Name: Leif Kertis
Office Sought: Amarillo City Council Place 4
What is your age? 38
What is your educational background? Please list any degrees or certificates earned and any institutions attended.
B.S. in Criminal Justice Administration WTAMU
MBA-General Business WTAMU
M.S. in Finance and Economics WTAMU
Currently pursuing an M.A. in Christian Studies from Denver Seminary
What is your occupation?
Entrepreneur/Business Owner
Please list any civic boards or commissions (non-profit, government, union, political, etc.) on which you have served as a board member or equivalent.
I have only been involved in boards on an advisory level with various Amarillo non-profits
Have you previously held or do you currently hold any elected office? If so, what office(s)?
No previous elected experience
If your campaign has any online campaign resources where voters can learn more about you, such as social media accounts or a website, please list them below.
Website: KertisforAmarillo.com
Facebook: Leif Kertis for Amarillo City Council Place 4
Why did you decide to run for this office in 2025?
Amarillo needs a leader with a servants heart and a leaders vision. We have many tough choices in the near future, and Amarillo needs someone who can work complex problems with a common sense approach. My business acumen coupled with my desire to serve is what Amarillo needs moving forward.
If elected, what will be your top three priorities in office?
Becoming a regional leader for public safety
Helping restructure the AEDC to give us real and sustainable economic growth
Tackling our failing infrastructure
What is an issue you believe has gone overlooked in your race and how will you address it if elected?
I feel that the issues with the AEDC have been pushed to the side in my race. After the budgetary process my very first objective is to work to get the AEDC back in order and fully operational, as well as finding ways to get the taxpayer funds back from any entity that has received them outside of appropriate protocol.
What is your position on the issue of taxpayer-funded lobbying? Please explain.
I believe that any lobbying should be done with disposable income from contributions only. If a person is not in favor of the position of a lobbyist, then their money should not be expected to go towards that effort. With this in mind, taxpayer-funded lobbying should be eliminated.
Why are you the best candidate for voters to support for this position?
I am tired of Amarillo playing catch-up. I believe we need a strategic vision to put us ahead and be the leaders that other cities are looking toward. We lack a vision that allows us to do this, and it's because there is no desire to think outside of the box for solutions. I have worked complex budgets and applied common sense solutions to achieve amazing growth in corporate America, I have no doubt that I will be able to achieve that with our city budget.