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After the May 2023 election, the members of Amarillo City Council quickly shifted from campaign mode to the work of governing the city. However, regular campaign finance reports have still been due. Here’s how much each member of Amarillo City Council has raised and spent since the election, as well as how much they have left on hand.
The two who have raised and spent the most have been Councilmen Josh Craft and Les Simpson, who both faced runoffs after failing to achieve fist-round victories.
Following the May 6th election, Craft raised $50,810. Alex Fairly, who gave him $35,000 on June 8th, 20203, was his biggest donor. Though he raised big following the May 6th election, he has not reported any fundraising following his victory in the June 24th runoff.
Craft’s post-election spending has totaled $44,407.56. A majority totaling $44,045.38 went to NoBox Creative. Similar to his fundraising, Craft hasn’t had much activity since his runoff victory, with the only expense listed after the runoff being $7,800 given to NoBox on July 5th, 2023.
At the end of the most recent reporting period, Craft reported having $5,282.35 left on hand.
Simpson has raised $84,861.53 since the May 6th election. His largest donor since the election has been Jerry Hodge, who donated a total of $50,000. Of that $50,000, half was given on June 14th, 2023 and half was given on July 15th, 2023. Looking only at money raised by Simpson following the June 24th runoff, Simpson raised $44,250. His most recent contribution reported was $15,000 from Alex Fairly dated August 1st, 2023.
Simpson has spent a total of $117,373.43 since May 6th. Of that money, $64,940.68 has gone to NoBox. Other significant expenses have included loan repayments and loan interest payments, which total $52,319.57. All but $1,1000 of these loan repayments are listed as being paid to Amarillo National Bank. The remainder Simpson reported as paying back to himself. Another way to breakdown Simpson’s spending is by before and after his victory in the June 24th runoff. A total of $64,533.56 was spent before the runoff, including all but $500 paid to NoBox. Additionally, all of the loan repayments were made after the runoff election.
At the end of the most recent reporting period, Simpson reported having $2,410.61 left on hand.
Mayor Cole Stanley, Councilman Don Tipps, and Councilman Tom Scherlen did not face a runoff election.
Stanley did not report having any contributions after winning the May 6th election, but did report a total of $20,518.20 in spending after the election. Most of that went to Creative Cannon, who received $17,718.40 of that amount. At the end of the most recent reporting period, Stanley reported having $3180.96 left on hand.
Tipps has only filed one of the three reports due since the election, so we only have limited information about his campaign finances. From what Tipps has reported, he received $500 from James Witcher III on May 8th, 2023, his only reported post-election contribution. Tipps has reported spending $2,620.30, with $2,200 going to NoBox. At the end of his most recent report, Tipps reported having $4,120.30 left on hand.
Scherlen’s campaign has been the least active of the councilmembers following the election, with his only activity being a $100 ad buy from The Amarillo Pioneer on June 7th, 2023. At the end of the most recent reporting period, Scherlen reported having $6,664.27 left on hand.
As of writing, no members of Amarillo City Council have announced their intent to seek reelection in the upcoming May 2025 municipal election.