Today, our team at The Pioneer announced the 18 nominees who successfully made it to the final round of voting for our 2021 Amarillo Pioneer of the Year Award. This award honors the person who has made the biggest impact on Amarillo over the past year, and our readers submitted hundreds of deserving names as potential nominees for the position.
However, there could only be 18.
As our Pioneer of the Year voting continues through next month, we wanted to take a moment in today’s edition to highlight the 18 people who have been selected as finalists for this year’s award. All 18 people received multiple nominations during our first round nominating process and were submitted by our readers.
Here is a look at the 18 contenders for this year’s top prize awarded by Pioneer readers:
Noah Dawson, treasurer of Save Amarillo PAC
Noah Dawson is the new treasurer of Save Amarillo PAC, the largest active conservative political action committee in Amarillo. Under his tenure as treasurer, taking the reigns from Hobert Brown, Save Amarillo ran the strongest slate campaign against the establishment-backed Amarillo Matters PAC since its inception and is now leading the fight against City of Amarillo Proposition A, a proposed 24 percent tax increase.
Christy Dyer, Randall County Judge
Christy Dyer is a longtime public servant in Amarillo who was appointed as the new County Judge for Randall County early this year, replacing the late-Judge Ernie Houdashell. Prior to her appointment, Dyer served as a County Commissioner for Randall County.
Alex Fairly, businessman
Businessman Alex Fairly has been at the forefront of many conversations regarding the future of local government in Amarillo over the past two years. In 2020, he proposed a plan for a new civic center after the defeat of Proposition A, and has continued the conversations about the future of Amarillo’s entertainment industry throughout 2021.
Jason Foglesong, 2021 Amarillo City Council candidate
Jason Foglesong is a high school government teacher who sought election to the Amarillo City Council’s Place 2 seat this year. Running as an unabashed conservative challenger, Foglesong prioritized conversations about the future of neighborhoods such as San Jacinto, asking voters to consider conservative solutions to difficult problems in our community.
Craig Gualtiere, businessman and activist
Craig Gualtiere is known to many in Amarillo as the owner of Roasters, a popular coffee chain with several locations throughout the city. However, he is also well-known as a former Randall County Commissioner and as the man who led a successful petition effort to place a proposed debt issuance for a new city hall on the ballot for voters to decide. After Gualtiere’s successful petition, the effort to bypass voters in order to build a new city hall was stopped in its tracks by the City Council.
Michael Hunt, 2021 Amarillo Mayoral candidate
Michael Hunt is the owner of Michael’s BBQ Shack Catering in Amarillo and was a candidate for Mayor in the 2021 Amarillo city elections. Hunt ran as a conservative business leader, focusing on fiscal issues while other candidates in the race turned to personal attacks. While he was unsuccessful, Hunt found his place in the race as the man who gave voters an outside the box, business-minded choice in the May 1 election.
Ronny Jackson, U.S. Congressman
A man who needs no introduction to many in the Amarillo area, Ronny Jackson has served since January as the new U.S. Congressman for Texas’ 13th Congressional District. Immediately upon taking office, Jackson generated headlines for his heroism alongside other representatives on January 6, and has since gained popularity in Amarillo for his frequent trips back to the town that led him to victory in 2020.
Cody Jones, Canyon City Commissioner
Cody Jones is a Canyon City Commissioner and first responder who is serving his third term on the Canyon City Commission. Despite opposition coming forward for other incumbents on the ballot, Jones won re-election unopposed this year, and has continued to be the voice for law enforcement on the Canyon City Commission.
William Kearns, founder of KARTS
For years, William Kearns has been a key figure in Amarillo rescue efforts in the Amarillo area. Kearns operates KARTS, an organization which helps provide transport services for animal rescue services. Even throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Kearns has been unwaivering in his dedication to animal rescue, ensuring that animals across the area have the transport they need to have a second chance at a great life
Jim Livingston, photographer
One of the most recognizable faces in Amarillo, Jim Livingston is a local photographer known as the man behind the I Am Project, which has showcased many people from across our city. Livingston has kept Amarilloans intrigued the majesty and brilliance of our landscape, continually producing photographs that make us reflect on what it means to be from the Texas Panhandle.
Freda Powell, Amarillo City Councilwoman
Freda Powell is a local politician currently serving her third term on the Amarillo City Council. Re-elected this year in the most competitive re-election fight of her tenure yet, Powell has continued her service to Amarillo, being the only member of the City Council who resides in North Amarillo.
Tom Scherlen, 2021 Amarillo City Council candidate
Tom Scherlen is a retired business leader and former candidate for Amarillo City Council. In 2021, Scherlen received more votes than any other challenger running for a City Council seat, giving incumbent Eddy Sauer a true run for his money. While he was unsuccessful in his campaign, Scherlen has continued the fight for fiscal responsibility, being at the forefront of the opposition to tax increases and debt issuances in Amarillo.
John Smithee, State Representative
The longest serving Republican currently in the Texas House, Amarillo’s John Smithee returned for yet another term in the Texas House of Representatives this year. While some of Smithee’s key work in the chamber has flown under the radar of many politicos in the area, he has continued to be one of the top voices for the Panhandle in the Texas House during the 2021 legislative sessions.
Kevin Sparks, Republican candidate for Texas Senate
While he is not from Amarillo, Kevin Sparks is already known to many in Amarillo as the boldest conservative voice to come forward in the race for State Senate in District 31 yet. Sparks has already drawn the endorsement of President Trump in his campaign to replace retiring Sen. Kel Seliger, and has made himself known as the strongest conservative on the ballot in West Texas and the Panhandle.
Cole Stanley, Amarillo City Councilman
Elected in 2021 to replace City Councilwoman Elaine Hays, Cole Stanley overcame strong opposition from two formidable opponents to claim a seat on the City Council. Since winning election, Stanley has made himself known as the strongest voice for low taxes and fiscal responsibility on the City Council. Stanley has consistently shown why he is the strongest fiscal conservative the City Council has seen in years, regularly speaking out on behalf of Amarillo residents against big government and higher taxes.
Casie Stoughton, Amarillo Public Health Director
The director of Amarillo’s Public Health Department, Casie Stoughton has been a familiar face to Amarillo residents since 2020, as the city has dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic. Stoughton has been present at many major events aimed at educating the community on pandemic response, and has worked to keep Amarillo healthy during this time.
Dr. Walter Wendler, President of West Texas A&M University
A popular nominee for past Pioneer of the Year discussions, Wendler is once again a nominee for our Pioneer of the Year award. Wendler’s leadership at WTAMU has drawn legions of fans and respect from many in our community. Under Wendler’s tenure, WTAMU has continued to grow into one of the most respected small universities in our state.
Josiah “Joe” West, 2021 Amarillo City Council candidate
Joe West is a local motorcycle instructor who made a bid for the Amarillo City Council’s Place 2 seat in 2021. Running as a pragmatic outsider, West embraced what it means to be a grassroots candidate, putting more effort into door knocking and meeting voters than into placing large television and mail buys. While he was unsuccessful in his campaign, West showed Amarillo residents that he is unafraid of what it means to run a campaign powered by the grassroots.
For our readers who are ready to vote, click the button below to head to this year’s ballot!
2021 Amarillo Pioneer of the Year Nominees