The Amarillo Pioneer Podcast with Thomas Warren

Hobert "Gunny" Brown Jr. is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, conservative activist, and candidate for Amarillo City Council, Place 1. Brown is seeking a seat on the Amarillo City Council this year after playing a major role in the defeat of Propositions A and B last November. In today's episode, Brown calls in to discuss his campaign, his priorities, and more. • For news for West Texas, the Texas Panh...

Jasmine Stodel is a California-based documentary filmmaker and the director of the critically acclaimed new film, Kid Candidate, which follows the 2019 campaign of Amarillo City Council hopeful Hayden Pedigo. Stodel's brand new film shows Pedigo's bid to unseat Elaine Hays, from his viral comedy videos launching his campaign to his eventual second place finish in the four-person City Council race....

Jason Tillery is a veteran of the U.S. Navy and a candidate for Amarillo City Council, Place 1. A political newcomer, Tillery is set to face Cole Stanley and Hobert Brown in the race to replace outgoing Councilwoman Elaine Hays. In today's episode, Tillery calls in to discuss his campaign, his platform, and why he decided to run for office this year. We also discuss controversial issues such as tr...

Cole Stanley is an Amarillo construction company owner and candidate for Amarillo City Council, Place 1. A political newcomer, Stanley is facing two opponents in his quest to claim the open seat currently held by retiring incumbent Elaine Hays. In today's episode, Stanley calls in to discuss his background and his vision for Amarillo. We also discuss proposals for a no-kill shelter in Amarillo, tr...

Michael Hunt is a candidate for Amarillo Mayor, retired educator, and the owner of Michael's BBQ Shack Catering Company. Prior to launching his own company, Hunt served as a program coordinator for Amarillo Independent School District and as a GED teacher with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Hunt is a first-time political candidate, but is no stranger to the world of campaigns, having pl...

Tom Scherlen is an Amarillo business leader running for Amarillo City Council, Place 3 in the upcoming May 1 municipal election. Scherlen is a first time political candidate, but is no stranger to leadership, formerly serving as Chief Executive Officer of Austin Hose, a local employer in Amarillo with locations across Texas and Kansas. Scherlen also serves on the board for the 100 Club of the Texa...

Cody Jones is a law enforcement officer and the incumbent Place 2 Commissioner on the Canyon City Commission. First elected in 2017, Jones has announced his plans to seek a third term in office representing voters in Canyon in the May 1 election. In today's podcast, Jones sits down with us to discuss his plans for this election cycle, what he intends to accomplish during his third term, and how hi...

Joe West is a candidate for Amarillo City Council, Place 2. West, an administrative assistant at Amarillo College, is facing incumbent Freda Powell and challenger Jason Foglesong in the May 1 election for the seat. In today's episode, West calls in to discuss why he decided to run for City Council this year, his position on key issues like single-member districts and moving election dates, and mor...

In May 2021, Amarillo voters will elect a new mayor and four members to the City Council. But how will those races look? Five months out from the May 1st election day, we sit down with columnist Noah Dawson to walk through these races and preview the candidates who have stepped up to run so far. Plus, we consider how these races might change even more as the filing period to run for office approac...

It's November 5th, two days after Election Day in America. Of course, the world is still captivated by the presidential race, but what happened in Texas? We discuss the results across the Lone Star State, the Texas Republican Party's strong performance, key congressional races and more. We also discuss the failure of Amarillo Propositions A and B and how it could shake up the May 2021 Amarillo may...

Ryan Brown is an Amarillo attorney and the Democratic nominee for Potter County Attorney. In today's episode, Ryan calls in to discuss his campaign against incumbent Scott Brumley, reforms he believes are needed at Potter County, why he is the best candidate for the job, and more. • Today's episode is sponsored by Save Amarillo, asking you to vote AGAINST Propositions A, B, and C in the Amari...

In today's podcast, we welcome Randall County Constable Chris Johnson and Potter County Constables Darryl Wertz, Georgia Estrada, and Idella Thomas-Jackson to the show to talk about their service in their counties, what constables do, and more. We also discuss Estrada and Jackson's re-election bids, controversies surrounding the constable elections this year, and more. • Today's episode is sponsor...

Amy Clark Meachum is the Presiding Judge of the 201st District Court and the Democratic Party's nominee for Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court in 2020. In today's episode, Meachum calls in to discuss her career in law, her campaign for the Chief Justice position, why she believes she is the best candidate for the job this year, and more. • Today's episode is sponsored by Save Amarillo, askin...

J. Brett Busby is the Place 8 Justice on the Texas Supreme Court. A seventh-generation Texan, Busby grew up in Amarillo and Austin. Busby was appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott to the state's highest civil court in 2019 to replace Justice Phil Johnson, and is running for his first full term on the Supreme Court this November. In today's episode, Busby calls in to discuss his experience on the Texas Sup...

Mark Ash is a Houston-area attorney and the Libertarian nominee for Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court in the 2020 general election. Ash is a longtime Libertarian, who is perhaps best known for his 2018 bid for a seat on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, in which he won over 1.6 million votes as the Libertarian nominee, setting a record for a non-presidential Libertarian candidate in Texa...

Gus Trujillo is an Amarillo office manager and the Democratic nominee for U.S. Congress in Texas' 13th Congressional District. In today's episode, Gus joins the podcast to update our listeners on what has changed in the campaign since the July runoff. We also discuss election trends this year, how COVID-19 is changing the election, and more. Early voting begins October 13 and Election Day is Novem...

The Amarillo Pioneer Publisher's Committee is out with its endorsements for the 2020 general election, which includes a recommendation to vote AGAINST Propositions A, B, and C in Amarillo and an endorsement of Stephen Sanders for Mayor in Lubbock. In today's update, Thomas Warren walks our listeners through the endorsements and what matters on the ballot this year. || Stephen Sanders: https://www....

Whitney Bilyeu is the chairwoman of the Texas Libertarian Party (LP Texas) and the Libertarian nominee for Texas State Board of Education District 6. In today's episode, Whitney calls in to discuss her background with the LP, how the party is adapting to the changes of the 2020 election cycle, and why voters should consider backing the Libertarian ticket in 2020. Early voting begins October 13 and...

Jerri Glover is an Amarillo realtor, community activist, and President of the Panhandle Democrats Club (formerly the Potter-Randall Democratic Club), a group of Democrats from across the area. In today's episode, Jerri makes the case for Democrats running for office in the Panhandle and across Texas and makes her pitch to voters as to why they should consider backing the Democratic ticket in 2020....

Dan Rogers is the chairman of the Potter County Republican Party. An Amarillo businessman, Dan was appointed to lead the Republican Party in Potter County following Bill Bandy's departure from the position in 2018 and won his first full term to the job in March 2020. Dan led the party through the 2018 midterm elections, which saw Republican Ted Cruz claim 68 percent of the vote in Potter County, a...

Jane Jackson is the wife of Dr. Ronny Jackson, the Republican nominee for Congress in Texas' 13th Congressional District. In today's episode, Jane calls in to discuss her experiences on Ronny Jackson's campaign, from the start of his campaign through the general election. Jane also discusses her phone call with President Trump following Ronny Jackson's primary runoff victory, why she believes vote...

Jack B. Westbrook is the Libertarian Party's nominee for U.S. House District 13 in Texas, set to face Dr. Ronny Jackson and Gus Trujillo in the November general election. A former State Senate and Amarillo College Board of Regents candidate, Jack has become a well-known Libertarian activist in Amarillo over the past several years. In today's episode, Jack calls in to discuss his campaign for Congr...

Brian Carroll is the American Solidarity Party's nominee for President of the United States in 2020 and will be a write-in candidate on Texas' presidential ballot this November. In today's episode, Brian details his positions on the issues and explains why he feels the American Solidarity Party provides the best platform for American voters looking for another option. Early voting begins October 1...

Tony Gonzales is the Republican nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives in Texas' 23rd Congressional District to replace the retiring U.S. Rep. Will Hurd (R-Helotes). In today's episode, Tony calls in to discuss his background, his positions on the minds of Texas voters, and more. Early voting begins October 13 and Election Day is November 3. • Today's episode is sponsored by Save Amarillo,...

Tom Watson is an Abilene attorney and Vietnam War veteran who is the Democratic nominee for Congress in Texas' 19th Congressional District running to unseat Republican U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-Lubbock). In today's episode, Tom calls in to discuss his positions on the issues and why he decided to run for Congress this year. In this week's conversation, we cover topics such as COVID-19, immigrat...