FROM LEFT: Les Simpson, Claudette Smith, Hobert Brown, and John Ingerson/Photos by Campaigns and Inspire Amarillo
We have asked candidates running for various offices to answer questions for our Voter Guide. While full responses are available here, we are offering you an excerpt in “Candidate Comparisons” ahead of the May 6 general election.
Each response below came directly from the candidate’s questionnaire and is unedited.
Les Simpson
Age: 58 | Occupation: Business Owner
Why are you the best candidate for voters to support for this position?
I've been doing my homework on local government. I spent 30 years in the newspaper industry, including 15 at the Amarillo Globe-News. The newspaper's role was to understand local government, ask questions, explain issues to readers and hold leaders accountable. And to ask the right questions, you have to do your homework. I've served on boards or helped nearly a dozen non-profit organizations and other community groups during the last 20 years. I will ask the tough questions without being influenced by the loud voices.
I will make sure money is spent wisely. I have the experience of managing budgets and finding efficiencies and savings during my time at the newspaper and a business owner.
I left the newspaper in 2018 and started my own company, The Entrepreneur's Source. I work with clients to help them explore business ownership. I've placed clients into business in Amarillo, Lubbock, Midland and Dallas. I've also placed clients in other cities across the country. This experience has given me knowledge and understanding of how small business is the backbone of the economy of communities in Amarillo. And I have continued to watch Amarillo City Council meetings in the last five years and keep abreast of issues facing not only business, but the community.
I've served on boards or helped nearly a dozen non-profit organizations and other community groups during the last 20 years. I was a member of the City of Amarillo's Local Government Corporation (LGC) and a search committee to find the executive director of the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation (AEDC)."
Claudette Smith
Age: 36 | Occupation: Business Owner
Why are you the best candidate for voters to support for this position?
For the past 7 years I have been fighting for transparency, accountability and fiscal responsibility in our local government as well as pursued several efforts at the legislative level. I am a civic leader who is of the highest character and integrity and have proven to the citizens of Amarillo that I am extremely knowledgeable and professional in all my undertakings.
I have proven that I am always willing to ask the tough questions and to hold the city accountable for every dollar spent. My work for the citizens has never stopped. I have continued to work from the side lines for the past 7 years and strongly feel my work would be much more effective if I were elected to serve on the Amarillo City Council in Place 4.
John Ingerson
Age: 63 | Occupation: Retired
Why are you the best candidate for voters to support for this position?
I have a lot of experience (this will be my third time to run) I've been digging in the dirt of our local government for the last 16 years, I believe I understand what it means to serve others, and I'm a natural born tightwad. I think we need more tightwads in government.
Hobert “Gunny” Brown
Age: 57 | Occupation: Retired USMC
Why are you the best candidate for voters to support for this position?
My record speaks for itself. Google Hobert Brown, or Hobert Gunny Brown, and you'll see that I am a man of action, and I didn't just arrive on the scene yesterday.