SALAMANCA — Less than a year after he was elected, Salamanca Mayor Michael “Smitty” Smith announced he’s planning to run for reelection in 2018.
“I feel that our city has turned a corner, and, with your blessing, I would like to lead us into another decade,” the mayor said. “The family has agreed to help, and the staff here at city hall has encouraged me to run again.”
Mayor Smith said although election season is about a year away, he had “made noise earlier” about not seeking re-election. In an effort squelch any negativity before it starts, the mayor said he wants the city to know he’s changed his mind.
“Anybody who wants to come down and either dive on Team Smitty and help, or cast ideas at Team Smitty, the door is always open,” he said. “Walk on in and we won’t even charge you two cents for your two cents.”
Mayor Smith said he thinks his team at city hall has worked well with the New York state, Cattaraugus County and the Seneca Nation of Indians, as well as neighboring towns and villages, to re-excite Salamanca.
“I think we’re winning,” he said. “I think this past week’s Falling Leaves Festival shows the spirit in the city has been re-ignited. You just get that feeling.”
The mayor said he is thankful to the men and women in every city department for their hard work and support. He said his proudest achievement in his term so far has been re-building the team mentality in city hall, one of the reasons he’d like to continue as mayor.
“These people are great. They’re great to work with,” he said. “They’ve made it easy to come to work here, and that didn’t always used to be. I wouldn’t trade one of them for anything.”
Among the recent successes in the city Mayor Smith mentioned, including several grants for physical improvements around the city, he said the attempts to work more closely with the Seneca Nation for the betterment of Salamanca as a whole have been important.
“We had the first joint-venture committee meetings in 15 years,” he said. “If they work, they work; if they don’t, at least we tried it. A rising tide raises all boats. What’s good for the Nation is good for the city, and what’s good for the city is good for the Nation.”
Mayor Smith said in recent months he’d been encouraged to run again by political supporters, everyday citizens and even Salamanca’s youth.
“When you go do something for the little kids’ football and the kids are asking you, ‘Are you going to be mayor again?’ it just makes you feel good,” he said.
Prior to his term as mayor, Smith’s political experience included serving on the Common Council as Ward 4 alderman for five years. Smith was also chair of the Recreation Commission and the Department of Public Works committee.
Before the 2016 election, Smith retired from the WGWE-FM radio station, which he founded in 2010 and served as its general manager.
Mayor Smith said he wants city residents to know his door is always open and he promises to return every call he receives at 945-3110.
“Salamanca, I remind you, is better than it was and will continue to improve,” he added. “We are better together.”
(Contact reporter Kellen Quigley at kquigleysp@gmail.com.)
