From left: Ginger Nelson, Freda Powell, Eddy Sauer, and Howard Smith
Photos by Nelson Campaign, City of Amarillo, Sauer Campaign, and Smith Campaign
By Thomas Warren III, Editor-in-Chief
As we are currently in the middle of the 2021 Amarillo municipal election, candidates have already begun putting forward their campaign materials. Some challengers are casting themselves as agents of change, while others are putting themselves forward as experienced outsiders who will bring new expertise to local government.
For the most part, the incumbents on the Amarillo City Council are casting themselves as leaders who will continue to run Amarillo with a steady hand.
That message sounds great. After all, leadership is a necessity in local government. But the problem with this campaign platform is the past four years haven’t reflected an agenda of leadership. Rather, the past four years have proven to Amarillo taxpayers that their city is being governed under a big government, higher tax agenda, brought to you by Amarillo Matters PAC and the politicians they own.
Consider for a moment that since the Amarillo Matters PAC team seized power in 2017, led by big government favorite Ginger Nelson, taxes have gone up four consecutive years. Consider that donors, business partners, and cronies have been rewarded, while the rest of Amarillo has suffered. Consider that new fines and higher fees for City services have been introduced during this time.
Think about the fact that, last year, when local businesses were closing their doors and people were losing their jobs, the Amarillo City Council issued debt without voter approval, handing the bill to taxpayers. This all happened at a time when many people in our community were struggling to make ends meet.
Also, consider for a moment that last year, in the middle of a pandemic, Nelson, her top loyalist Eddy Sauer, and the rest of the Amarillo Matters Council attempted to grab longer terms for themselves. This all came just over a year after Nelson had called for longer terms, then walked it back when people started asking questions.
Nelson, Sauer, and the Amarillo Matters PAC-owned City Council have consistently raised taxes, rewarded their cronies, and left taxpayers to hold the bill. This all happened under representatives who claimed to be “champions for low taxes,” in the case of Sauer, or supportive of keeping taxes low, in the case of Nelson.
Still, even after campaign promises of lower taxes and a responsible government, the Amarillo Matters PAC City Council has ensured that taxes have gone up and government has grown, all while key issues in our city have gone neglected and unnoticed by elected officials.
Now, after four years of higher taxes and bigger government, Ginger Nelson, Eddy Sauer, and the Amarillo Matters PAC incumbents are seeking another two years on a platform of leadership.
Empty promises after four years of bad representation are not enough.
When Nelson and the Amarillo Matters PAC Council attempted to seize longer terms for themselves last year, voters stood up and said “no.” When Nelson and the Amarillo Matters PAC Council attempted to pass the largest tax increase in Amarillo history last year, voters stood up and said “no.”
I’m here to tell you that Amarillo voters are going to have to say “no” again.
This year, we have the opportunity to elect several good people to office who will oppose excessive spending, tax increases, and the growth of government in our town. Mayoral candidate Michael Hunt and City Council candidates Hobert “Gunny” Brown, Jason Foglesong, and Tom Scherlen have all outlined plans to make government fiscally responsible and responsive to taxpayer concerns again. Additionally, a number of candidates for other positions on the City Council have also spoken about the serious changes needed in this community and how they will get those things accomplished.
Amarillo has the opportunity to stop the Amarillo Matters PAC and Nelson led growth of government and emptying of wallets. But we first must get out and vote.
If you are tired of the growth of government in our city, the increasing of taxes, and the ballooning of debt that has occurred under this City Council, now is the time to stand up and demand accountability and change.
Election Day is May 1. Make sure you get out and vote and demand accountability for the big government agenda we have seen in Amarillo over the past four years.