Michael Hunt
Challenger for Amarillo Mayor
Hunt/Photo by Campaign
Question: What is your age?
Answer: 61
Q: How long have you lived in Amarillo?
A: 34 years
Q: What is your educational background?
A: Texas Tech BBA, West Texas State A&M PACE Program Teaching Certification
Q: What is your occupation?
A: Caterer
Q: If you are a business owner, please list the business or businesses that you own.
A: Michael's BBQ Shack
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: Southwest Chapter AMBUCS
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 Michael Hunt for Mayor, web page michaelforamarillo.com
Q: Why did you decide to run for this office in 2021?
A: Because I have felt for several years that the city leadership team has not really listened to the citizens and has not been focused on the more basic needs of Amarillo.
Q: If elected, what will be your top three priorities in office?
A: Fiscal responsibility and accountability, improvements and reform in some city services, restoring trust in city leadership
Q: What is your opinion on taxpayer-funded lobbying? Please explain.
A: I am totally against forcing taxpayers to pay for lobbyists who advocate for higher taxes and increased spending. If elected, Amarillo will not be sending hundreds of thousands of dollars to Austin lobbyists. I have read we are spending over $400,000 of city tax money with lobbyists. If so, that will cease immediately.
Q: Do you support moving municipal elections to November of even-numbered years? Please explain.
A: Yes, it is the right thing to do. This change would cut election costs for taxpayers and would increase voter participation for local races.
Q: Do you support single-member districts for City Council representation? Please explain.
A: Yes, I do and believe now is the time to do it. At-large is only beneficial to some of the city, but leaves out a lot of voters. My only question is if we keep just four members or add a couple to be at-large, in addition to a majority of single-member seats. We should address this and we will if I am elected.
Q: In what cases would you support efforts to raise property taxes? Please explain.
A: It would have to be a very pressing need that arose for me to suggest a tax increase. I would try to get anything along those lines out to the voters or at least hold several public forums at different places around town before any move was made.
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: No, Amarillo citizens realized we could not afford that large of expense and over 60% voted against it, as I did. We need to focus on the day to day needs of ALL of Amarillo and come back to looking at the entertainment downtown at a later time.
Q: What is an issue you believe has gone overlooked in your race and how will you address it if elected?
A: I think the fact that many Amarillo citizens feel that they are ignored in several areas of OUR City has not been addressed. I have personally spoken with over 100 concerned voters in the last two weeks about what is going on at City Hall and they are very upset. The sentiment I am picking up on the street is that a lot of voters want a change in administration for Amarillo. I am offering Amarillo a choice of leadership to lead our city into this new decade.
Q: Why are you the best candidate for voters to support for this position?
A: I am extremely passionate about the people of Amarillo and the whole West Texas Panhandle. I was raised here and moved back as fast as I could. I want to pay back the city with my experience and leadership for what it has done for me and my family for over 30 years. I want to put an end to the yearly increases, stop paying Austin lobbyists hundreds of thousands of dollars, and represent ALL of Amarillo citizens instead of just a chosen few.
I am not a slick, polished politician that is going to promise free internet or anything else. I will listen to you, make a decision and stand on it based on the ethics my dad instilled in me at an early age. I am not going to make everyone happy all the time, but leadership requires making tough decisions and then being accountable for consequences. I am willing to offer that kind of leadership for Amarillo, if they get off their duffs and vote early or on Election Day, May 1st.