Alex Fairly, chair of the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation (AEDC), has resigned from his post. His resignation comes at a pivotal time for the organization, which is undergoing a leadership transition and continuing efforts to rebuild public trust after a year of significant upheaval.
At the close of the meeting, Fairly informed the board of his decision to step down from his position, delivering the news personally and candidly.
“Today is going to be my last board meeting,” he said. “I’ve decided to step away, and I want to tell you guys first. I did run by Cole that I was headed this way, just to make sure he didn’t need any formal notice or anything like that—but he doesn’t know I’m doing this this morning. I really feel like I owe you guys the explanation first.”
Amarillo Mayor Cole Stanley confirmed that he spoke to Fairly prior to the resignation:
I knew he was leaning that direction, and we both really agreed, and felt like he had filled in and carried the water for a time when nobody else was willing to. He showed up, was willing to clean up the mess with me.I’m indebted to him, you know, and grateful for the willingness to get involved in what was a mess in a messy situation. I think with him pulling away at this time, it’s something that is up to him, and I support him in the direction that he feels led to go.
Fairly acknowledged that he had never intended his role on the board to be long-term and felt that now was the right time to move on.
“I kind of knew my time here would be temporary,” he said. “I’m at a point where I’m pruning some things in my life, just trying to manage how busy I am, and I think this is a good time to do this. I really appreciate you guys’ commitment and have a lot of respect for where this board is headed. I think it’s going to be really good.”
He went on to thank the staff, calling the experience an educational one, and said he felt the timing was right—either step away now or wait until the end of the year. Ultimately, he chose not to delay the decision.
Fairly's resignation has sparked renewed scrutiny over the direction of the AEDC, the influence of political donors on public boards, and the slow pace of progress at one of Amarillo’s most important economic institutions.
Leadership Uncertainty Continues
The AEDC, which plays a critical role in attracting and supporting businesses in the Amarillo area, has been without a permanent president and CEO since the departure of former leader Kevin Carter in 2023. Since then, Interim President and CEO Doug Nelson has been managing day-to-day operations. Nelson downplayed the impact of Fairly’s exit on the CEO search, noting that the board had not yet authorized the release of a formal Request for Proposals (RFP).
“His term was going to term out at the end of December this year, and he felt that he needed to go ahead and step away, that this time was better for him,” Nelson said.
“The board had not yet authorized the release of a request for proposal (RFP),” he added.
The prolonged delay in filling the AEDC’s top executive role has raised concerns among local business leaders and City Council members alike, especially amid reports that deal flow—new project leads and business prospects—has significantly declined.
A Sudden But Not Entirely Unexpected Departure
Fairly’s resignation was disclosed during Tuesday’s AEDC board meeting and confirmed in an internal email sent by City Manager Grayson Path to City Council members and the mayor, in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act. As of Tuesday, no formal resignation letter had been made public.
Board member Randy Burkett said Fairly spoke to fellow members near the close of the meeting, offering insight into his reasons for stepping away.
“He told us he didn’t really enjoy being on boards,” Burkett recalled. “He felt like he had done what he set out to do, but the structure of the Texas Open Meetings Act can make it frustrating. You can talk to one person, but not a second — and I think that held him back.”
Burkett, who was appointed to the board alongside Fairly in April, expressed disappointment at the resignation.
“I was stunned,” he said. “It’s a big loss — I don’t know who could replace him. Alex is one of the smartest guys I’ve ever met.”
Amarillo City Councilmember Don Tipps issued the following statement in response to Fairly’s resignation:
I am grateful for the time Mr. Fairly put into serving as the chairman of the EDC. He answered the Council’s call to step up even when he was reluctant to do so. I believe he took the helm when waters were rough and provided leadership and business sense to help right the ship. He developed good relationships with the staff at the EDC while helping onboard new members.I believe Mr. Fairly came in, took on a difficult task, and is exiting now that he has accomplished what was asked of him. He trusts the newly appointed board members, which I also appreciate. I am sure it surprises some that Mr. Fairly is resigning and not trying to serve another term, but I feel few truly know his heart for the city. Hopefully, some were able to see it in his serving as chairman. I pray the best for him in his future endeavors.
Amarillo City Councilmember Les Simpson addressed resignation of Fairly from the AEDC board.
“I think it is the right thing to do,” Simpson said. “I, for a long time, had concerns about combining economic development and politics. If you look at the founding documents of the EDC, it actually says that the EDC should stay away from politics. And there’s reason for that.”
Simpson expressed support for Fairly’s decision, calling it a step in the right direction.
“I think politics shouldn’t really factor into economic development, that’s why our AEDC is not directly part of the city,” he said. “It is separate from the city, but we work together with them, so I think this is something that is really beneficial for helping repair the AEDC and moving forward to restoring the AEDC to the effectiveness it had by removing such a strong political element from the organization.”
Simpson noted he had not been made aware of Fairly’s resignation in advance, and said he plans to request that Fairly provide an update to the council at an upcoming meeting.
“He’s been the board chairman for six months,” Simpson said. “He was formally put on the board back in April. And I think as we move forward, including looking at replacing this position, I think it is vitally important that the city council get an update from Mr. Fairly on where we are on economic development, what he’s learned, where we are on the search for the new executive director, because I think that information will help give us guidance on the next steps to take, as well as what type of person that we would want to be looking for to be on the AEDC.”
Despite recent turmoil, Simpson remains optimistic about the AEDC’s future.
“It is crucial that the AEDC board and the city council are all on the same page, because that’s not been the case for the last year, and we’re not going to be effective unless we have a unified approach to the message that we’re going to send not only to our future Executive Director, but to business and industry,” he said. “Business and industry is not going to be attracted to areas where there’s conflict and chaos, and it puts us at a disadvantage. It gives competitors a leg up when they can say, ‘Wait a minute, there are problems in Amarillo.’ And we’ve had problems for the last year because of the conversations that have gone on.”
Simpson emphasized the urgency of moving forward.
“The sooner that we can do that, the sooner I think we can help restore the mission and effectiveness of the ADC,” he said.
Political Donor Controversy Casts a Shadow
Fairly’s role on the AEDC board has drawn criticism from some city officials since the beginning, particularly due to his status as a major political donor in Amarillo’s municipal elections.
Councilmember David Prescott, a consistent critic of the board’s direction, said Fairly’s resignation was both necessary and overdue.
“I think it’s the right thing for the city,” Prescott said. “Any time large political donors are appointed to positions of power based on campaign contributions, that’s problematic.”
Fairly was one of the top donors to political action committees that supported the current City Council majority. His appointment and subsequent reappointment to the AEDC board were seen by some as politically motivated, especially after the board approved a controversial $750,000 allocation to a nonprofit organization with ties to city leadership.
“We went through a lot to put him in that position, and now he’s stepping away quickly,” Prescott said.
“From discussions with AEDC staff, our deal flow is near zero. We’ve got a lot of work to do to rebuild trust with businesses considering Amarillo.”
Prescott also criticized the lack of a formal application from Fairly prior to his original appointment.
“These roles shouldn’t be handed out based on who someone supports politically,” he said. “Applicants should be vetted and chosen for their qualifications, not connections.”
Focus Shifts to City Council
With Fairly’s resignation, attention turns back to the Amarillo City Council, which is tasked with naming his replacement. The process is expected to begin soon, though it remains unclear whether the Council will revisit applications from earlier this year or reopen the call for candidates.
“I’m not sure exactly what that process will be this time,” said Nelson. “They may take candidates that had applied to be on this board previously, or they may go out and ask for candidates to apply to be on the board.”
Whoever is chosen will step into a role at a time of great significance, as the AEDC faces pressure to prove its value to the community amid stagnant progress and public skepticism.
AEDC Business Continues
Despite the leadership shakeup, the board moved forward with business at Tuesday’s meeting, including the ratification of recipients for the Amarillo EnterPrize Challenge. The local initiative awards grants to small and mid-sized businesses aiming to expand operations or launch new ventures. A formal announcement of this year’s winners is expected next week.
The EnterPrize Challenge remains one of the AEDC’s most visible and well-regarded programs. However, with no permanent CEO, a newly assembled board, and rising political tension surrounding its governance, the AEDC’s ability to maintain momentum remains a question.
A Turning Point for Amarillo’s Economic Strategy
Fairly’s resignation highlights broader challenges facing the city as it seeks to redefine its approach to economic development.
With another seat now vacant and a key executive hire pending, the board’s next decisions will shape not just the future of the AEDC—but potentially Amarillo’s economic trajectory for years to come.
