Filing has not yet begun for the 2023 Amarillo City Council elections, but Amarillo Matters PAC is already on the attack, aiming its criticisms at an opponent of outgoing Mayor Ginger Nelson.

On Friday, Amarillo Matters issued a statement on Facebook, attacking local businessman Alex Fairly. Fairly, who has been rumored as a potential mayoral candidate, recently put out a video highlighting his thoughts on city governance. Despite Fairly’s statements that he does not want to run for mayor in 2023, the PAC blasted the businessman in a social media post.

“We feel strongly that it is crucial to support good candidates and let them govern as they feel is best,” the group posted on social media. “It’s important to note that Mr. Fairly has his own record of spending hundreds of thousands of dollars in elections supporting his preferred candidates and causes. Fairly is attempting to discredit our organization and other voices he disagrees with. We feel that runs counter to the values that make the Panhandle strong and bring people together.”

Despite Amarillo Matters’ statements about “[bringing] people together,” the organization has been widely criticized by many area residents and leaders — including Fairly — for running intensely negative campaigns to support candidates like Nelson in past elections. Fairly’s criticisms of Amarillo Matters’ strategies and motivations has drawn a sharp contrast between the businessman and the organization before the upcoming municipal election.

As of this writing, Amarillo Matters has not yet announced which candidate it plans to support to replace Nelson in the upcoming election. However, the organization is widely expected to make an endorsement before Election Day.

Candidates will begin filing for office in January.