Smith/Photo by Campaign
Election season in Amarillo appears to be officially underway, as a second candidate stepped up to the plate to announce a mayoral bid last week.
Paralegal Claudette Smith announced her campaign for mayor on Thanksgiving, setting her up for her second campaign for the job. Smith previously sought the mayor’s position in the May 2019 election, winning just under 25 percent of the vote against activist Kip Billups and the re-elected incumbent, Ginger Nelson.
McElreath/Provided
Smith’s announcement came a day after Amarillo’s first official mayoral candidate of the cycle threw his hat into the ring. Lifelong Amarillo resident Jeffrey McElreath announced his bid for mayor on Wednesday.
The incumbent Nelson has not yet announced whether she will seek a third term in office next year. A number of other potential candidates have been rumored as possible mayoral candidates in recent weeks, but have not announced whether they will seek the job in the May 2021 election.
Candidates can begin filing for the office in January. An official filing deadline has not yet been set by the Texas Secretary of State.