Mercer County Republicans and Democrats will each be picking two nominees for the post of Mercer

Mercer County Republicans and Democrats will each be picking two nominees for the post of Mercer County commissioner in Tuesday's primary. There are eight Republicans and four Democrats on the ballot. Republicans Thomas Limber and Glenn Dosch didn't respond to the Vindicator request for a candidate r & eacute;sum & eacute;. Candidates supplied photographs. * denotes incumbent.
REPUBLICANS
MICHELE BROOKS
Age: 39.
Home: Jamestown.
Employment: Grant writer and nonprofit consultant; Former Jamestown councilwoman.
Education: Graduate of Jamestown High School, completed educational program in leadership and public service.
Family: Husband, Guy, a son and daughter.
Priority: To put Mercer County at the forefront for growth and grant money and encourage multi-municipal collaboration in attracting economic growth.
MARY A. BUCKWALTER
Age: 44.
Home: Wilmington Township.
Employment: Administrative assistant at Sharon Custom Metal Forming; Wilmington Area school director.
Education: Graduate of Wilmington Area High School, attended Westminster College and Slippery Rock State University.
Family: Husband, Joseph, a son and two daughters.
Priority: To keep taxes down and provide county services within the means of the taxpayers' ability to pay.
THOMAS A. DILL
Age: 46.
Home: Sharon.
Employment: Partner in the law firm of Fruit, Dill, Goodwin and Scholl.
Education: Graduate of Sharon High School, bachelor's degree in business from Westminster College, law degree from Thomas Colley Law School.
Family: Single.
Priority: Fiscal responsibility in the county.
JOE PHILLIPS
Age: 42.
Home: Mercer.
Employment: Self-employed grant writer.
Education: Graduate of Mercer Area High School, graduate of the practical nurse program of the Academy of Health Sciences of the U.S. Army, bachelor's degree in public administration/management from Austin Peay State University, completed Department of Defense Safety Organization and Management Course.
Family: Wife, Lori, two sons.
Priority: To provide government that is effective, efficient, equitable, responsive and responsible while holding the bottom line.
GEORGE POKRANT
Age: 37.
Home: Grove City.
Employment: Regional administrator for UPMC's Behavioral Health Network.
Education: Graduate of Grove City High School, graduate of Sharon Regional Health System's School of Nursing, bachelor's degree in nursing from Pennsylvania State University, master's in business administration from Youngstown State University.
Family: Wife, Terry, three sons and a daughter.
Priority: Bringing the county's budget and expenses under control so that all can prosper.
REV. BRUCE A. RICHAEL
Age: 48.
Home: Farrell.
Employment: Founder, CEO and senior pastor of Bruce Richael Bible Ministries Inc., a nonprofit religious foundation.
Education: Graduate of West Middlesex High School.
Family: Single.
Priority: To improve the quality of life for Mercer County residents by serving effectively and efficiently as county commissioner.
DEMOCRATS
BRIAN BEADER
Age: 33.
Home: Hermitage.
Employment: Business agent for IBEW Local 712, executive board member for Mercer County Central Labor Council.
Education: Graduate of Hickory High School, completed the National Joint Electrical Apprenticeship Training Center program.
Family: Wife, Kimberly, a son and two daughters.
Priority: Take charge of construction projects to make sure we are spending our money wisely; develop the Interstate 79/80 interchange to make it attractive to business.
JAMES T. KAIBAS
Age: 57.
Home: Hermitage.
Employment: Part-time computer repair.
Education: Graduate of Farrell High School, attended Youngstown State University.
Family: Wife, Judith, a son and a daughter.
Priority: To cut waste and develop a balanced budget without any further increases in property taxes.
OLIVIA M. LAZOR*
Age: 67.
Home: South Pymatuning Township.
Employment: Mercer County commissioner.
Education: Graduate of Sharpsville High School, magna cum laude graduate of Kent State University with a bachelor's degree in education, postgraduate credits in education and business.
Family: Husband, Edward Sr., a son, a daughter and three grandchildren.
Priority: To continue to serve the people to provide needed services and programs in the most cost-effective and efficient manner.
RICHARD P. MCMAHON
Age: 66.
Home: Hermitage.
Employment: Owner of the Business Institute of Pennsylvania; former Sharon councilman.
Education: Graduate of Sharon High School, bachelor's degree in education from Youngstown State University.
Family: Wife, Patricia, a daughter, a son and three grandchildren.
Priority: The restoration of citizen confidence, a deferral of future property tax increases for senior citizens; re-evaluate the need for a new county jail and consult with other Pennsylvania and Ohio counties about mutual use of the prison that was just closed over the state line in Ohio.