The following are the complete and unedited responses submitted by the candidate listed below to the Amarillo Pioneer’s Candidate Questionnaire.
Raef/Photo via campaign
Name: Jeff Raef
Office Sought: Potter County Commissioner Pct. 2
Party Affiliation: Republican
Age: 61
What is your educational background? Please list any degrees or certificates earned and any institutions attended.
Palo Duro Highschool
What is your occupation?
Professional truck driver
If you are a business owner, please list the business or businesses that you own. (If this question is not applicable, please note that below.)
Former owner of Raef’s Hardwood Flooring
Please list any civic boards or commissions (non-profit, government, union, religious, political, etc.) on which you have served as a board member or equivalent.
I have served in numerous roles in Boy Scouts of America
Have you previously held or do you currently hold any elected office? If so, what office(s)?
None
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.
JeffRaef.com
Why did you decide to run for this office in 2026?
I spent more than 25 years as a small business owner in Potter County, operating from the same buildings that once housed my grandfather's business. That extensive experience instilled in me crucial values: discipline, reliability, integrity, and honesty. Because every dollar was my own, I learned firsthand the necessity of maximum efficiency and the absolute requirement to produce results without wasting a cent. That kind of leadership is what Potter County needs.
If elected, what will be your top three priorities in office?
Transparency, integrity, and honesty
What is an issue you believe has gone overlooked in your race and how will you address it if elected?
Potter County needs decisive leadership from someone who is willing to act like the adult in the room. I will make supporting law enforcement a top priority. We must restore the deputy incentives and retention programs, building safe neighborhoods and retaining dependable law enforcement.
We must immediately end the disastrous Potter County Jail crisis. The current, slow, and costly leadership is failing, resulting in continuous failed inspections and wasted taxpayer dollars. We must cut the red tape, take immediate, decisive action to expand capacity, and get this built now. No more excuses.
Do you have any notable endorsements you would like to highlight for voters? If this question is not applicable, please write N/A.
No
Why are you the best candidate for voters to support for this position?
I will be the adult in the room who will fight for Potter County taxpayers. We, now more than ever, need level-headed leadership.
Let me be clear: I am a strong fiscal conservative. I will bring that same accountability to the Commissioner's Court. We can fund our county needs through efficiency and prioritization. My commitment is driven by conservative Christian values and a deep dedication to service. As a lifelong NRA member, I am a staunch supporter of the Second Amendment and your constitutional rights.