The Amarillo League of Women Voters hosted a nonpartisan candidate forum Thursday evening for local races in the Amarillo area including state races and county races.
At the forum, a vast range of races were highlighted, with candidates all being given the same question to answer. Starting out the forum were the candidates for Texas House Districts 86 and 87. Jamie Haynes and Richard Beyea were absent from the forum, with Haynes scheduled to do a solo forum at Trinity Fellowship Church this coming Sunday with no other candidates.
District 87 candidates in attendance were Cindy Bulla, Caroline Fairly, and Jessie Quakenbush, sitting with current 86th District Representative John Smithee. The opening question referenced the most pressing issue for the Texas Panhandle. Bulla emphasized that Texas border security was the most pressing issue for the area. Going along with Bulla, Fairly also said that the border was the top issue for the Texas Panhandle. She said that Gov. Greg Abbott’s busing of migrants to other cities is bringing that issue to blue cities across the nation.