A lively race is brewing between William F. Young III and Jeffrey Kennedy for the position of Butler County coroner. Young, who is the county's acting coroner, might have an advantage because his father, William F. 'Digger' Young Jr., was county coroner for nearly 30 years until his retirement in December 1999.

Candidates

Jeffrey Kennedy Party: Democrat Age: 39 Residence: Butler Occupation: He is financial services manager at the Preston Auto Group, Butler Township, a company he joined nine years ago as a salesman. He previously worked as a salesman for the Larusse Distributing Co. in Tarentum. Education: A 1980 graduate of Knoch High School, he attended Manatee Junior College in Bradenton, Fla. Political experience: None

William F. Young III Party: Republican Age: 40 Residence: West Sunbury Occupation: The acting Butler County coroner, he has been has been employed since 1988 as a funeral director with the William F. Young Jr. Funeral Home Inc. in Butler. He is a former Butler County deputy coroner. Education: A 1979 graduate of Moniteau High School and a 1988 graduate of the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, he also has attended Butler County Community College. Political experience: None

But, Kennedy said, he is not letting family ties stand in the way and is campaigning hard for the coroner's position. Along with telephone calls to voters seeking their support, he estimates he will have about 300 political signs erected by the time of the election. The job, which pays $39,340 a year, is a considered a part-time position, but the coroner is on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The 40-year-old Young, who lives in West Sunbury, was appointed acting county coroner last year by then-Gov. Tom Ridge to fill the vacancy left by his father's retirement. Although William Young III, a Republican, never was confirmed by the Pennsylvania Senate for that position, he has continued to serve as acting coroner since his appointment. In Pennsylvania, county coroners are elected into office but are considered commissioned officers by the state. In the case of an unexpired term, it falls on the governor to appoint a replacement and the Senate to confirm that appointment. Both Youngs said they think the lack of confirmation was the result of politics. William Young III said it is only natural for him to seek election to the post his father formerly had. 'I was raised in it actually. It's something I've always done,' he said. After serving some 16 years as a deputy coroner, 'I am more than qualified to become the coroner,' he said. 'I have a good working relationship with Dr. Leon Rozin, the chief forensic pathologist of Allegheny County, who performs Butler County's autopsies.' The acting coroner said he also has good working relationships with police departments in the county. A handful of deputy coroners assist the county coroner in death investigations. 'It's not a fun job,' he said. But, he added, 'my experience as a funeral director has made the job of coroner easier for me.' Young said he has attained 'numerous, numerous hours of continuing education' as both acting coroner and deputy coroner in the county, which further qualify him for the elected post. He said he is running a conservative campaign. For one thing, he said, he is making and erecting his owns signs rather than enlisting the help of campaign workers. 'We'll see what happens. It can go either way,' he said. Kennedy, 39, a Democrat and financial services manager at the Preston Auto Group in Butler Township, said he hopes he is elected. 'I feel that my opportunity to win is now. If Digger was running, I wouldn't run at all. You just couldn't beat him. But with the son, I think that I have a strong chance to beat him,' he said. '(Bill) Young is planning on running on his dad's name, and as far as advertising and getting the word out...he's not doing anything at all,' Kennedy said. On the other hand, Kennedy said, 'I've been very aggressive.' Kennedy said he also has 15 years of experience with the coroner's office as a volunteer deputy coroner. 'I carry the badge and everything. Digger was the one who appointed me,' he said. Unlike other deputy coroners, however, Kennedy said he never has been paid for his work because he was commissioned as a volunteer. Kennedy, who now lives in Butler, said he volunteered to be a deputy coroner while living in Saxonburg, where he also was a member of the volunteer fire department and an emergency medical technician. He had been bothered about the amount of time it took the coroner's office to respond to death investigations in the area. 'It was just aggravating,' he said, for the police and firefighters who remained on the scene until the arrival of the coroner or a deputy coroner. 'I just got to talking to Digger and he appointed me as a deputy. ...I would investigate the scene or whatever. Sometimes he would still need to come out because of the circumstances, but a lot of times I could handle it on my own,' he said. Since William Young III became acting coroner, however, Kennedy said, he has not been called out to investigate deaths. Digger Young said Kennedy was a volunteer for the office but could not be characterized as a deputy coroner. He helped secure the site of death investigations but never assisted in investigations or worked in the morgue, Digger Young said. The former coroner also disputed Kennedy's assertion that he has been involved with the coroner's office for 15 years. Young said the time period was not nearly that long. No special training is required to become a county coroner, both candidates said. Once people are elected to the position, they are required to take a week-long course at the Pennsylvania State Police Academy and take a test. Upon passing the test, they are certified as coroners. Kennedy is not related to county Commissioner Jim Kennedy, Lawrence Sanata can be reached at lsanata@tribweb.com or (724) 779-7109.

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