The City of Butler will be electing a new mayor next week, and there will be three candidates on the ballot.
Current Councilman Bob Dandoy is the Democratic nominee for mayor. He is a retired educator and he says that he plans to have open lines of communication with the public.
“I think that what I can bring to the job is an ability and desire to keep the lines of communication open with residents and business people in the downtown area,” Dandoy said.
The Republican nominee is former councilman and business owner Fred Reese. Reese has served on the Redevelopment Authority for more than 10 years and is co-owner of the Monroe Hotel. He says collaboration is the key to success.
“I think there’s potential with everybody getting together that we can make something happen in town,” Reese said.”
Former Mayor Tom Donaldson will also be on the ballot as an independent. He previously served as mayor from 2013 to 2017; he lost his re-election bid in the Republican primary to current Mayor Ben Smith.
“I’m here for the betterment of Butler, and I only put Butler first,” Donaldson said. “I don’t do anything for friends or anything like that. I’m only about the City of Butler.”
Current Mayor Ben Smith announced he would not be seeking re-election earlier this year after one term.
Our newsroom spoke with all three candidates; listen below:
Bob Dandoy is the Democratic nominee
Fred Reese is the Republican nominee
Tom Donaldson is an Independent candidate