Republican majority to helm Lawrence Co.

The county hasn't elected two Republican commissioners in nearly 25 years.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- After meeting thousands of people on the campaign trail, one man particularly stands out in Dan Vogler's mind.
"This man looked at me and said: 'Don't let us down,'" said Vogler, who ended up the top vote-getter in the race for Lawrence County commissioner. "I will not forget what he said for the next four years. I will come to work every day, and I will remember what he said."
Vogler came out of the four-man race with 31.5 percent of the vote.
Steve Craig, the county's former planning director, and Ed Fosnaught, a sitting commissioner, round out the incoming board of commissioners.
Incumbent Democrat Brian Burick finished last in the race with 18.91 percent of the vote. He was 1,000 votes behind Fosnaught, a Republican incumbent.
Republican majority
This is the first time in nearly 25 years two Republicans have been elected to serve as Lawrence County commissioners.
Vogler, however, said he doesn't see the commissioners' office divided by party lines.
"I ran a campaign that gave little regard to partisan politics. I will be a county commissioner for Republicans, Democrats and independents. I will treat both of my colleagues with respect," he said.
Craig, the lone Democrat elected, said he too looks forward to working with the other two commissioners.
Craig said he holds no ill will against Fosnaught, who voted to fire him four years ago and he does not believe it played any role in his election.
"Four years is a long time. People don't elect you based on what happened to you, they elect you on what you will do," he said.
Fosnaught said he too will work with Craig.
"I think Steve is very intelligent and he has a lot of ability. I think this is going to give him a great opportunity to use it," Fosnaught said.
Opinion on outcome
Fosnaught believes that recent events involving the failed sale of the county nursing home affected the race. Fosnaught was against the sale and his incumbent opponent, Burick, voted to sell the facility to private buyers.
"I think we have a clear direction where we need to go" with Hill View Manor, Fosnaught said. He wants to keep the facility under county control.
Burick could not be reached to comment.
Craig said he believes the voters wanted change and illustrated it by electing him and Vogler.
"It's been a hard four years and the economy has gone sour. I think it was partly the conditions here and partly the economy," Craig said of the voters' decision to put two new commissioners in office over two incumbents.
cioffi@vindy.com