Web Editor’s Note: This is a part of our series on the candidates for Amarillo mayor. For more information on the race, check out this recent article! Also, be sure to check out the other interviews at the end of this article!
1. Why did you decide to run for mayor?
I noticed Mayor McCart was not seeking re-election, and I felt I had the qualifications and the education to do the job of Mayor. I have experience with different government entities, worked for the city and understand the workings of the city. Friends suggested I seek election for Mayor.
2. What are your goals as mayor?
Like many of the other candidates, to bring jobs to Amarillo. This may require us bringing jobs back to the United States, namely here. I would like to see the city utilize more “Green” resources and procedures. There is a need for more law enforcement on the streets and this will take some time to investigate and find the optimum solution. I want to encourage neighborhoods to develop an association to address their neighborhood concerns, assist in law enforcement, and become active in the municipal government.
3. Why should people vote for you?
I believe in government by the people and a responsible government. Major expenditures not related to the infrastructure should be decided by the people. Infrastructure requiring an additional long term overall expense should receive serious considerations and possibly voter approval. After all, it is supposed to be our city and yes we do elect a commission to handle certain issues; still there are some issues that the voter needs to weigh in on.
4. Is there anything else you’d like to say?
Water is an issue we will need to keep on top of. Some are saying with the Pickens purchase we are set for 200 years; [Lake] Meredith was a project that was to assist in our water solution. In 200 years, yes, we will all be gone and it’ll be someone else’s problem; is that what we are suppose to do, slough it off on someone else to fix? Water is a Panhandle problem and we need to start now on addressing it so that we do not need to worry about in the future.
There is an issue that we are seeing in the school systems concerning the cuts from the federal government and the state government. The cuts coming from the federal and state level has yet to be fully realized on the local level and the incoming commission will have some serious decisions to make concerning those cuts and not raising taxes.
For more information on candidate Dunn, check out her campaign page on Facebook.
