AS A senator, I have come to the understanding that my role as an elected official sometimes demands that I do more than what is normally expected of my regular “job” responsibilities. In addition to the numerous community and civic activities I am asked to participate in, a pressing issue could arise which may require my attention at a moment’s notice. In the almost year and a half I have been a member of the Legislature, I have come to the realization that it can become quite hectic. So, I can only imagine what is demanded from our village mayors and vice mayors.

They are the first responders to the needs of our island residents and are called upon to assume many tasks. The mayors and vice mayors are there to assist villagers in preparing for typhoons or other natural disasters. How many times have we been awaken in the early hours of the morning by the sound of our mayor alerting us of a tsunami warning? They provide assistance with funerals, parties and other community and personal events and activities. How many of our families have called on the mayor’s office to deliver chairs and tables for our village fiesta? Additionally, it is not uncommon to find a mayor, vice mayor or a member of their staff going above and beyond their normal work duties to better serve village residents.

Recently, the Department of Public Health and Social Services said they were financially unable to continue an existing contract for transport services to and from our island’s senior citizen centers. The Mayors' Council of Guam, under the leadership of Mayor Melissa Savares and Executive Director Angel Sablan, stepped forward and publicly stated they were able to continue providing the service at a substantial saving to the taxpayers. Creative solutions such as this demonstrate that our government is working diligently to maintain quality services in this fiscally trying time.

It has now been 10 days since the Council took on the responsibility of providing these services, and they have done so without any complaints or stoppage of service. I want to commend the Council for accepting that task and continuing to work toward providing our man’amko with the quality care they deserve.

Then again, I would expect nothing less from our mayors and vice mayors. They bear the unenviable and arduous task of being the ones that we call first if there is a problem in a village that needs to be addressed. They selflessly undertake a seven-day work week, all throughout the year, without hesitation or complaint. For years, they have done this and so much more for our island and residents with little to no fanfare. But that is to be expected from any true public servant and, from amongst the ranks of our hardworking mayors and vice mayors, there is definitely no shortage of genuine public servants.