CRANBERRY TWP. — More than 52,500 registered voters will decide who represents Pennsylvania’s 12th Legislative District in the Aug. 18 special election, yet one of the candidates says many voters still don’t realize the election is taking place.
Against that backdrop, Republican Scott Timko and Democrat Brandon Dukes spent Saturday introducing themselves to voters one doorstep at a time.
While Timko and Dukes offered different policy priorities, Saturday demonstrated one thing they shared. After spending the morning knocking on doors, both candidates continued meeting voters at Cranberry Township’s Summer Nights celebration, where the Butler County Republican and Democratic parties operated booths less than 50 yards apart. Throughout the evening, residents stopped to ask questions, discuss issues and meet the candidates face to face.
Listening Before Election Day
Timko spent Saturday morning walking through Cranberry Township’s Pinehurst neighborhood, greeting residents and discussing issues ranging from school taxes to road improvements. Later that evening, he continued those conversations from the Butler County Republican Party’s booth at Summer Nights.
Asked what he had learned after weeks of campaigning, Timko said the experience has reinforced his confidence in the people of southwestern Butler County.
“People are open-minded and fair,” Timko said. “Everyone has been very nice, even people that don’t align with the Republican Party. Sometimes we disagree, but it’s honestly been a very uplifting experience talking to people.”
Timko said residents consistently steer conversations toward local concerns rather than national politics.
“I’m running to be state representative, and I am focused on local issues that affect the quality of life of people here,” he said.
According to Timko, the issues residents mention most often are road conditions, school taxes and the impact of proposed data centers.
Campaigning for the office for the third time, Timko said the experience has taught him persistence.
“I don’t believe in failure,” he said. “You continue to keep working hard, you get the result you want.”
After a career as an Air Force pilot and commercial pilot, Timko said he is not seeking another profession but an opportunity to serve the district.
“I’m just looking to leave the district a little bit better than how I found it.”
Building Awareness
Across Cranberry Township, Dukes spent Saturday morning meeting residents in the Traditions of America community before speaking with voters later that evening from the Butler County Democratic Party’s booth.
Unlike Timko, Dukes said one of the biggest surprises of the campaign has been the number of residents who are unaware a special election is being held.
“We ran into a lot of people who didn’t know about the special election,” Dukes said. “That’s something we’ve been doing, trying to get the word out to them.”
Dukes also said conversations at the doorstep have challenged assumptions about party affiliation.
“I’ve learned people aren’t tied to the party they’re registered with,” he said, noting that some registered Republicans told him they have voted for Democratic candidates in recent elections despite remaining registered Republicans.
Like Timko, Dukes said local issues frequently dominate conversations with voters.
Education and transportation infrastructure, particularly continued improvements along Route 228, ranked among the concerns he heard most often.
“A lot of people understand that a lot of growth is coming here, and we’ve got to update the roadway system,” Dukes said. “It’s outdated.”
A Different Kind of Election
The Aug. 18 election differs from a traditional November general election.
The special election was called after former state Rep. Stephenie Scialabba resigned in March. The winner will serve the remainder of Scialabba’s unexpired term in the Pennsylvania House.
According to Butler County Elections Director Chantell McCurdy, 52,509 registered voters in 27 precincts are eligible to participate in the election. Timko is the Republican nominee and Dukes is the Democratic nominee. Because it is a special election, only one race will appear on the ballot. Historical turnout suggests only a fraction of eligible voters may ultimately determine who represents the district in Harrisburg.
McCurdy said the county expects voters to cast ballots at the same polling locations used in previous elections, and first-time voters at their polling place will be required to present identification.
While Timko and Dukes differ on policy, Saturday demonstrated something both campaigns share: each believes elections are still won through conversations with voters in neighborhoods, at community events and one handshake at a time.
Compare the Candidates
Both candidates also answered the same questions from The 228 Times on taxes, education, election security, Route 228 growth, energy policy, accountability and other issues facing the 12th Legislative District.
→ Read their complete side-by-side responses here.
The 228 Times’ special election coverage is made possible through the support of McDonald’s of Mars, Dunn & Dimond Insurance and Dimond Automotive. Their sponsorship helps keep local election news free and accessible to everyone in our community.