Jason Herrick, who had long served as the president of Amarillo Matters PAC, is running for mayor.

Herrick has long been a major behind-the-scenes player in local politics, with Amarillo Matters PAC having backed Ginger Nelson and her fellow council in the 2017 city election. However, cracks in Herrick’s influence began to show when voters rejected 2020’s Prop A Civic Center bond election. Though Amarillo Matters PAC was not directly involved, Herrick was involved with the Build Amarillo PAC which campaigned for the ordinance.

Herrick and his allies ultimately lost their grip on local government following the 2023 city election. That election occurred in the wake of a court finding that the council had attempted to illegally circumvent the results of the Prop A election

However, it wouldn’t be long until Herrick made it back into the headlines.

Last year, it was uncovered that the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation had made a wire transfer to the RANGE Foundation, despite the fact that only $100,000 had been approved in the AEDC budget. Near to the center of the controversy was Herrick himself, who serves as president of the RANGE.

Controversy over the transaction lead to an audit ordered by Amarillo City Council, which revealed a lack of internal policies to audit against. This prompted the council to push for reforms to the AEDC, which then resulted in most of the AEDC board resigning.

Former AEDC chairman Andrew Hall and board member Scott Bentley, both of whom resigned in protest of planned reforms, have already endorsed Herrick’s mayoral campaign.

In addition to endorsements by former AEDC board members, Herrick has also been endorsed by former Amarillo Matters executive director Steve Pair, as well as Amarillo Matters-backed former councilmembers Freda Powell and Eddie Sauer.

As of writing, the only other candidate to have filed to run for mayor is former city council candidate Misty Collier. Incumbent Mayor Cole Stanley has not yet formally announced his intention to seek reelection. The deadline to file is February 14th.

Election Day is scheduled for Saturday, May 3rd.