(FROM LEFT): Nelson, Powell, Sauer, and Smith/Photos by Nelson Campaign, City of Amarillo, Sauer Campaign, and Smith Campaign
By Thomas Warren III, Editor-in-Chief
When voters head to the polls this May, they will surely hear promises about fiscal responsibility and taxes from most of the candidates. However, they must be aware when they hear these promises that some candidates and their supporters have made these promises before — and they failed to deliver.
Incumbent Amarillo Mayor Ginger Nelson is seeking a third term in office, while her City Council loyalists Freda Powell, Eddy Sauer, and Howard Smith are also seeking their third terms in office. In the cases of Nelson and Sauer, both of these incumbents promised to support low taxes and totally let Amarillo voters down. In Sauer’s case, he even promised to be a “champion for low taxes,” while supporting four consecutive years of tax increases.
While it is worth taking Nelson and Sauer to task over their tax increases and unbending determination to support a policy of excessive spending at every turn, it is also worth taking the time to examine the records of Councilmembers Freda Powell and Howard Smith. Both Powell and Smith have also voted for four consecutive years worth of tax increases, even as the group that purchased their seats, Amarillo Matters PAC, touted low taxes in a mailer supporting the incumbents last cycle. I guess Powell and Smith didn’t get the memo.
To put things simply, Nelson, Powell, Sauer, and Smith have been consistently supportive of raising taxes and approving excessive spending, even in the face of potential conflicts of interest. Consider that the Amarillo City Council has voted in recent years to approve both real estate transactions and tax incentive agreements with entities whose connections to Nelson were raised as possible conflicts of interest. In such votes in 2017 and 2018, Nelson did not recuse herself and voted to approve the items.
Even as the Amarillo City Council was handing out tax reimbursement incentives in 2017 to entities that had business connections to Nelson’s husband, the City Council was in support of your taxes going up. That should tell you everything you need to know about this City Council.
If voters allow the establishment and Amarillo Matters to again buy seats on the City Council for Nelson, Powell, Sauer, and Smith, then local taxpayers will see more of the same for the next two years — more tax increases, more lies, more mismanagement, and more conflicts of interest. Your taxes will go up and your wallet will be lighter, but your local elected officials won’t care one bit.
Luckily, all four of these incumbents have drawn credible challengers this year. But, it’s going to be up to Amarillo voters to turn out and make a change.
Election Day is May 1. Make sure you demand better and get out to vote. The future of this community depends on you.