Mayor-elect Ben Smith celebrates his victory on election night.

Economic organizations in Butler believe that having business-oriented people leading city government could help the city prosper.

On Nov. 7 voters elected Ben Smith, co-owner of Reclamation Brewery, as mayor, Jeff Smith, who runs supply, inventory and transportation for Vitro Flat Glass in Cheswick for council and re-elected incumbent Councilman Kenny Bonus, who owns Bonus Accounting and ConnectWork on Main.

“Each of these new members has business experience dealing with payroll and paying taxes and how it affects business owners,” Thomas Graham, Butler Downtown president, said. “I'm looking forward to working with all of them. They're extremely pragmatic people who will listen and take into account opinions from outside of the city as well.”