

Van Rhodes has collected enough signatures to petition to run as an independent in the general election, said Tonyi Deffendall, Butler County clerk.

State statute allows residents to petition to run as an independent in the November race, Deffendall said.

Rhodes had to meet a July 20 deadline to turn in a sufficient number of valid signatures, Deffendall said. He collected 277 signatures, and 255 were valid for voters of the eastern district, meeting the state requirement, she said.

The Republican winner of an Aug. 4 primary election was previously expected to run unopposed for the seat in the November general election.

Only two Republican candidates had filed for the seat by the original March filing deadline, according to county election records.

Incumbent Butch Anderson seeks the seat against newcomer Ross DeGaris in the Aug. 4 election.