The City of Amarillo’s Mayor and Council Members represent the residents and help cast the city’s vision. Meetings are held regularly, and residents are encouraged to participate.

council meetings & agendas

Discover information about past and upcoming Amarillo City Council meetings, agendas, and minutes. 

Amarillo City Council – Rolling Agenda Planner

The City of Amarillo will post its Rolling Agenda Planner each time an agenda is posted for a Regular Meeting of Amarillo City Council. Please follow the link below to get a look at the items staff anticipates will come before the City Council at upcoming meetings:

City Council Agenda Planner posted November 25, 2024

more about amarillo's City Council

Cole Stanley – Mayor

Term of Office: 2023-2025
Email: cole.stanley@amarillo.gov
Phone: (806) 584-6175

Cole Stanley was born and raised in Amarillo and has been in business as a residential and commercial builder since 1999. Cole and his family attend church at Messiah’s House.

Cole has a heart for mentoring business owners. He has dedicated his life to encouraging and fostering small businesses through mentoring and has helped start almost 30 small businesses in Amarillo, nearly all of whom are still operating today. Above all else, he believes that access to opportunity should be across Amarillo and not limited by education, status, or zip code.

Cole and his wife Shiloh have been married for 23 years and have two beautiful daughters, Avery and Addison. Avery owns a small business in Canyon, TX and Addison is a freshman at Dallas Baptist University. 

Cole served as Councilmember, Place 1 from 2021 – 2023, prior to taking the office of Mayor.

Josh Craft – Councilmember, Place 1

Term of Office: 2023-2025
Email: josh.craft@amarillo.gov
Phone: (806) 340-9740

Josh Craft graduated Amarillo High School in 2013 and attended Amarillo College. He found his calling in 2015 and joined the Randall County Fire Department as a firefighter. In 2019, Josh promoted to the rank of lieutenant. He offers logical, deliberate, and extensive decision-making capabilities that affect life or death daily. He also demonstrates a true servant leadership style by putting others before self. He graduated from the Texas Fire Chiefs Academy in 2024.

Outside of firefighting, Josh is an instructor at Amarillo College Regional Fire Academy. In 2020, he created his own small business, Amarillo Fence Stain Unlimited. 

Josh and his wife Ashley have been together for 10 years and have two precious children. Josh is a member of Trinity Fellowship Church.

Honesty, integrity, faith, family, and freedom define Josh’s core values. His compassion for the citizens he serves is steadfast. He has no agenda other than to serve his community to his fullest extent.

Don Tipps – Councilmember, Place 2

Term of Office: 2023-2025
Email: don.tipps@amarillo.gov
Phone: (806) 340-9740

Don Tipps is a dedicated and passionate member of the Amarillo City Council, working to make our community a better place to live, work and thrive. Born and raised in Amarillo, Don has deep roots in Amarillo and an understanding of its unique needs and challenges.

Don’s journey in education began at Amarillo College, where he laid the foundation for his academic pursuits.  He later completed his business administration degree at West Texas A&M University, equipping him with the knowledge and skill necessary for success in the business world.  In 2000, Don took a significant leap and started his own insurance agency, demonstrating his entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to serving the community.  Throughout his career, he has been dedicated to providing quality insurance services and building relationships with his clients.

Don’s personal life is anchored by his marriage to his wife, Kristi, and together, they have been blessed with six adult children.  Family has always been a cornerstone for Don, and he understands the importance of fostering a safe, nurturing environment for future generations.

In 2019, Don and his wife embarked on a new venture by staring their own property investment company.  This endeavor further showcases his innovative thinking and determination to contribute to the economic growth and stability of our city.

Don’s character is defined by his unwavering integrity, which guides his actions both personally and professionally.  As a member and leader of Trinity Fellowship church since 1989, he has demonstrated his commitment to faith and service, fostering a sense of community and compassion among its members.

As a city council member, Don brings experience, business acumen, and a genuine love for our city to the table.  His dedication to improving the lives of our residents and his ability to tackle challenges head-on make him an asset to our city. His goal is to guide our city to a bright and prosperous future.

Tom Scherlen – Councilmember, Place 3

Term of Office: 2023-2025
Email: tom.scherlen@amarillo.gov
Phone: (806) 670-6104

Tom Scherlen is an Amarillo business leader, community servant, and graduate of Frank Phillips College and West Texas A&M University. Tom spent nearly four decades as a businessman, including time as the chief executive officer of Austin Hose.

Tom currently serves as President of the Amarillo Senior Citizens Association and as a member of AMBUCS. In the past, he served as a member of the 100 Club of the Texas Panhandle. Tom volunteers with numerous organizations in the community.

Les Simpson – Councilmember, Place 4

Term of Office: 2023-2025
Email: les.simpson@amarillo.gov
Phone: (806) 681-9452

Les Simpson was elected to serve on the Amarillo City Council in June 2023. He’s been a resident of Amarillo since 2002.

Les was publisher of the Amarillo Globe-News from 2002-2018. After leaving the newspaper, he started his own business, The Entrepreneur’s Source. He helps clients explore business ownership as a possibility to reach their goals and has worked with many clients who have started their own businesses in Amarillo and across the country.

He has served in a variety of community roles, including co-chairing the United Way fundraising campaign and serving on the board of directors of the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce, the West Texas A&M University Foundation, the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, the Amarillo Club and other community organizations.

He was the founding board president of Downtown Amarillo Inc. and a member of the City of Amarillo Local Government Corporation, which oversaw the development of several downtown catalyst projects, including Hodgetown, home of the AA affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Les is married to Denise, a pharmacist. They are members of First Baptist Church. Their family includes daughter Faith, her husband Taylor and their son Miller; daughter Meredith and a mini-Australian Shepherd, Murphy.

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