Submitted Photo David Smith, middle, gets sworn in with his wife, left, as Judge Mark Schindler reads the Oath of Office.

GOWANDA — Tuesday was a monumental day for newly elected Gowanda Mayor David Smith. To begin the meeting, Smith used his natural leadership abilities to guide the board and the village through the agenda.

Three hours later, Smith was leaving the executive session, where his top shirt button was undone and relaxed, yet his energy and enthusiasm didn’t seem to be phased.

It’s the same energy that guides him through everything he does. Smith, besides being mayor, is an officer at Gowanda’s Free Methodist Church, a pastor at the Gowanda/Collins Correctional Facility, co-runs a program called Teens for Tim Hortons and, not to be forgotten, the assistant principal at the Gowanda High School.

His most recent accomplishment as mayor has close ties to his family. Winning the mayoral position runs in the family. Smith’s brother is the Salamanca mayor, Michael R. Smith. David Smith noted that their parents died when they were young and that Michael Smith’s congratulatory comments went as deep as “Mom and Dad would be proud.”

And for the way the village of Gowanda backed him on Election Day, it only means that much more to fill the top position in Gowanda.

“It was very humbling,” Gowanda Mayor David Smith said. “I’ve been so lucky to have been an administrator here for 15 years and I love this village. Based on the vote, they love me right back and that is an awesome feeling. I look forward and am very humbled to have the opportunity to serve the village and work together with them to move us forward.”

When Smith, 45, decided to run for mayor, it was at the urging of residents. Many people in the community asked him to run. Smith added that many political activists in Gowanda believed he fit the role, including then-mayor Heather McKeever.

“I hadn’t considered it until I was approached by the people here,” Smith said when they asked him to run for mayor. “They say, ‘People like you. You’ve got a good reputation, you know budgets, you know personnel, you know contract negotiations. You’d be a great guy for us.'”

Before coming to Gowanda three years ago, Smith made the trek from Kill Buck, NY, a 45-minute trip to the Gowanda High School. Once he was working in the area, he found himself helping the locals, whether through the church or the school. In the end, Smith and his wife were put in the right place at the right time.

“One day, my wife and I were walking around after church and we walked by Jack and Sue Torrance that was up for sale,” Smith said, “and she said, ‘Oh my God, honey. Buy me that.’ And I went, ‘Look at that house. That’s to be a million dollars!’ And a week later, we were looking at it. Two days after that, we were putting in an offer and two months after that, we were living in the village and we loved every minute of it.”

Smith brings new eyes into a prominent role. His first goal is to strengthen the bond between the board and its people. That is on the top of his list. He will read off the board’s mission statement. Secondly, the floods and protection for the village, as 2009 and 2014 were devastating.

“The Army Corps of Engineers is working on a flood mitigation plan for the village,” Smith said. “That’s going to diverge Thatcher Brook by 2020 and if that’s the case, not only will it allow our village to feel safer and live safer.

“I live in flood zone 1A, which is the most likely to flood, so this is near and dear to my heart. But it will also potentially reduce or eliminate the need for flood insurance for our homeowners and that’s substantial savings every year.”

With many plans and aspirations, Smith hopes to continue the successes from McKeever. Now Smith is juggling a plethora of activities, groups, jobs and being mayor, though he fits right in for what Gowanda is known for. Much like McKeever’s Pillars of Gowanda, the village has these cogs who dedicate much more for the betterment of others, something that Smith proves through his actions for Gowanda.

“I really don’t know where I’m going to get the time, but I think there’s a higher plan that has me doing this,” he said, “and I’m pretty sure he’ll budget it for me.”

The Gowanda Village Board will meet on April 25 at 6 p.m., not the second Tuesday as usual, to vote on the budget.

Email: Akuczkowski@observertoday.com

Twitter: @Kuczkowski95