Amarillo voters overwhelmingly chose to return Les Simpson to the City Council for a second term, reelecting him to the Place 4 seat with a commanding 68.9% of the vote in Saturday’s municipal election. The unofficial results, released by election officials late Saturday evening, reflect a decisive victory over Simpson’s closest challenger, Leif Kertis, who received just 20% of the vote. Two other candidates shared the remaining vote total.
Simpson’s wide margin of victory indicates strong public support for his leadership and vision for the city, particularly his campaign platform centered on restoring focus to core city services and reducing political turbulence that he said had disrupted council productivity over the past year.
Simpson, who was first elected in 2023, has positioned himself as a steady, pragmatic voice on the council. He has frequently highlighted the need to prioritize basic services such as road maintenance, water infrastructure, and public safety. Leading up to the election, he expressed a desire to shift the council’s energy away from divisive issues and back toward what he described as “getting the job done” for Amarillo residents.
The tone of his reelection campaign suggested a return to a more predictable and businesslike approach to governance. He campaigned on the idea that many residents are tired of political drama and are eager to see local government focus on practical matters—especially in areas like public safety, employee retention, and street repair.
While the fire department has seen improved staffing in recent months, Simpson has pointed to the police department as an area in need of renewed attention. With a significant number of vacancies still unfilled, he has advocated for reviewing police compensation and working conditions to ensure that Amarillo remains competitive in attracting qualified law enforcement professionals.
In addition to public safety, Simpson has emphasized infrastructure needs—an ongoing concern for many Amarillo residents. From potholes to drainage systems, infrastructure issues have consistently ranked high in community surveys, and Simpson has pledged to make them a central focus during his next two years in office.
Saturday’s election drew a modest turnout, typical for a local election not held during a presidential or midterm year. Still, the results reflected clear preferences among those who did cast ballots. Simpson's dominant performance suggests that his message resonated with voters who are looking for stability and incremental progress at the city level.
Leif Kertis, a local business owner, ran a campaign focused on increasing transparency and community engagement. Although he received just a fifth of the vote, his platform attracted a small but vocal group of supporters who have expressed concerns about local government responsiveness and inclusiveness.
With the election behind him, Simpson is expected to return to council duties with a reinforced mandate. He has signaled that he will use his second term to continue focusing on policy rather than politics, advocating for fiscally responsible governance and long-term planning.
The final vote totals will not be certified until the official canvassing process is completed on May 13. Until then, results remain unofficial, but the margin of Simpson’s win leaves little doubt about the outcome.
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