Image provided by Cole Stanley
Amarillo Mayor Cole Stanley announced details of this year’s upcoming State of the City event during the most recent meeting of Amarillo City Council.
The event will be held at the Santa Fe Depot Pavilion on Sunday, August 25th from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. The event will feature live music from Aaron Watson and Lindsey Lane. The event will also feature food trucks and drinks provided by Water Still.
Members of the council will introduce various departments, with videos set to be played during the event. “We want to show you what we’re getting done here,” said Mayor Stanley.
Stanley also emphasized the informal nature of the event. “Let’s not do something that is business and not friendly, let’s do Amarillo. Let’s do a county fair. blue ribbon, boots-and-jeans something in the evening,” said Stanley. “Let’s get our work done but let’s also be us about it.” He also emphasized that the event is being sponsored by the council and no tax dollars are being spent.
The final itinerary for the event is being produced by advertising firm Creative Cannon, according to Stanley. The official Facebook event page for the state of the city can be found at this link.
Jeffrey McGunegle has vowed to give his response to the state of the city the following day. McGunegle, who earned last place in the 2023 mayoral election, has since branded himself the “non-Mayor of Amarillo.” McGunegle announced his response in a YouTube video, saying he would hold his State of the City address at “The Pavilion, not the Santa Fe Pavilion.” McGunegle then stated he was joking, though it is unclear if he is joking about just the location or his plans to give a State of the City address in general.
McGunegle has also announced he is running for State House District 87 as a write-in. According to McGunegle, the Texas Secretary of State is reviewing his application. We reached out to the Secretary of State’s office, but they could neither confirm nor deny they had received his application.