Gowanda Mayor Dave Smith certainly is one elected official who leads by example. At a recent Village Board meeting, the mayor said he would be on the front lines to assist a segment of his community in dealing with refuse.

“Any senior citizen or otherwise disabled person that cannot get big trash to the transfer station can call the mayor,” Smith said. “I have a pickup truck, and with the first lady, we will go to the residence and load up the item that needs to be taken to the transfer station ourselves.”

His offer came after considering a major trash pick up day, which he said would be too costly to the village. So to those needing assistance, he gave us his cell phone number: 353-6991.

With this response, no one can deny that Smith is not answering the call of his constituents.