Charles D’Amico
Challenger for Amarillo ISD Board of Trustees
D’Amico/Photo by Campaign
Question: What is your age?
Answer: 39
Q: What is your educational background?
A: Bachelors in Criminology and Bachelors in Psychology
Q: What is your occupation?
A: Business owner and author
Q: If you are a business owner, please list the business or businesses that you own.
A: Jimmy Johns Franchisee for Amarillo, Lubbock, Santa Fe and owner of Blue Handle Publishing.
Q: Please list any civic boards or commissions (non-profit, government, union, political, etc.) on which you have served as a board member or equivalent.
A: na
Q: If your campaign has any online campaign resources where voters can learn more about you, such as social media accounts or a website, please list them below.
A: https://bluehandlepublishing.com
@BlueCPD (on instagram)
@BHPubs (Twitter)
Google my name there are interviews and articles on me and the charity we have done over the years.
https://www.myhighplains.com/everyday-heroes/everyday-heroes-charles-damico-amarillo-jimmy-johns-franchisee/
https://www.myhighplains.com/news/everyday-heroes-access-community-credit-union-and-jimmy-johns-partner-up-to-feed-amarillos-hospital-workers/
Q: Why did you decide to run for this office in 2021?
A: We have loved this town since we moved here. We have two small children (6/8) and I'm the son of two teachers (from Michigan). I love giving back to such an amazing community and thought what better way than to continue to work tirelessly for our amazing teachers and kids.
Q: If elected, what will be your top three priorities in office?
A: Continuing excellence in our education systems
bridging the poverty gap in learning
and listening to our community and teachers. Problems change, we need to change with them.
Q: In what cases would you support efforts to raise property taxes? Please explain.
A: Its about the return on investment. No one likes spending more money, but we also have a responsibility to our community and our students to make prudent decisions. I constantly hear people say that this youth is the worst ever (I don't believe that). I think we have access to more information and people than we ever have. We see the best and worst in people but focus on the worst. This is important because it's easy to see the negatives (more money leaving your bank account) but it's the investment and the return we get that has to be weighed.
Its the job of the board to communicate and show the full picture to get the confidence of the people behind the raises needed.
Q: What is an issue you believe has gone overlooked in your race and how will you address it if elected?
A: I believe there is only so much time in the day, but government at all levels can communicate better and engage. If we have an open dialogue that feels effortless to the community we serve it makes the tough conversations easier to have.
The hard problems will always be there, as a large community there will be places that always need improvement. Light on the issues and communication can diminish the shock of the solution needed to solve it.
Q: Why are you the best candidate for voters to support for this position?
A: I have put my money where my mouth is. When the shutdown of 2020 happened I stepped up and started feeding all school age kids at my 7 Jimmy Johns for free. We did it for 3 months, because it was something the community needed.
https://www.myhighplains.com/everyday-heroes/everyday-heroes-charles-damico-amarillo-jimmy-johns-franchisee/