Butler will have a new mayor next year.

Based on unofficial election results in Butler, Ben Smith defeated incumbent Tom Donaldson in the Republican mayoral primary.

Jeff Smith's last-minute write-in campaign also was a success. Smith, who announced Monday he would run for city council in the Republican primary as a write-in, advanced to the general election.

Ben Smith won 372 votes across the six precincts to Donaldson's 223 and Councilman Michael Walter's 98.

“I was cautiously optimistic, but I knew a lot of people who said they would be out to support me,” Ben Smith said. “I'm glad to see that people believed what I had to say and wanted to see good things come out of the city.”

Ben Smith will face Jamie Lee Goehring, who ran unopposed on the Democratic ticket; she received 430 votes.

There also were 302 write-in votes on the Democratic ticket.

“It's very humbling for me to have so many in our community come out and put their faith in me,” Goehring said. “It was one of the most awing feelings I've ever had in my entire life.”

She also extended her congratulations to the winners of the city council Republican primary, as well as her opponent in November, Ben Smith.

“The landslide victory that Ben Smith achieved is simply amazing,” she said. “I'm very, very happy for Ben and I congratulate him.”

Walter, who will remain on city council, said he was one of the first people to congratulate Ben Smith on his victory.

“It'll be against Ben and (Jamie Lee Goehring) and they're both good candidates, and the city will get a great mayor no matter who wins,” he said.

Donaldson did not respond to messages left asking for comment on the election results.

Jim Kemple ran unopposed on the Republican ballot for city council. He finished with 453 votes.

“I'm happy to hear that,” Kemple said upon receiving the news. “Honestly, I hope I get that number to turn out again for the main election, and it's nice to see the city would like to see a change.”

Kemple will be joined on the GOP ballot in November for a city council seat by Jeff Smith. He got 249 votes Tuesday, much more than the 100 needed to advance as a write-in. Jeff Smith and his supporters handed out papers outlining his goals at the polls.

Several people, he said, asked why he waited to run until then and why they should vote for him.

“I just told them, the way to save the city is to save the neighborhoods,” he said.

Jeff Smith was happy with the success, especially considering the small amount of time he had to achieve it.

“I think the message resonated with the people pretty well,” he said.

In the city council Democratic primary, incumbents Kathy Kline and Kenny Bonus advanced, while Dane Winkler did not.

Kline won 338 votes, while Bonus had 296 and Winkler received 274.

“I was very honored and humbled that the community chose me again to put me in the general election in the fall, and obviously I still have more work to do,” Kline said.

She also commented on the elections in general.

“When it comes to the election, at the end of the day the community has spoken,” she said.

Bonus was motivated by reaching the general election.

“I plan to take what I've learned in this experience and apply that toward the general election, and I'm excited for what the future holds,” he said.

Winkler called his campaign “a positive learning experience” and said he had no regrets.

“I fully support Kathy's and Kenny's ideas for the city,” he said. “They've been good leaders so far and I'm sure they'll continue to do a good job, and I look forward to seeing new leadership in the City of Butler.”