This year, we asked our readers to name the person who has had the greatest impact on our city over the past year. From a pool of reader-submitted nominations, 21 finalists were selected to advance to the final vote. And from that group of businesspeople, politicians, activists, entertainers, journalists, judges, and athletes, you produced the closest vote in the history of the Pioneer of the Year Award. Due to such a close vote, we are recognizing the two candidates who you selected as the leading contenders for Pioneer of the Year for honors this year.
The 2023 Amarillo Pioneer of the Year Award is given to Alex Fairly and Joanne Garcia Flores.
From left: Alex Fairly and Joanne Garcia Flores/Photos by Fairly Group and Joanne Garcia Flores Campaign
Alex Fairly
There isn’t much to say about Alex Fairly that hasn’t already been said in countless other news stories. Fairly, a local businessman was thrust into the spotlight this year when he filed a lawsuit against the City of Amarillo over its illegal actions in pursuit of financing a taxpayer-funded rebuild of the Amarillo Civic Center Complex without voter approval.
While several people – including failed political candidates – have filed unsuccessful lawsuits against the City of Amarillo in the past, Fairly’s lawsuit this year had legs to stand on. Fairly’s lawsuit eventually uncovered several actions by City Councilmembers and City of Amarillo staffers that likely violated portions of the Texas Open Meetings Act and that misused the tax anticipation notes financing mechanism. Judge William Sowder declared the debt issuance invalid and handed Fairly’s legal team the victory at the conclusion of the trial. Fairly’s lawsuit saved Amarillo taxpayers millions of dollars and has attracted the attention of lawmakers interested in cracking down on the use of tax anticipation notes during the upcoming legislative session.
Since Fairly’s legal activities have concluded, calls have continued to grow for the businessman to run for mayor. While he has not said what his plans will be for the upcoming election, incumbent Mayor Ginger Nelson’s allies – including Amarillo Matters PAC – have already been attacking Fairly. This should be a good sign of the level of threat with which the political establishment views a potential Fairly candidacy. Fairly is not beholden to Amarillo’s traditional political network, and that is precisely what makes him such a dangerous enemy of the establishment, but also a friend of Amarillo taxpayers.
It's no wonder why our readers selected Alex Fairly as one of the top candidates for Pioneer of the Year.
Joanne Garcia Flores
While Randall County Justice of the Peace-elect Joanne Garcia Flores’ headlines mostly came at the beginning and middle of the year, those who paid attention to the 2022 Republican primary election know exactly why she is one of the top choices for Pioneer of the Year this year.
When the Republican primary elections began earlier this year, Garcia Flores filed in relative obscurity for a job that would be buried way down ballot. However, Garcia Flores, a former appointed justice of the peace, made her case that of the three candidates running to replace Judge Clay Houdashell, she was the most qualified person to serve Randall County residents. Garcia Flores quickly turned the race into one of the most interesting to watch in the Panhandle.
On the day of the Republican primary, Garcia Flores finished second behind Kyle Balke, and edged Michael Grady out of the runoff. Despite finishing in second place and several points behind Balke, Garcia Flores worked harder than arguably any other candidate on the May runoff ballot in Amarillo. In the end, she edged out Balke, and claimed victory for the vacant seat, punching her ticket to the Randall County Courthouse for the next four years.
Garcia Flores’ hard work and come-from-behind victory made it unsurprising that our readers named her as one of the leading choices for Amarillo Pioneer of the Year this year.
Runner-Ups
Alex Yarbrough, 7th Court of the Appeals Justice
After missing his spot in the runoff to replace Judge Dan Schaap earlier this year, Alex Yarbrough quickly became the grassroots favorite for appointment to the 7th Court of Appeals to replace Justice Pat Pirtle. Yarbrough was selected by Republican delegates to be the party’s nominee for Pirtle’s seat at a summer caucus in Plainview, edging out Lubbock Judge Ann-Marie Carruth. Yarbrough was appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott to Pirtle’s seat shortly after and was elected unopposed in November.
David and Beverly Bailey, founders of Conservative Patriots for Texas
David and Beverly Bailey brought Julie McCarty’s True Texas Project to the Panhandle last year and announced in 2022 that they were breaking off to form their own organization, specifically focused on Panhandle advocacy. This group, Conservative Patriots for Texas, has already brought big-name conservative speakers to Amarillo and has provided outlets for advocacy for concerned voters, making it one of the most exciting new political groups in the area.
Other nominees included:
Ed Begley, Jr., Actor
Paul Blake, Canyon ISD Board of Trustees, Place 1
Tam Boatler, Commissioner-Elect, Randall County Commissioner Precinct 4
Kathleen Brown, Democratic Nominee for US House, District 13
Leandro Cedeno, Amarillo Sod Poodles Player
Steven Denny, Judge-Elect, 320th District Court
Jerry Hodge, Former Mayor and Author
Ronny Jackson, Congressman
Dan Rogers, Chairman of the Potter County Republican Party
Tom Scherlen, Local Political Leader
Howard Smith, Amarillo City Councilman
Kevin Sparks, State Senator-Elect
Cole Stanley, Amarillo City Councilman
Laura Storrs, Assistant City Manager and Chief Financial Officer for the City of Amarillo
Robert Taylor, Potter County Justice of the Peace Precinct 2
Chuck Williams, reporter
Mike Yazbek, Vice Chairman of the Potter County Republican Party