During this week's Amarillo City Council meeting, the spotlight once again landed on the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) — specifically, whether the Council should move now to appoint permanent board members or wait until after the upcoming election. While some councilmembers argued for a delay, Mayor Cole Stanley took a clear-eyed, leadership-focused stance that should be applauded.
Let’s break this down with a little common sense.
The AEDC Needs a Permanent Board Now, Not in Six Months
As it stands, the AEDC is being run by a temporary board and an interim CEO. Chair Alex Fairly made it plain: the organization is in a holding pattern. A request for proposals (RFP) to search for a new President and CEO is ready to go but being held back — not because of incompetence or scandal, but because it’s simply not wise to move forward without a permanent board in place to help define the direction of the organization.
That’s not political. That’s just smart business.
Fairly emphasized the importance of a vision before launching into a nationwide search. And he’s right. Any competent executive search firm will need clarity on what kind of leader the AEDC is looking for. Do we want a CEO like those we’ve had in the past? Or is it time for a new approach? Those decisions can’t — and shouldn’t — be made by a board that’s temporary and potentially out the door.
Leadership Is Doing What’s Right — Even If It’s Not Politically Easy
Councilmember Les Simpson voiced concerns that moving forward now, ahead of the election, might rob voters of influence. That sounds nice, but let’s be honest: the Council was elected to lead now, not punt tough decisions down the road because the optics might be uncomfortable.
Mayor Stanley nailed it when he said: “I don’t really care what the optics look like. I want to do what’s best for the organization.” That’s what real leadership looks like. It’s not about reading the political winds; it’s about guiding the ship. And right now, the ship needs a captain and a crew — not more delay.
Let’s also clear something up: Fairly, who’s had access to recent credible polling, confirmed that the AEDC isn’t even a top-three election issue for voters. It may be a favorite topic for insiders and “chatterboxes,” but the general public is far more concerned with issues that directly affect their daily lives. Delaying progress on the AEDC to pander to election-season optics isn’t serving the people — it’s playing politics.
The Work Is Too Important to Stall
Applications for the AEDC board opened months ago — in November. Over 50 people expressed interest. Amarillo is rich in capable citizens willing to serve, and now we’re supposed to tell them: “Hold on, maybe next quarter”?
The longer we delay, the more Amarillo’s economic momentum risks stalling. The AEDC plays a vital role in attracting investment, supporting job creation, and shaping the city’s future. Time is money. Strategic business plans can’t be shelved every time there’s an election around the corner. As Stanley rightly pointed out, even if a new mayor is elected, they have the power to reshape the board later. That’s how the system works.
In Conclusion
It’s easy to talk about leadership during campaign season. It’s harder to practice leadership when it might come with criticism. But what Amarillo needs right now isn’t more discussion — it’s decision.
Mayor Stanley, with support from Chair Fairly, is charting a responsible course. Moving forward with appointing a permanent AEDC board on April 22 is the right move. Not just politically, but economically and strategically. Amarillo doesn’t need six more months of polite waiting. It needs action.
