Two new members of Butler’s city council will be sworn in next year, but it is up to voters to decide which two that is.

For the general election on Nov. 4, city voters will choose between two Democrats, Lisa Quebedeaux and Bill Painter, and one Republican, John Kramer, to fill the soon-to-be vacant seats.

The two winners will replace Larry Christy, whose term expires at the end of the year, and Don Shearer, who is instead running against current Mayor Bob Dandoy.

Butler’s city council is a four-year term with an annual compensation of $5,000.

Lisa Quebedeaux

Quebedeaux is a nonprofit administrator working for Neighborhood Housing Services, where she said she directs fundraising and housing policy initiatives that address urban blight, foreclosure prevention and affordable home-ownership. She is running for a council seat as a Democrat.

She is co-president of Butler’s PFLAG chapter, a nonprofit supporting LGBTQ+ county residents through public events, private support groups and policy advocacy.

She volunteers with local Scouting and the Butler County Democratic Party, and she is a regular attendee of city council meetings.

Quebedeaux said she became more civically active as her two children grow older. At first, she considered running for Butler Area School District’s board, but after canvassing during the 2024 election, she said she felt compelled to take a “broader approach” and run for council.

Quebedeaux said her primary focus would be on strengthening code enforcement and holding absentee landlords accountable while finding resources for residents to maintain their properties. She said she serves renters and homeowners over the interest of private property management companies.

She also highlighted the importance of empathy-based public safety through offering a better pay incentive and tightening geographic hiring to ensure police are community members themselves. She also promised that she would stand firm against ordinances that target the rights of LGBTQ+ residents.

Bill Painter

Painter is a corporate tax auditor working with the Tennessee Department of Revenue. He is running for a council seat as a Democrat.

Previously, Painter has served on the Evans City Borough Council for six years — three as president. He has also previously worked as an auditor with the Pennsylvania Milk Marketing Board and a special agent for the IRS.

Painter said his primary inspiration for running was the recent sale of the Butler Area Sewer Authority. He said he wants to ensure the funds the city received are managed well and are used for the benefit of the community.

Painter said his main priority is to improve the infrastructure of the city. He said he believes the city needs a repaving and maintenance schedule, an increase in owner-occupied housing and a plan to address blight.

“(We need to) reverse the population decline in the city and market the city as a welcoming place for all families and businesses,” he said.

John Kramer

Kramer is a real estate agent with 27 years of experience in property management. He is running for a council seat as a Republican.

Previously, Kramer was a product manager for a Fortune 500 company for 15 years, where he managed a group of engineers to create a product to reduce clerical errors in hospital systems.

Kramer said he recognized a low interest in city government and wanted to use the opportunity to represent some of the voices he heard. He said he, alongside business owners and residents, has concerns over the city’s budget and spending habits he hopes to apply his skills toward resolving.

Kramer said he would work with council and the mayor to encourage new business, reduce crime, reduce expenditures and investigate reducing property taxes and the business privilege tax.

He said he is already working with Experience Butler County and would like to coordinate with Butler Downtown to provide more grants and promote more events to bring people into the city.

Quebedeaux

Quebedeaux said her top issue, based on her experience, is addressing urban blight. She said she would support a housing and code enforcement reform that would bring stronger ordinances against “corporate landlord groups.”

Second, she said now that the staffing of law enforcement has improved, she wants to shift focus to retention. She said she would work with the department and union to offer adequate compensation and find ways to recruit and keep officers who live within city limits.

Last, Quebedeaux said more can be done beyond stronger ordinances, such as giving support to residents to make repairs and improvements to their properties.

Painter

Painter said he believes the top three issues in the city are the infrastructure, urban blight and substance abuse, as well as the city’s operations management.

For infrastructure, Painter said his primary concerns are the conditions of the streets and stormwater management.

He said he would work with “community partners, educational partners, state and county governments and coordinated law enforcement efforts” to address urban blight and substance abuse.

He said he wants to review all city operations, from collection of revenues to resource allocation, to improve effectiveness.

Kramer

Kramer identified the top three issues in the city as a high crime rate, overburdened first responders and the city’s plans for the BASA sale funds.

For the funds, Kramer said he would like to see them used to invest in the city in a way that tackles crime and lessens the burden on first responders.

Then, the funds could be utilized to balance the city budget and create more income.

Quebedeaux

For Quebedeaux, the biggest issue she sees for Main Street is retention of businesses.

While she said she heard that many of these businesses are hampered by landlords, she believes the city can create incentives to occupy long-vacant storefronts and to make facade improvements to existing businesses.

Quebedeaux said that improvements to parking, being both ongoing and expensive, are the necessary steps needed to address parking in the city. Before new construction occurs, she said she would rather address existing issues and investing in improvements.

She said the cultural district is still brand new and can benefit from more local support. She said supporting businesses in the city will ultimately help it achieve its mission.

Painter

Painter said there are many great businesses, but over recent years, businesses along Main Street have been closing. To address this, he believes the city should work alongside businesses, nonprofits, other governments and organizations such as Butler Downtown to change this.

He said he would prioritize the former location of Butler Brew Works, as the space has potential to be both an economic and cultural boon to the city.

Painter said he thinks a district to celebrate arts and cultural diversity is worthwhile venture. He said he is committed to working with the Butler Cultural District to support its mission, as he believes it is important to developing a vibrant and resurgent community.

Painter said he thinks the city should focus on maintaining its current infrastructure and developing businesses and housing before there is any need to create additional parking in the city.

Kramer

Kramer said to stimulate business on Main Street, the city needs to establish an incentive program and reduce the business privilege tax. He also recommended establishing grant programs to help businesses get established or make improvements to the buildings on Main Street.

Kramer said the arts are an important part of any culture, including Butler’s. He said he would support the cultural district to bring more cultural opportunities to the area.

Kramer said he would continue the current policy for free parking along Main Street while investigating open lots that could be utilized for more parking.

Quebedeaux

Quebedeaux said her first priority is addressing urban blight caused by absentee landlords. She said every resident deserves the dignity of quality, sustainable housing.

She said she believes the current level of enforcement is not sufficient to address the issue and the city will need further reforms on its code before it gets to that point.

Painter

Painter said he believes the city needs to provide residents a higher level of service all around. He said he would look into lowering real estate taxes and examine the per capita tax, as well as investing in infrastructure and parks.

He also said he believes the city needs to be more aggressive in combating criminal activity and nuisance properties to foster an environment of safety and cleanliness. He said one part of this is working cooperatively with service organizations, rather than being combative.

Kramer

Kramer said he would continue the investment of the sale’s proceeds to help create steady income to the city. That would supplement city costs and allow for property tax reductions.

He said he would also explore a matching grant program that would help citizens, such as the elderly, afford and complete repairs or upgrades to their homes.

Quebedeaux

Quebedeaux said she finds herself torn between the idea of taking a measured, long-term approach or using the funds where needed as soon as possible.

She said she is able to see that both residential and commercial properties are aging and that the funds should be utilized to address that. One idea she suggested was replicating or adapting neighborhood reinvestment programs that reduce deterioration and promote utilization of vacant properties.

Painter

Painter said the funds should be utilized to benefit residents in multiple ways, and would aim to ensure funds are “managed and invested wisely.” He suggested lowering real estate taxes and consider eliminating the per capita tax.

He said he believes the funds should be used to make investments into infrastructure and parks throughout the city. The funds could also help increasing enforcement on unsafe or abandoned properties.

Kramer

Kramer said the city should continue to invest the proceeds as a long-term solution for continued infrastructure upkeep, tax reductions and a matching grant program for both residents and businesses to make repairs and improvements.

He also said he would use the funds for park enhancements to encourage tournament venues and would invest in updating the city’s storm drainage systems.