Incumbent Councilman Place 4 Howard Smith did not receive a single vote in the May 6th election. His name was not on the ballot. He wasn't even a write-in candidate. Still, when Cole Stanley, Don Tipps, and Tom Scherlen start their terms in office, they will be joined by the three-term councilman.

So, without even running for office, how is it that Howard Smith is set to outlast Ginger Nelson, Freda Powell, and Eddy Sauer in office?

According to the Amarillo City Charter, an elected official in Amarillo must receive a majority of votes to be elected. While Stanley, Tipps, and Scherlen all easily met this criteria, no candidate running for City Council Place 1 or Place 4 attained the magic number of votes to be elected. Because of this, both races are headed to runoffs. Additionally, a member of the council's term does not end until their successor's term begins. Since there won't be a newly elected Place 4 councilmember when winning candidates are sworn in on May 16th, Howard Smith will remain in office.

Smith has typically been a loyal supporter of Ginger Nelson and had publicly endorsed Freda Powell’s mayoral campaign, though he earned some applause from supporters of Cole Stanley when he voted in favor of a motion to table an agenda item regarding accusations brought by Nelson against Stanley. Stanley’s supporters characterized the item as a “witch hunt” and “kangaroo court,” with many expressing measured respect for Howard Smith’s vote to table the item.

He won't stay in the position for long though, as the runoff election is scheduled for June 24th. Shortly after that election, either Les Simpson or Claudette Smith, the two contenders in the runoff, will be sworn in.

While Howard Smith will continue in Place 4, there will not be an incumbent left in Place 1, as current Place 1 Councilman Cole Stanley will become Mayor of Amarillo on May 16th. Stanley will not be able to hold both offices at once, so a vacancy will form in the Place 1 seat.