What You Need to Know About the Other Races in Potter and Randall

Here at The Amarillo Pioneer, we have worked to give our readers in-depth coverage of the races for Amarillo Mayor and City Council, the Amarillo ISD & College Boards, and the Canyon ISD Board. However, there are several other races on the ballot in Potter and Randall to be aware of.

Voters in both counties who live in the bounds of Bushland ISD will be voting to fill 3 seats on the school district’s board for terms which will last for four years. Two of the candidates in the race are incumbents Brad Spinks and Eddie Fuentes. Other candidates in the race include Melissa Huffman, Jessica Garrett, Laura Stepp, Nicki Junell, Ken Stewart, Steve Hill, Chris Limbaugh, Derek Cotgreave, and Jerry Billington. Similar to the elections for the Amarillo ISD and College Boards, the election for Bushland ISD Board uses an at-large system similar to the cumulative voting system used by Amarillo ISD and Amarillo College, though voters may not give multiple votes to a single candidate.

Voters in Potter County who live in the bounds of Highland Park ISD will be choosing at least one new member of the school district’s board. Incumbents Cindy Spanel and Jennifer Sanchez are seeking reelection, while April Ferguson and Jessie Campolla are looking to join the board. Like Bushland ISD, voters will use an at-large voting system to fill the three seats up for election. The winners of the election will serve four-year terms.

Highland Park ISD also has two bond packages on the ballot. Proposition A would authorize the issuance of $129 million in bonds. According to the ballot language for Proposition A, it would fund “the construction, renovation, acquisition and equipment of school facilities in the District (including, but not limited to, improvements to enhance safety and security), including the acquisition of land therefor and the purchase of school buses and vehicles, and levying the tax in payment thereof.” Proposition B would authorize the issuance of $1 million in bonds. According to the ballot language for Proposition B, it would fund “acquiring and updating instructional technology equipment.” Both Proposition A and Proposition B would increase property taxes.

Voters in Randall County who live in the Village of Palisades will vote on the village’s mayor and alderman. In the election for mayor, incumbent Jerry Lane is facing challenger Jay Schmidt. All five incumbents on the village’s Board of Aldermen are running for reelection, with challengers Leonard Odell Reynolds and William Earl Rojas also vying for seats on the ballot. The Board of Aldermen is also elected with an at-large system, though, with five seats up for election, voters will be given five votes. The winners will serve for a term of two years.

Election Day is May 6th. Early Voting begins April 24th and ends May 2nd.

Correction April 12, 2023 10:53 pm: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that the elections for Bushland ISD, Highland Park ISD, and the Village of Palisades use cumulative voting. These elections use at-large elections without numbered places.