Please note: Over the next few days, the Amarillo Pioneer’s Editorial Board will be publishing recommendations for various local races. In some races where multiple seats are up for grabs, recommendations may be spread out over several days. Please stay tuned to our website for recommendations in additional races.
FROM LEFT: Cole Stanley and Jason Herrick/Photos by Campaigns
By Amarillo Pioneer Editorial Board
In this year’s election, four candidates are seeking the top elected office at City Hall. Incumbent Cole Stanley is seeking another term in office, and is being opposed by natural gas business owner Jason Herrick, unemployed activist Misty Collier, and delivery driver Luke Marek.
Two years ago, our Editorial Board recommended Stanley as the person to replace then-Mayor Ginger Nelson. Voters agreed and overwhelmingly elected the construction company owner as mayor. Now, he’s putting his record back on the ballot to allow voters the chance to decide whether a change is needed in city leadership once again.
Looking at Stanley’s record, he’s accomplished some pretty incredible things. Under his administration’s watch, Amarillo increased first responder salaries, made historic investments for disaster preparedness, brought open public comment back to city council meetings, oversaw completion of the new City Hall project, and brought in a new city manager to officially turn the page on the Ginger Nelson era.
As Stanley himself noted during Thursday night’s televised mayoral debate, there have been a few bumps along the way, and there is still plenty of work to be done. And at this point, considering the quality of the field of challengers and Stanley’s record of achievement, we believe he is the right person to continue that work.
Stanley’s chief opponent — Herrick — has been mired in controversy since launching his campaign for mayor earlier this year. He’s failed to get over with Amarillo voters and has botched his response to questions about his involvement with the Range, a controversial non-profit that was the recipient of AEDC money. However, even putting aside the Range, Herrick’s involvement as president of Amarillo Matters PAC and his spearheading of the illegal push by the previous City Council to issue taxpayer-funded debt to complete a voter-rejected Civic Center expansion, show that his baggage outweighs any of the strengths of his candidacy.
As for Stanley’s two other opponents — Collier and Marek — neither has positioned themselves as serious contenders. Marek has not operated much of a campaign, and Collier has spent most of her time on the campaign trail making attention-seeking Facebook posts.
The real choice in this race is very simple: Cole Stanley, the conservative mayor with a record of nuts and bolts achievement, or Jason Herrick, the Amarillo Matters president with a laundry list of baggage. Keep Cole Stanley and keep Amarillo moving forward.
We recommend Cole Stanley for Mayor.
Election Day is May 3.
Please note: An editorial board recommendation does not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the Amarillo Pioneer’s advertisers or staff. A recommendation of one candidate does not represent a criticism of other candidates running unless otherwise stated. Recommendations may be offered in additional races.