Amarillo Mayor Ginger Nelson will face another opponent in her re-election bid in this May’s municipal elections.
Activist Kip Billups announced his candidacy for Amarillo’s mayoral seat in the upcoming municipal elections. Billups, founder of local charity Amarillo Brown Bag Runs, made headlines last year when he was arrested during a meeting of the Amarillo City Council after clapping. The case drew national headlines and sparked debate in Amarillo regarding the mayor’s authority as the meetings’ presiding officer.
In a video released immediately following his announcement, Billups said he decided to run after becoming frustrated with the performance of Nelson in office.
“I never had any desire to be a politician—I don’t particularly want to be a politician now—but I’m sick of what I’m seeing,” Billups said in a video released by his campaign. “I’m sick and tired of a mayor who doesn’t listen to us.”
Along with Billups, paralegal Claudette Smith has also announced a run for the seat. Former judge Richard Herman originally announced his intention to run for mayor as well, but he chose instead to run for an at-large seat on the city council.
