Citing irreparable damage to Amarillo’s current economic development efforts by Amarillo Mayor Cole Stanley and several City Council members, four members of the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation submitted resignation letters today to the Amarillo City Council.
Copies of those letters (attached below) were provided to the Supporters of the AEDC, a group formed to support the AEDC’s initiatives.
Those submitting resignations were Chairman Andrew Hall, Vice Chairman Adrian Meander, Scott Bentley, and Helen Burton.
The letters noted that the AEDC pipeline of business and governmental economic development projects have all but dried up in light of Stanley’s questioning of AEDC spending, which included comprehensive audits that found no improprieties.
“I can no longer serve in good conscience amid a leadership environment that is eroding the very foundation of public service,” said Hall. He said the Mayor’s “overreach has created conditions that not only stifle genuine progress and growth but also undermine the spirit of public service, dissuading those who truly care about our community’s welfare from stepping forward to lead. We may never fully know the opportunities lost or the lasting impact of these decisions, but I fear the repercussions could be profound.”
Board member Bentley expressed similar concerns in his resignation letter.
“The immediate and long-term ramifications for the AEDC and its ability to accomplish its mission of promoting business expansion in the greater Amarillo area to build a stronger, more diversified economy has been damaged significantly,” Bentley said. “Economic development is a very competitive industry, and business prospects take note when there is dysfunction within the city.”
“This entire situation could have, and should have, been handled differently,” Supporters of the AEDC founding community member, Lloyd Brown, said. “The tone of the conversation has had a significant impact on the AEDC and stopped virtually every deal they had been working on.”
Added Brown: “Members of the AEDC board have been dragged through the mud over the past couple of months. Despite being yelled at in public and treated like children, they have remained civil and professional, working to address all the Council’s concerns in a timely manner.”
The AEDC has been on a historic run under the current board’s leadership. They’ve worked to expand the operations of long-time Amarillo businesses while attracting new and exciting industries, as well. In the past decade alone, AEDC has created over 7,000 new jobs.
“I can’t stress the negative impact of the past couple of months,” Brown added. “Those months have set our community back years, and it’s important that we educate our community on this as we work to identify our next steps.”
Anyone who would like to follow the education efforts of the Supporters of the AEDC is encouraged to visit supportersoftheaedc.com and sign up for the group’s newsletter alerts.
