Freda Powell
Incumbent Candidate for Amarillo City Council, Place 4
Powell/Photo by Campaign
Question: What is your age?
Answer: 61
Q: How long have you lived in Amarillo?
A: 40 Years (Plus)
Q: What is your educational background?
A: Degree in Management Development, Amarillo College
West Texas University (Now West Texas A&M University), Canyon, Texas (Some Courses)
Q: What is your occupation?
A: Office Manager, Warford Mortuary
Q: If you are a business owner, please list the business or businesses that you own.
A: Not Applicable
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: * Southwestern Public Service Company SCOPE Board of Directors
* Soroptimist International of the Americas – Currently: Member of the Board of Directors for Soroptimist International; Formerly: Governor of the South Central Region, covering seven (7) states; local member of Soroptimist International of Amarillo for more than two decades
* Access Community Credit Union Board of Directors
* State Bar of Texas Grievance Committee
* High Plains Food Bank Board of Directors
* Amarillo Opera Board of Trustees, Treasurer
* Eveline Rivers Sunshine Cottage Board of Directors
* Amarillo Branch NAACP (Silver Life Member), Treasurer
* Amarillo Chamber of Commerce Member
* Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Member
* Crime Stoppers Volunteer
* United Way of Amarillo and Canyon Volunteer
Jenkins Chapel Baptist Church, Church Secretary and member of the Finance Committee
Light of Hope, Life Member
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: Facebook: www.facebook.com/FredaPowellAmarilloCityCouncilPlace2
Q: Why did you decide to run for this office in 2021?
A: I have been honored to serve on the Amarillo City Council since 2017. During that time, I have seen our city make neighborhood improvements that make our quality of life better, support our first responders during challenging times and protect our residents’ health with an outstanding Covid-19 vaccine clinic. It is a privilege to respectfully listen to residents and be a positive voice for the city.
Q: If elected, what will be your top three priorities in office?
A: - Protect and improve what we have
- A balanced approach to spending
- Respect for all
Q: What is your opinion on taxpayer-funded lobbying? Please explain.
A: Cities often join associations and hire advocates to work on behalf of the citizens. These advocates are experts in their fields, monitoring hundreds of bills filed each session and alerting us to any that might be potentially bad for our residents – as well as helping us promote legislation that would benefit our citizens. The cost of having representation in Austin is a small part of our annual city budget. But the return on investment is invaluable. Through advocacy, cities often gain funding for important capital and infrastructure projects, including airports, water systems, roadways and community centers. Not only do these projects provide services to citizens, but in some cases, they bring revenue back to our city.
One-size public policy does not fit all. That’s why I believe the government closest to the people should continue to have a voice and advocate for what is best for its residents.
Q: Do you support moving municipal elections to November of even-numbered years? Please explain.
A: I prefer that municipal elections take place in May every four years, along with all the local school districts and Amarillo College. The local nature of this election provides opportunities leading up to the vote to have forums that inform voters and feature all these entities. In addition, the May election takes place on Saturday. Many voters wait until election day to vote, and Saturday is more convenient for most people.
Q: Do you support single-member districts for City Council representation? Please explain.
A: Having served in this position for almost four years, I have seen first-hand the importance of having everyone on the Council represent every resident. With single-member districts, if you don’t see eye-to-eye with the one person who represents you, then you have nowhere else to turn for representation. It is my honor and privilege to listen to all citizens, convey their needs to the City and respectfully facilitate two-way communication.
Q: In what cases would you support efforts to raise property taxes? Please explain.
A: We need to remain true to our pioneer roots by protecting and improving our city. Because if we don’t do it, no one else will. It is our responsibility to be good stewards of this great city God has given us. That is the value that drives my decisions about what is worthy of our tax dollars.
Q: In the 2020 general election, did you support or oppose Proposition A ($275 million Amarillo Civic Center and downtown projects bond)? Please explain.
A: I believe it is our responsibility to be good stewards of our great city. Reasonable people can disagree about the specifics of any proposed bond issue. Moving forward, I believe we can find a middle ground and more advantageous timing that residents will support, so that we can protect and improve our Civic Center and make Amarillo a wonderful place for families.
Q: What is an issue you believe has gone overlooked in your race and how will you address it if elected?
A: Many people do not realize that our city’s operations greatly depend on the money we get from the sales tax. A large percentage of the sales tax is paid by people who do not live here. To keep our sales tax revenue strong, we must have a city where people want to visit and are happy to spend their hard-earned money here. At the same time, we are called to be wise about how we spend public money. I bring a balanced approach.
Q: Why are you the best candidate for voters to support for this position?
A: My dad was in the military, and I lived in several places around the world before we settled in Amarillo, then I graduated from Amarillo High School in 1977, and have lived here ever since. Public service is a big part of my life, and I have served on more than a dozen organizations – often in leadership positions. I have also worked for several prominent businesses, such as Southwestern Public Service Company (Xcel Energy), Bell Helicopter Textron (Bell Textron), BP American Production Company and LINN Energy. Through my career and public service, I have been blessed with deep relationships throughout the community, giving me a broad perspective. The City of Amarillo is a complex organization, and my experience on the Council for the past two terms has provided me with insights that make me a more effective representative for our residents.