The Butler treasurer has joined the race for Butler County commissioner.

Jeff Smith, 59, of Butler announced today he is seeking one of two Republican nominations in the May 19 primary.

Smith said his government background, which includes being a Harmony councilman from 1998 through 2010 — 10 of which as council president — and being the executive director of the Butler County Council of Governments, makes him qualified to be commissioner.

“It’s important a county commissioner represents all of the county and it’s hard to represent people if you don’t have experience working with them,” he said.

Smith said his work with the COG, which started as board president in 2007, enabled him to interact with municipal officials.

“I’ve had the opportunity to work with people all over the county,” he said.

Smith described himself as a fiscal conservative, saying he would keep property taxes from rising.

Smith said his experience as the supply chain manager for PPG Industries in Pittsburgh prepared him for controlling costs.

He said the county should stimulate job creation in the private sector by creating an environment attractive to employers, so new ones will relocate to the county and ones already here will grow.

This is Smith’s second try to win a commissioner’s seat. He lost in the 2011 primary.

Smith has a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Pennsylvania State University and a master’s in business administration from the University of Evansville in Indiana.

He lives in Butler with his wife, Diane. They have six grown children.