FROM LEFT: Don Tipps, Misty Vigil, Gabriel McHenry-Herrera/Photos by Campaigns, Inspire Amarillo (Vigil)
By Amarillo Pioneer Editorial Board
Last month, we revealed our recommendations are all five seats on the Amarillo City Council. In the race for Amarillo City Council, Place 2, we stated that none of the three candidates stood out from the rest as the candidate we could recommend at that moment, instead urging voters to pick their favorite, as all were worthy of voter support.
Today, we are amending our previous recommendation to take a stronger stance on this race.
Each election cycle, a few candidates are given the chance to show what their values are really about for voters who are concerned about integrity and ethics. This year, Don Tipps was given that opportunity when a shady PAC — Protect and Serve Texas PAC — dropped a mailer on Amarillo that was funded by Amarillo Matters PAC-affiliated donors.
Tipps could have blindly accepted the support, but he chose to set the record straight and tell voters that he did not seek the endorsement and did not accept the endorsement. For voters who were concerned about any possible connections to Amarillo Matters, Tipps set the record straight and told voters how he really felt.
It was remarkable and rare to see a candidate push away support that didn’t align with their values. And it was the kind of true show of values that sets Tipps apart from his opponents in this race.
Make no mistake, both of Tipps’ opponents, Gabriel McHenry-Herrera and Misty Vigil, are good people, good thinkers, and deserve to pick up some votes in this election. But Don Tipps’ character when the chips were down shows that he is the man Amarillo needs at this critical moment in our city’s history.
Our next City Council will undoubtedly be faced with some tough decisions. And instead of running away from those decisions or kicking the can down the road, our City Council must face those challenges head-on and do the right thing. We need five responsible and ethical leaders driving the agenda at City Hall. And with Tipps’ move last week, voters can rest assured that he won’t compromise on his values when it’s time to make a tough decision.
We recommend Don Tipps for Amarillo City Council, Place 2.
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.