During Tuesday’s regular meeting of the city of Amarillo’s city council, Amarillo Mayor Ginger Nelson was officially sworn in for another term, coming after candidate Claudette Smith challenged the race through recount proceedings after the results of the May 1 election.
According to previous reports by the Amarillo Globe-News, Nelson, along with Place One Council member Cole Stanley, Place Two Council member Freda Powell, Place Three Council member Eddy Sauer and Place Four Council member Howard Smith were all elected to their respective positions May 1.
However after the results came out, mayoral candidate Claudette Smith requested a recount for the mayor’s race. Because of the proceedings, it delayed the official canvassing and the swearing in of Nelson for this term as Mayor, something Nelson spoke about during the council meeting.
City of Amarillo officials expressed excitement regarding the change in conversation surrounding the home of the American Quarter Horse Association after the council approved an action item concerning the association on Tuesday.
“We are going to celebrate today as we change the phrase…’please stay AQHA’ to ‘hooray AQHA,’” Mayor Ginger Nelson said during a Tuesday afternoon news conference. “Amarillo is proud to be your home.”
During Tuesday’s meeting, the Amarillo City Council approved a location incentive agreement from the Amarillo Economic Development Corp. to keep the home of the AQHA in Amarillo for 10 years after there were conversations that the association was moving to Fort Worth.