Benjamin Smith

The three-way race in this month's Republican primary for Butler mayor features incumbent Tom Donaldson, council member Mike Walter and business owner Benjamin Smith.

The candidates are all vying for a spot on November's general election ballot, where one of them will face off with Democratic candidate Jamie Lee Goehring.

Here's a look back at what Smith, Walter and Donaldson have been saying throughout the run-up to the state's primary on Tuesday.

Tom DonaldsonIncumbent Mayor Donaldson has defended his record in office, saying he has focused on addressing the city's financial concerns through collective bargaining with unionized employees and the ongoing Centre City project, which celebrated a milestone this week with the grand opening of a garage at the corner of McKean and Jefferson streets.The 239-space structure opened to permit holders in December and began its kiosk payment system earlier this year. It's part of a $13.2 million project that includes a Marriott Springhill Suites hotel set to open sometime later this year.“I feel we've done a great job, made a lot of progress in the first three or four years,” he said.“I'm looking forward to serving the public for another four years.”Going forward, Donaldson said, he wants to focus on monetizing the city's parking assets to help improve its finances and lower property taxes.“I want to find a way to monetize (parking) because I want to lower property taxes,” he said.He also pledged to work with tax-exempt nonprofit organizations, which he has criticized as part of the financial hurdles facing the city.Benjamin SmithSmith, 29, a co-owner of Reclamation Brewing in Butler, has lived in the city since 2014. He said the city needs a businessman in charge and an integrated business network to strengthen its commercial base.He wants to make his focus as mayor growing Butler's business community and promoting responsible homeownership, which he sees as a natural deterrent to crime and drugs.“I think we need somebody that's got a strong business mind, that's been through the process of starting and running a business here in town,” Smith said. “The more businesses you bring in, the more homeowners you bring in, the more you push out the more nefarious types — the drug dealers, the criminals.”He also criticized the way oversight of the police and fire departments has been handled in the past, and said he would foster a spirit of cooperation as mayor.“I think Mayor Donaldson has done some things well,” he said. “I think there are other things that can be improved upon and can continue to be worked on.”Mike WalterWalter, 69, is a lifelong Butler resident who was elected to council in 2015 in an uncontested race for one of two vacant seats on the five member body. Since his election Walter has served as council's finance director and has had a front-row seat to what he called a “lack of cooperation,” among council members.“It's supposed to be a team. Some people don't want to work within that,” Walter said.If elected mayor, Walter believes he could change that dynamic. He said he's spent the last year developing relationships with city departments and employee unions in addition to other elected officials. He also sees being mayor as an opportunity to have a positive impact on the city's finances.As a council member, Walter championed efforts to replace aging equipment and instituted a program that requires most purchases to receive signed approval — a move he says helped reduced the city's expenses during 2016, when the city's controller predicted Butler would run out of money by the second week in November.Despite that success, Walter said, he sees a tough financial road ahead for the city. As mayor, he pledged to work with employee unions on contractual issues, but hasn't been specific about the subjects to be addressed.“There are no quick fixes on finances. It took awhile to get here, and this year is going to be tough as well,” Walter said.

Mike Walter