Donaldson hopes to return to mayor's office
The Rotary Club of Butler PM invited former mayor and current mayoral candidate Tom Donaldson to speak at its meeting Monday evening.
The PM and AM Rotary clubs have invited all three mayoral candidates, Donaldson, Fred Reese and Bob Dandoy to discuss their qualifications and plans if elected in November.
Donaldson, who is running as the independent candidate, previously served as Butler's mayor from 2014 to 2018.
He began his Monday evening speech by highlighting some of his accomplishments as former mayor. Among those he mentioned collaborating with local entities to install a parking garage “ahead of schedule and under budget,” implementing foot patrols for police officers in local neighborhoods, and working with the Rotary on the
Ice Festival and the Butler Tourism Board for the Italian Festival.Donaldson also mentioned that he was concerned about what would become of the Penn Theater on Main Street in Butler.“The Penn Theater is in a bad state of disrepair,” Donaldson said. “I met with people to try and save it.”Donaldson lived in Evans City for 33 years before moving to Butler. He said he wishes he had been a resident longer.“I love this city. I think good things can happen in Butler,” Donaldson said. “My whole goal is to see what we can do to set goals to work with anyone reputable for the city.”Tom Edwards, president of the Rotary Club PM, said they have been hosting each mayoral candidate because of the work the Rotary does in the city. The Rotary is impartial in elections, but wants its members and the public to be informed about candidates and issues, Edwards explained.“It's important for us to hear what (each candidate's) vision is for the city,” Edwards said.In addition to his past mayoral term, Donaldson previously served as a police officer for local municipalities and has been in the trucking industry as a manager since 1978.When it comes to his future plans, Donaldson said it should be a priority to fix Butler's roads.“We have to find a way to pave every street in town,” Donaldson said. “We need to repair the bricks on brick streets, too, as they're a historical part of our town.”Donaldson said he wants to lower real estate, business and mercantile taxes, as competing municipalities have lower rates.“Lowering them can promote business and growth in our communities,” Donaldson said.Donaldson also mentioned the potential benefits of selling the Butler Sewer Authority to American Water Corporation, citing that it could bring in much-needed dollars the city.
Above all, he said it should be a priority to manage the city's money wisely.In addition, Donaldson discussed the possibility that the Butler Junior High School to become vacant in the future. He said the building might be an opportunity to have a downtown business center, performing arts center or mini-mall.“There's lots of possibilities,” Donaldson said. “It would be an opportunity to grow something important in Butler.”Following his speech, Donaldson took questions from those in attendance. Some members expressed concern over properties on Brady Street and other places within the city being run down. Donaldson said he would look to address those issues.“I'd rather have a vacant lot than a building that will catch fire and burn down,” Donaldson said.Donaldson ended his speech by reflecting again on his past mayoral station, saying he put in 40- to 50-hour weeks, and that he knows what dedication it takes to occupy the position.“I've done the job. I have the experience,” Donaldson said.
