SALAMANCA — Michael R. Smith, best known to most people by his nickname, “Smitty,” hopes city residents will remember his full name when voting Nov. 8.

Smith held the Ward 4 council seat for four years from 2009-13 and relied on a write-in campaign for the mayoral race in 2014.

For the 2016 mayoral race, Smith, a Democrat, is endorsed by the city’s Republican committee, but political party association isn’t his concern.

“It’s a small town. I don’t care if you’re Republican, Democrat, Communist Party, I don’t care,” Smith said in recent conversation with The Press. “If you’re a good guy and into ‘Team Salamanca,’ I’ll find a way to work with you.”

Voters will decide between Smith and Democratic candidate Joel Talbot when they head to the polls Tuesday.

In 2010, Smith founded the WGWE Radio Station, serving as its operations and general manager until retiring by his own accord earlier this year to pursue his political ambitions.

Before that, he was the afternoon DJ at WPIG in Olean where Smith said he spearheaded the station’s fundraising efforts with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Smith also served on the Seneca Salamanca Chamber of Commerce board of directors and was the founder of the revived Salamanca Merchants Baseball team.

“My enthusiasm, my commitment and my team-building — I think I’m very good at that,” Smith said. “The city needs a team. The city council is split right now. … That’s not the kind of politics that should be in a city this small. We all get along, we all live here.”

A Jefferson Street resident, Smith is also a member of the Seneca Nation of Indians. Smith said as a Nation member, he would be able to attend the Seneca Nation Tribal Council sessions, and if elected, would ask the Nation for financial support for the city.

“The Nation pays no money to the city for all of the services offered to all the residents of the city,” Smith said. According to the U.S. census, around 20 percent of city residents are Native American, but Smith said that number could be higher now.

“Knowing that 27 percent of the people pay all the bills … it’s just not right, and it’s been grinding on me for years,” he said. “How does the little old lady that lives next to me pay taxes to have her sidewalk plowed when mine’s free and the neighbor on the other side of me is free?

“It’s just not right that the Native residents of Salamanca get all of these services for free, and I mean police protection, fire protection, street plowing, sidewalk plowing and cheap electric rates,” Smith continued.

Smith said he also plans to ask the Nation for free garbage pickup for all the residents of the city, not just the Native Americans.

“It would be a great savings for the rest of the city, and what a positive public relations statement for the Nation for a drop in the bucket financially by telling all the residents we’ll pick up your garbage.”

Smith is endorsed by many local Republicans, including Luke Stewart, president of the Salamanca Common Council, and incumbent Mayor Ronald Ball.

“I give Mayor Ball a lot of credit,” Smith said. “Look at the city parks and playgrounds — a lot of new equipment. Look at the support for the youth center and senior center. (Mayor Ball) got a new roof on it. He did a lot of things.”

Smith said his platform includes the call to “Reunite Salamanca” and to once again take pride in the city, urging any landlord in the city to take care of all of their properties before buying any new ones.

“Mow the lawn, fix it up, paint it, put a roof on it. Let’s be proud of what we live in,” he said. “If everyone takes pride in their block, eventually we’ll have a city to be proud of again.”

Along with cleaning up Salamanca one block at a time and, Smith said he wants to properly use the New York State Economic Development money to redevelop both the Main and Broad street areas.

Smith said he thinks paving streets and cutting down trees is not the proper use of economic development funds and would instead want to use it for creating financial benefits for businesses in the city.

“Everybody wants to compare us to Ellicottville, but I think we should compare ourselves to Portville,” he said. “Look at the Village of Portville, it’s beautiful, because the village has taken pride and said, ‘How can we help you cleanup your property?’ It’s the same route, Route 417. How can it look that beautiful there and not here? It’s just pride. Civic Pride.”

If elected, Smith said he plans to start a “Do You Need Help?” office as part of the Code Enforcement Department to assist residents in rehabilitating homes and businesses.

“When I came out with my platform, I said I was going to find a way to pay the sale tax for businesses in the city, and I will still find a way,” Smith said. “There should be a way for the city, using economic development money, to reimburse businesses for being here and going through the rigamarole that involves working and flourishing in a city.”

As a city resident, Smith said he learned that there are only two city police officers and three city firefighters on staff after 11 p.m., so if there is more than one call, “the rest of the city is left unguarded.” Smith said he would ask the Nation’s help to enable the city to hire enough police officers and firefighters to properly staff their respective departments.

“I have working relationships with all city departments and have the highest respect and regard for all city employees,” Smith said. “Our people do more with less than any I have ever seen.”

Smith said his administration would be transparent, answering any and all of city residents’ concerns, “just as I did during my time as alderman when I would have people from across the city call me for help.”

“I think we can do this. Let’s find a way,” Smith said. “Whatever it takes, let’s find a way to work together, to reunite, to be proud, to recruit business to the city.”

Smith encourages voters to contact him with any questions, concerns or ideas by calling 945-3789 or emailing smitty.ward4@yahoo.com. Smith also encourages voters to look at his Facebook page, “Mike ‘Smitty’ Smith for Mayor,” for more details.

(This story appears in the Nov. 3, 2016 edition of The Salamanca Press.)