Please note: Over the next few days, the Amarillo Pioneer’s Editorial Board will be publishing recommendations for various local races. In some races where multiple seats are up for grabs, recommendations may be spread out over several days. Please stay tuned to our website for recommendations and for a final list, which will be published next week.

By Amarillo Pioneer Editorial Board

In what is likely one of the most interesting City Council races on the ballot this May, four well-known candidates have stepped up to run for the seat being vacated by incumbent Howard Smith.

This is a race of contrasts, with each candidate presenting a wildly different reality of what their tenure in office could look like. Being that this is a race where the contrasts are clearer than ever, and voters really know what they are getting with each of these candidates, this is a race where our Editorial Board’s choice was easier than ever.

Hobert “Gunny” Brown is a retired United States Marine Corps veteran with a career of service already under his belt. Brown served in the military for years, and once he retired, he went right back into service as a federal employee. Today, Brown organizes fundraisers for scholarships and is involved with a plethora of local community organizations, both as a board member and a volunteer.

Brown is undeniably conservative. Voters might remember that Brown was the treasurer of the organization responsible for defeating the Amarillo Civic Center bond item in 2020, and was also a vocal force in that same organization’s successful defeat of a ballot proposition spearheaded by Mayor Ginger Nelson to extend the terms of the City Council.

With this record in mind, there isn’t another candidate on the ballot in the Place 4 race that has the kind of proven track record of fiscal responsibility and advocacy for government restraint that Brown brings to the table. But his record is just one part of the equation; Brown has also put forward a platform centered on empowering citizens to have a voice in their government, keeping taxes and debt under control, and improving infrastructure in areas of the city that have been left behind.

Brown’s track record and vision for the city put him well ahead of his opponents in this race. And it’s why we’re backing him for City Council again this year.

We recommend Hobert “Gunny” Brown for City Council, Place 4.

Election Day is May 6. Early voting begins on April 24.

Please note: An editorial board recommendation does not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the Amarillo Pioneer’s advertisers or staff. A recommendation of one candidate does not represent a criticism of other candidates running unless otherwise stated. Recommendations may be offered in additional races.