Texas Record
Amarillo
LS

Les Simpson

Place 4 Council Member2023-2027

About

Les Simpson's platform centers on conservative philosophies and addressing the fundamental needs of the city. As an incumbent, he emphasizes continuing the council's ongoing efforts to identify and respond to these essential city requirements.

Campaign promises (2)

  • platform
    Focus on conservative philosophies and addressing the city's core needs.
  • transparency
    Continue the council's work to identify and address city needs.

At a glance

News mentions
2

Term ending Dec 31, 2027.

Voice

Meetings spoken in
23
Total speaking time
2:38:07
Avg per meeting
6:52
Segments
2816

Want every word Simpson has said?

The OpenCity MCP for Claude.ai answers questions like “what has Simpson said about housing this year” with one prompt — full speaking history, with YouTube timestamps.

Top issues during term (20)

critical→Sep 2025[80]

Proposed 2026/2027 Fiscal Year Tax Rate

Maintains the tax rate at $0.43070 per $100 valuation, generating $2,063,963 in additional revenue driven largely by $1,295,675 in new property additions.

high↑Sep 2026[75]

City Manager Evaluation and Personnel Review

Direct financial impacts depend on executive contract terms discussed in confidence.

critical↓Oct 2025[65]

Hotel Market Study

The study provides data to guide future investment decisions in the district.

critical→Oct 2025[65]

Water Infrastructure and Drought Management

Potential future utility rate adjustments and capital bonding to fund hundreds of millions in necessary water and sewer projects.

high↓Jan 2026[49]

Departmental Operations and Updates

The vendor selection for BVB 416-26 directly impacts how PID assessment funds are spent.

critical↓Mar 2026[48]

Hospital District Budgeting

This budget will determine the allocation of district funds for the upcoming fiscal year.

critical↑May 2026[47]

Addressing Substandard Structures and Public Nuisances

Costs for city-ordered demolitions or cleanups may be assessed to property owners or placed as liens on properties.

critical→Aug 2025[46]

FY 2026-27 TIRZ #3 Annual Budget and Financial Oversight

Involves management and allocation of tax increment revenue for district projects and administrative operations.

critical↑Feb 2026[44]

Personnel Actions Review

The full request for 27 new positions is estimated at $2.4 million, but the city is currently managing overtime through existing budget savings.

high↓Jul 2025[40]

Airport Infrastructure Modernization

These projects represent significant capital investments in airport infrastructure.

critical↓Jun 2026[36]

Clearview AI Privacy Concerns

Ongoing operational costs for camera subscriptions and data management are absorbed within the police department budget.

high↑Sep 2026[35]

Amarillo City Transit Coordinated Plan

Will shape federal and state funding allocations for regional transportation infrastructure over the next two decades.

critical↑Mar 2026[33]

Utility Billing Accuracy

Potential financial impacts tied to water production demand and customer billing reviews.

high↑Sep 2026[30]

Sex Offender Residency Ordinance Review

No immediate fiscal impact was reported.

medium↓Oct 2025[29]

Alley Vacation

Your commute might take longer, costing you time and maybe a bit of gas.

high↓Oct 2025[29]

Board Meeting Streaming

Potential costs associated with setting up and maintaining streaming services for board meetings.

high↑Aug 2025[27]

property tax increase

Your wallet is going to feel a little lighter soon thanks to higher property taxes.

critical→Apr 2026[26]

Regional Transportation Priorities and 10-Year Plan

Determines the allocation of millions in state and federal transportation funding for regional projects.

critical↓Apr 2026[25]

Public Health District Funding

The funding model determines the budget available for all public health programs in the area.

high→Apr 2026[24]

Firefighters' Pension Fund Investments

Total fund market value stands at $275,459,326.84 with ongoing employer and employee contributions.

Moved or seconded (6)

Motions Simpson personally put forward or seconded. Attribution comes from the minutes; where the minutes name somebody we cannot match to the roster we leave it out rather than guess, so this is a floor, not a total.

  • movedpassed 4-02026-05-12

    Motion by Councilmember Simpson, seconded by Councilmember Reid, to approve the consent, agenda absent Agenda Item No. 4.15, as presented.

  • secondedpassed 4-02026-05-12

    Consideration of Resolution No. 05-12-26-3. This item is a first and recommended final reading of a resolution authorizing the application for the administration of a Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention (MVCPA) FY27 Catalytic Converter Theft Prevention Grant, authorizing

    Title matched to the agenda, not quoted from the motion

  • movedpassed 4-02026-05-12

    Consideration of Resolution No. 05-12-26-2. This item is the first reading to consider a resolution authorizing an application for the 2025 Edward Byrne Memorial Justics Assistance Grant, authorizing an Interlocal Agreement to share grant funds with Potter County,

    Title matched to the agenda, not quoted from the motion

  • secondedpassed 4-02026-05-12

    Consider Approval - First Amended and Restated Agreement to existing South Gateway Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone #3 developer agreement with Attebury Elevators, LLC and Rockrose Development, LLC. This agreement is related to infrastructure investment within the Zone. The amendment would also add H

    Title matched to the agenda, not quoted from the motion

  • movedpassed 4-02026-05-12

    Consideration of Resolution No. 05-12-26-4. This item is the first reading to consider a resolution approving the updated Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Plan for the City Plan, designating an EEO Officer, authorizing implementation and submission to the Federal

    Title matched to the agenda, not quoted from the motion

  • movedpassed 4-02026-05-12

    Consideration of Resolution No. 05-12-26-1. This item is the first reading to consider a resolution dissolving and abandoning the dedication of an unaccepted public alley to the City of Amarillo, conveying the right-of-way to adjacent property owners and dedicating a public

    Title matched to the agenda, not quoted from the motion

Decisions during term (482)

Recorded while Simpson was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.

Voting record (129)

124 yes5 no

Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.

Voted noSep 22, 2026

Adoption of Ordinance No. 8270 (FY 2026/2027 Budget)

Voted noSep 22, 2026

Adoption of Ordinance No. 8271 (2026 Ad Valorem Property Tax Rate)

Voted noSep 14, 2026

Set Tax Rate Ceiling at .4307

Voted yesAug 25, 2026

adopt Resolution No. 08-25-26-1 as presented.

Voted yesAug 25, 2026

approve Item 7.2 as presented.

Voted yesAug 25, 2026

approve the consent agenda as presented

Voted yesAug 25, 2026

approve Item 7.3 as presented

Voted yesAug 25, 2026

Approval of Consent Agenda

Voted yesAug 25, 2026

Adoption of Resolution No. 08-25-26-1 (TxDOT Advance Funding Agreement)

Voted yesAug 25, 2026

Police Department Capital Project Budget Transfer

Voted yesAug 25, 2026

Airport Capital Project Budget Transfer

Voted yesAug 11, 2026

adopt Ordinance No. 8256 as presented

Voted yesAug 11, 2026

adopt Resolution No. 08-11-26-1 as presented

Voted yesAug 11, 2026

adopt Ordinance No. 8254 as presented

Voted yesAug 11, 2026

adopt Ordinance No. 8257

Voted yesAug 11, 2026

to so moved

Voted yesAug 11, 2026

approve the Consent Agenda as presented

Voted yesAug 11, 2026

adopt Ordinance No. 8255 as presented

Voted yesAug 11, 2026

adopt Ordinance No. 8252 as presented

Voted yesAug 11, 2026

Motion by Councilmember Reid, seconded by Councilmember Tipps, to approve Item No. 7.9 as presented.

Voted yesAug 11, 2026

Motion by Councilmember Tipps, seconded by Councilmember Reid, to accept Item No. 7.8 as presented.

Voted yesAug 11, 2026

Approval of Consent Agenda

Voted yesAug 11, 2026

Adoption of Ordinance No. 8254 (Sunrise Park RV Park Rezoning)

Voted yesAug 11, 2026

Adoption of Ordinance No. 8255 (Downtown Campus Rezoning)

Voted yesAug 11, 2026

Adoption of Ordinance No. 8256 (Town Square Residential Rezoning)

Voted yesAug 11, 2026

Adoption of Ordinance No. 8257 (Coulter Acres Retail Rezoning)

Voted yesAug 11, 2026

Adoption of Ordinance No. 8252 (Batching Plant Specific Use Permit)

Voted yesAug 11, 2026

Adoption of Resolution No. 08-11-26-1 (CVB Hotel Occupancy Tax Budget)

Voted yesAug 11, 2026

Award of Aquatic Market Viability Study Agreement (Item 7.7)

Voted yesAug 11, 2026

Approval of Water Utilities Capital Project Budget Transfer (Item 7.8)

Voted yesAug 11, 2026

Approval of Municipal Court Capital Project Budget Transfer (Item 7.9)

Voted yesJul 28, 2026

Consent Agenda (Minus Item 6.8)

Voted yesJul 28, 2026

Ordinance No. 8252 (SUP 210 for Asphalt/Concrete Batching Plant)

Voted yesJul 28, 2026

Resolution No. 07-28-26-1 (2026-2027 CDBG & HOME Annual Action Plan)

Voted yesJul 28, 2026

Resolution No. 07-28-26-2 (Rock Ridge Public Improvement District)

Voted yesJul 28, 2026

Ordinance No. 8253 (On-Site Sewage Facilities Regulation)

Voted yesJul 28, 2026

Civic Center Capital Project Budget Transfers (Items 7.5 & 7.6)

Voted yesJul 28, 2026

AEDC Incentive Agreements Amendments (Items 7.7 & 7.8)

Voted yesJul 28, 2026

approve Item 7.8

Voted yesJul 28, 2026

to accept Resolution No. 07-28-26-1.

Voted yesJul 28, 2026

to approve Item 7.6.

Voted yesJul 28, 2026

to adopt Ordinance No. 8252 as presented.

Voted yesJul 28, 2026

to Adopt.

Voted yesJul 28, 2026

to approve Item 7.5 as presented.

Voted yesJul 28, 2026

approve the consent agenda as presented, minus Item No. 6.8

Voted yesJul 28, 2026

to accept Resolution No. 07-28-26-2.

Voted yesJul 28, 2026

to approve Item 7.7 as presented.

Voted yesJul 14, 2026

adopt Ordinance No. 8251.

Voted yesJul 14, 2026

approve the temporary landscape maintenance agreement as presented.

Voted yesJul 14, 2026

adopt Resolution No. 07-14-26-1.

In the news (2)