This article was first published in the Amarillo Pioneer on November 25, 2020.

By Tom Scherlen

This City is made of great people who work together and live together. Most generally Amarillo folks are of like mind and beliefs. I know from first-hand experience how great the people of our City are. In the fall of 2015 my eldest son was a police officer in Amarillo. He was involved in a horrific traffic accident which left him in critical condition.

We spent the next several days in the ICU waiting on word of what may take place in his life. During this period of time my family was blessed with the love of the people of Amarillo. Citizens from all across Amarillo prayed for our son. They brought food, ran errands for us and made sure we had everything we might need. They sat with us as we waited to see what might happen, always knowing whatever might happen was in the hands of God.

During the next few weeks there were many people who helped raise money for Justin and his family. Many restaurants in town gave their proceeds in his name; then there was the race track that held races with the proceeds going to Justin’s family. People from all over town and the Panhandle area did so many different things from making donations in his name to bringing food for the entire family.

One particular story stands out in my mind. There was a homeless man who came to the police department and emptied his pocket of the change he had and gave it to the lady at the desk. He wanted to help in however way he could. He made one statement that really hit home. He stated that Justin stopped and checked on him everyday. It did not matter to Justin who you were or what you did, he served the citizens of Amarillo. Justin's famous statement "what can I do for YOU" was what he believed. Justin ultimately (11 months later) passed away from his injuries.

I believe this story represents and tells us more about Amarillo. It make me proud to consider myself to be a citizen and neighbor of our fine community. We, as citizens, come together when there is a need. Then we do what is needed without having to be told or prompted. The point I am trying to make here is just because we are sometimes on the opposite side of the political spectrum does not mean we cannot come together. Quite the opposite. It makes us stronger. We, as citizens, learn to listen to other viewpoints and live with the decisions of the people. There is not a thing in the world that can succeed when one side dominates its will on the other.

The key to our success as a community is learning to listen to every voice. Without the participation of all citizens our City is heading down a destructive path. We cannot continue to force the will of a few on the whole. I believe in government by the people for the people.

I believe we should work toward a charter change to single member districts with the mayor voted in at large. This way every segment of the city would have an equal voice — thus promoting a council that works for the entire city and the needs of particular neighborhoods.

I also believe for a city to have a great government we need the people to show up to vote. If you look at the history of Amarillo elections you will see most citizens show up to vote during the national election cycle. We should promote another charter change moving the city elections to the first Tuesday of November on even numbered years. By making these minor changes I believe we could create a city council that would be using the motto of Justin, “what can I do for you?”

I believe all our citizens love where we live, and love the friendly people that live here. Now is the time to look at a united City government for the people and by the will of the people.

Tom Scherlen is an Amarillo businessman and conservative political activist and volunteer.