New Mayor, Council Members Take Oath

Before a packed gallery this afternoon, Cole Stanley (Mayor), Tom Scherlen (Place 3) and Don Tipps (Place 2) took the Oath of Office to serve as mayor and city council members for the next two years.

Outgoing Mayor, Ginger Nelson battled emotions as she offered her thoughts of the past 6 years. She likened her tenure to that of her father’s 1959 Corvette, a car he would let his daughter and her future husband, Kevin, take out now and then in high school. Nelson noted how clean and beautiful it was, adding that Amarillo is much the same. She shared how our city is the focus of the nation with the growth we are experiencing, new business and new people.

Ginger Nelson battles emotions in final moments as mayor

Choking back tears, Nelson quoted Romans 12:10 as her final words from the mayor’s chair: “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”

The gallery stands and applauds the outgoing mayor and council members

Once the new members were seated at the dais, Mayor Stanley’s first order was to ask the audience to “respectfully” stand and applaud former mayor Nelson, Eddie Sauer, and Frida Powell for their service.

Former mayor Trent Sisemore, gave the benediction before Mayor Stanley gaveled the afternoon’s event adjourned.