McGunegle: A Proposal for a New Amarillo Tradition

Jeff McGunegle/Screenshot via Inspire Amarillo YouTube

By Jeff McGunegle, candidate for Amarillo mayor

In the last (2021) election for mayor and city council in Amarillo, it appears approximately 20,000 votes were cast. That appears to be an alarmingly LOW number. In a city the size of Amarillo, in Texas, in The USA... that number is far below mediocre and a quantum leap away from excellent.

Why is this number sooo low? I asked a few folks at the local United. “That’s just kind of the way things are here in Amarillo,” someone told me. What is that supposed to mean? I mean, I get it. I know what it means, but what does that really mean?

I’ve asked a lot of questions of “Amarilloans” over the last few months, especially of those in their 20s. One is, “Do you know who the Mayor is?” Most I’ve asked answer, “I really need to know but I don’t.”

The mayor is the LEADER of the city and there are actually people who don’t know who that is. HUH? The Question has to be asked: Why don’t they know?

“Maybe they don’t need to know?” That’s been a response I’ve heard. Maybe most people just don’t need to know.

Well, in the spirit of the New Century, I propose a new tradition for Amarillo. As terms wind down to the last few months, the sitting mayor and councilmembers should champion a drive to register as many voters as possible in the city, with the greatest focus on those areas of the city that have the fewest registered voters. A comparison of the last election to the current election can be an indicator of the dedication of the leadership. If it stays the same, the leadership has to be questioned in truly engaging all of the citizens they can. Exactly what is at the core of their service?

The leadership can iron out the details and how to network getting this done, with expedience, as time is ticking. If the leadership truly is in the game for the right reason, this will happen. This is “legacy” type stuff. How exciting for the city. Anything below 61% on a 10-point scale is FAILING. Over 60, not mediocre, and still a quantum leap away from “EXCELLENT!”