FROM LEFT: Michael Hunt (Campaign), Claudette Smith (Campaign), Carl Karas (Campaign), Ginger Nelson (Campaign)
By Amarillo Pioneer Publisher's Committee
For Mayor, voters have been given four distinct choices, but our Publisher’s Committee believes only one candidate stands out as worthy of our endorsement this cycle.
Incumbent Mayor Ginger Nelson, former paralegal and business co-owner Claudette Smith, registered architect Carl Karas, catering company owner Michael Hunt are all hoping to earn your vote on May 1. And with this being the marquee race in Amarillo this year, it is important to carefully examine the candidates’ records and positions to ensure that your vote goes to the best candidate possible.
Nelson has spent four years in office already, and after failing to convince voters to extend her term last fall, she is once again seeking another two years in office. Her record speaks for itself — higher taxes, political gamesmanship, and catering to the special interests. With Amarillo Matters PAC writing the checks to buy her another term in office, Nelson already has commitments to special interests that will dictate how she would conduct herself throughout a third term in office.
As for Smith, while she says many of the right things, she has provided no substance to back it up. According to her responses to our Voter Guide questionnaire, Smith has no board or commission experience of any kind to inform her as to how a governing body actually operates. Her campaign has been built entirely around a theme of not being Ginger Nelson, and while we agree that Nelson needs to go, we also believe that candidates who are interested in taking her job must bring some type of substance to the table. Smith has not shown a clear understanding of certain issues and has spent more time arguing on Facebook about absurd positions like allowing those who do not live in Amarillo to vote in our city elections instead of articulating clear policy proposals and outlines of how those proposals can become a reality.
It would be beneficial for Smith to seek board appointments, positions with non-profit organizations, or election to a smaller office first to ensure she gets the firsthand knowledge of how a governing board operates before running for an important position like Mayor. Of all the candidates who responded to our questionnaire this year, Smith is only one of two candidates who reported no civic, non-profit, or political board experience of any kind.
Candidate Carl Karas is a friendly political newcomer who should be applauded for making his first entry into electoral politics. However, much like Smith, Karas would do well to first seek other ways to serve Amarillo residents rather than running for Mayor.
Finally, we come to Michael Hunt. Hunt is also a first time candidate for elected office, but he is not a newcomer to community service or political activities. Hunt has been involved with numerous non-profit organizations over the years, serving as both a board member and volunteer for several organizations. While other candidates have pretended to care about issues like homelessness, Hunt has been at the forefront of aiding organizations working to feed and help the homeless. Hunt is well-known in Amarillo for his charity work and donations of food and catering supplies to organizations feeding those who need assistance in our community.
Outside of this experience, Hunt has also been involved for years in helping to get conservatives elected to office in Amarillo. Hunt played a major role in helping to oust Panhandle Democrat Rep. Bill Sarpalius from office in the 1990s and has even worked to campaign for conservatives running for offices like justice of the peace in our community, showing a belief that no office is unimportant when it comes to electing quality individuals.
Hunt is also well versed in the issue of education, an important issue for our community, especially as it relates to key priorities like job creation and developing our future workforce. Hunt worked for years as a GED teacher with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, helping inmates who sought the education they needed to be successful once released. Hunt also worked as a program coordinator with Amarillo Independent School District, serving parents and students seeking a quality education in our community.
From his background as an education leader in Amarillo to his non-profit experience, Hunt has perhaps the most community service experience of any candidate running for Mayor this year. And, on top of this experience, Hunt also holds business experience that will help benefit every taxpayer in Amarillo looking for a City Council focused on running our city more like a business.
As owner of Michael’s Barbeque Shack, Hunt is one of the only candidates in this race with experience in regularly delivering quality customer service. Hunt understands the challenges business owners have faced in our community during the pandemic, and has faced those challenges head on, continuing to make a payroll and provide services to paying customers throughout all of it. On top of this, Hunt’s business experience has allowed him to meet Amarilloans from all walks of life and to understand the problems they are facing. Hunt has regularly spoken about feeding front-line healthcare workers at hospitals and doctors’ offices during the pandemic, providing him a firsthand look at the immense challenges and sacrifices these individuals have faced while keeping our community healthy and operational during the pandemic.
Looking at Hunt’s policy positions, he also has a firm grasp of the issues facing Amarillo. Hunt has shown an understanding of issues that must be remedied across our community, from public safety and first responder needs, to issues with tourism, infrastructure, and taxes. Hunt has also been focused on unity in his campaign, calling for Amarilloans to come together to “fix Amarillo together,” rather than focusing his attacks on “the good ol’ boys,” unlike another challenger in the race.
Additionally, Hunt has shown a commitment to running a campaign built for success by going out to meet citizens across Amarillo, regularly giving his personal contact information to any voter that requests it, and meeting voters in their own neighborhoods. While other candidates have hidden behind Facebook or glossy mailers, Hunt has been out speaking to voters about the issues that matter to them and articulating his positions on those issues.
Hunt is focused on not only unity, but results. Hunt’s background in business and education leadership have primed him to understand how to solve the problems facing this community. Pointing out problems is one thing, but being able to formulate a plan for solving those issues is something entirely different. And Hunt has shown he is the only challenger in the race who can truly get that done.
With all of this in mind, our Publisher’s Committee believes that while voters must ultimately vote their conscience, if they are looking not only to replace Nelson, but to elect a person who can actually do the job of Mayor, and do it well, then there is only one choice on the ballot who deserves their vote.
We recommend Michael Hunt for Mayor.
Early voting runs April 19-27. Election Day is May 1.