Last month, we asked readers of the Amarillo Pioneer to begin voting to decide who should be named the 2017 Pioneer of the Year. With the options of ten very deserving nominees and a space for write-in votes, thousands of our readers made their voices heard.
Readers at the Amarillo Pioneer have spoken and have named Renea Dauntes the 2017 Amarillo Pioneer of the Year.
Dauntes, a local archivist, is a former candidate for mayor of Amarillo. Dauntes ran for mayor in 2017, netting about 5 percent of the vote. Following the election, Dauntes began serving on the board of directors for the Amarillo Habitat for Humanity and has been instrumental in organizing clean-up efforts in Amarillo and other community initiatives.
In addition, Dauntes has helped several organizations aimed at helping the homeless population in Amarillo. Dauntes has worked with groups like Amarillo Brown Bag Runs and Amarillo Housing First to ensure that everyone has a shot in Amarillo.
For these reasons, and many others, our readers have selected Renea Dauntes as the 2017 Pioneer of the Year.
RUNNER UPS
Kip Billups, Founder of Amarillo Brown Bag Runs
John Betancourt, Amarillo ISD Trustee
OTHER NOMINEES
James Allen, Amarillo ISD Trustee
Jeff Blackburn, Amarillo attorney
Steven Denny, Amarillo attorney
Ed Drain, Amarillo Police Chief
Richard Havens, Director of Amarillo Animal Management & Welfare
Rich Herman, Potter County Justice of the Peace
Walter Wendler, President of West Texas A&M University
NOTABLE WRITE-IN's
The following persons received multiple write-in votes