Several months of campaigning finally paid off for Hanel as voters overwhelmingly elected him to take over as Billings's next mayor. "I can't say how anxious I am to get things going," said Hanel. But on Wednesday morning, Hanel was determined to work on another project before taking over the reins of the city. "We're out collecting our signs," said the mayor-elect. "We already have 500 and have 350 to go."

The former Billings cop is looking forward to his new job, a position previously held by Ron Tussing, Hanel's starts at the beginning of the year but he says the preparations and cram sessions are already underway. "The focus is going to turn to learning as much as I can about the city, the departments, issues between now and the first of the year," said Hanel.

Hanel is no stranger to the political arena. "I actually had an opportunity to work with the community of Big Timber a few years ago and ran with opposition as a councilman served for a couple of years and then filed for mayor ran for election and was elected," said Hanel.

The mayor-elect hopes his previous experience will make this transition easier. Hanel says he didn't run for the money, the position comes with an $800 dollars a month pay check and hours that regularly run longer than 40 hours a week, but he believes this is the best way to give back to the community he calls home.