By Thomas Warren III, Editor-in-Chief
We finally did it, Amarillo. We made it to the end of one of the strangest and most difficult years we have faced in some time — 2021.
For our city, 2021 brought much of the same. We are still responding to how COVID-19 has shaped our city and our changing economy. We still have the same bad City Council running our city — with the notable exception of Councilman Cole Stanley. And Amarilloans still haven’t figured out how to use their turn signals, for the most part.
Personally, it has been a crazy year that has brought many good things. This year, I met a terrific woman who I will be marrying next summer. I have had the opportunity to work with many great people in our community this year to accomplish great things for where our city is going. I also started work on my graduate degree at West Texas A&M University and look forward to seeing where that journey goes.
There have also been challenges. Several of my family members have faced difficult times this year with their health and we have lost a few family friends this year.
2021 has been a strange year with some good things and some bad things. Overall, though, even after two straight years that have not been what I would put among my favorite years of all time, I am still optimistic about where we are going in 2022. Let me explain why.
Amarillo has a wonderful future ahead, but it is up to the people in Amarillo to decide what that future looks like. This year, our city has faced many challenges, and to this point, we have gotten through them. There are many more challenges ahead, but I am encouraged by what I have been seeing at the stage has been set for this new year.
In Potter and Randall counties, we have some terrific people running for office. Several politicians who have deserved challengers for years — like Potter County Judge Nancy Tanner — will not be on the ballot unopposed next year, while others — like Sen. Kel Seliger — will be retiring when January 2023 rolls around.
At Amarillo City Hall, while the landscape is still bleak with higher taxes and more debt being piled on by the Amarillo Matters crew led by Mayor Ginger Nelson, Amarilloans have been able to count on Cole Stanley to stand up and fight back. I am thrilled by what Councilman Stanley has done to have the peoples’ voices heard at City Hall and I hope he keeps it up in the new year.
And as for our state, we have a fantastic group of newcomers running for office across our state. I am especially impressed with the great field of candidates running for offices like governor and land commissioner in the upcoming primary election.
As you can see, while 2021 has been a weird year that I am sure most of us are happy to leave behind, there is a lot to be excited about heading into 2022. And you better believe that the Amarillo Pioneer will still be here to cover everything this new year has to bring.
On to 2022, Amarillo. I can’t wait to see what this new year has to offer.