LES SIMPSON'S PRIORITIES FOR AMARILLO
MAKE IT EASIER FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS TO THRIVE
Let's create an atmosphere of mutual respect, understanding, and collaboration between business owners and the City.
CONSIDER AMARILLO CITIZENS FIRST
I will never forget that I work for YOU. We can create a city government that listens and meets the needs of its citizens.
IMPROVE CUSTOMER SERVICE (TRASH PICK UP, ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE)
Let's get back to the basics and focus on improving services and taking care of City customers -- YOU!
IMPROVE ACCOUNTABILITY, TRANSPARENCY AND COMMUNICATION
I will strive to minimize bureaucracy, maximize transparency, and ensure your tax dollars are used efficiently and effectively.
PRIORITIZE PUBLIC SAFETY AND KEEPING NEIGHBORHOODS SAFE
We must ensure all public safety departments have enough resources to hire and retain staff to keep our city safe.
KEEP TAXES LOW AND CUT WASTEFUL SPENDING
We can create a city government that is fiscally responsible while still meeting the needs of its citizens.
LET'S WORK TOGETHER
ABOUT LES SIMPSON
LES AND HIS WIFE, DENISE, LOVE AMARILLO.
Their adult daughters grew up and went to school here. Les spent 15 years as publisher of the Amarillo Globe-News. His experience as publisher of the Globe-News has given him a unique understanding of the issues facing our city.
Les is an Elder at First Presbyterian Church and has served in leadership roles at numerous nonprofit organizations, including the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce, United Way of Amarillo, and the WTAMU Foundation. He brings leadership skills, critical business experience, and knowledge of local government to help guide our city at such a pivotal economic time.
The best way to show appreciation is to give back and Les is excited to have the chance to bring his conservative values to Amarillo City Council. He wants to ensure that Amarillo is a place of opportunity and prosperity for everyone, regardless of their background. Les’ experiences as both a father and newspaper publisher have shaped his beliefs and driven him to make Amarillo an even better place to live. He looks forward to the challenge of representing all Amarillo residents on the City Council.
A RECORD OF RESULTS
ADMINISTRATION
Conducted nationwide search to hire new city manager.
BUSINESS
Supported programs that helped small businesses which as the EnterPrize Challenge
Strong supporter of the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation, which has brought millions of dollars in economic investment and thousands of jobs
COMMUNITY
Brought back community-wide Independence Day for the first time since 2018 featuring drone show, fireworks, entertainment, games and food trucks
Nearing completion of Transformation Park, the largest combined community effort to deal with the issue of homelessness in Amarillo
FLOODING
Approved investment of more than $46 million for drainage utility products across the city, including new pumps, dredging, excavation, sewer lines, and land acquisition
HEALTH
Funded $1.4 million for Women’s Health Clinic
INFRASTRUCTURE
Invested $71.2 million in Northeaste Sanitary Sewer Interceptor Project, which will provide 13 additional miles of sewer line to expand sewer capacity citywide
RETIREES
Reinstated cost of living adjustments for city retirees, who had not seen an increase in their monthly retirement income since 2012
ROADS
Purchased new state of the art equipment that will allow potholes to be repaired more quickly and by fewer staff
TAXES
Kept tax rate below the level that would have required voter-approved increases
PUBLIC SAFETY
Gave historic raises to Amarillo first responders to make salaries competitive. Starting police salary: $70,000. Starting firefighter: $60,000
Created state-of-the-art regional crime center using latest technology to fight crime in real-time
Acquisition of land for Fire Station No. 14 at Ninth Street and Quail Creek to provide fire protection and greatly increase response time in medical district
Passed new ordinances which create clear and safe zones at high-traffic intersections by probihiting pedestrians from approaching cars and standing in these areas
Invested in upgrades for the Amarillo Emergency Communication Center, which handles all emergency and non-emergency calls for public safety
Deployed license plate reader technology which has helped recover more than one hundred stolen vehicles and dozens of arrests
Overall crime in June 2024 was down more than 13 percent compared to prior year
Created first-ever Law Enforcement Consortium, which brought together public safety leaders from the City of Amarillo and Randall and Potter counties to discuss how to better fight crime
Conducted warrant roundup program to hold accountable those who had not properly treated animals
WASTE
Reinstuted program to remove illegally dumped trash from alleys beginning in early 2025
Funded new dumpster replacement program to replace 1,000 dumpsters per year, cutting by nearly half the time to replace all Dumpsters from 24 to 13 years
WASTEWATER
Funding improvements and developing plan to fund Hollywood Road Wastewater Treatment Plant
I'M ASKING FOR YOUR VOTE SO WE CAN CONTINUE WORKING TOGETHER
TO MAKE AMARILLO A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, WORK AND RAISE A FAMILY."
MY FOCUS HAS ALWAYS BEEN ON
SOLVING REAL PROBLEMS FOR REAL PEOPLE.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
AMARILLO GLOBE-NEWS
Publisher, 15 years
AMARILLO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Board of Directors
WEST TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION
Board of Directors
AMARILLO POLICE DEPARTMENT CITIZENS ACADEMY
Graduate
UNITED WAY OF AMARILLO & CANYON
Campaign Co-Chair
AMARILLO ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
TASCOSA HIGH SCHOOL EXCELLENCE
COUNCIL
Executive Director Search Committee
Co-Chair
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Member
YOUNG LIFE OF AMARILLO
Comittee Chair
CITY OF AMARILLO LOCAL
GOVERNMENT CORP.
Board of Directors
DOWNTOWN AMARILLO, INC.
Founding Board President
SMALL BUSINESS OWNER
Current
2024 PIONEER OF THE YEAR
The Amarillo Pioneer
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
Chair, Fundraising Luncheon
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