Big news today for those of us in Yellow City. I doubt it's something many of us thought we'd see when we woke up this morning. Mayor Ginger Nelson made a big announcement earlier today.

Mayor Nelson will not be seeking another term as Amarillo's mayor.

Why Is Mayor Nelson Not Running For Reelection?

Your guess is as good as mine at this point.

That information wasn't a part of her announcement. Mayor Nelson didn't go into any details, really, regarding what made her reach this decision.

What we did get was a nice message about all that the city has accomplished, how much it has grown, and how bright the future is.

We even got a long list of those accomplishments.

What Are Those Amarillo Accomplishments?

Of course there's Hodgetown and the Sod Poodles. There's the Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine, programs for those who are experiencing homelessness, the broadband program...the list she posted along with the announcement has a lot on it.

You can see it below.

By my count, that's about seven pages worth.

Personally, I enjoy the fact that the strings of lights on Polk are included. Honestly, they really tie the place together, no pun intended. Polk definitely has it's own vibe going.

The list even includes the new multi-modal bus station, Thompson Park Pool, and the neighborhood plans.

The thing listed that stood out the most to me was the Covid response. Agree, disagree, or indifferent doesn't matter at this very moment. That's a discussion for another day. It did make me think how thankful I am I wasn't in a leadership position in 2020.

It couldn't have been easy. Being a "normal-Joe" was hard enough.

What Happens Next?

In Mayor Nelson's announcement, she mentions her personal hope that making this announcement at this time will give Amarillo the best opportunity to select our next mayor.

It's going to be very interesting to see who emerges as our choices.

LOOK: How Much Soncy Road Has Changed Over the Years!

Amarillo has grown. A lot. But sometimes it's easy to forget just how much things have changed in a short period of time.

Take a look at all the new places and buildings that have popped up along Soncy Street over the years!

The Barfield Hotel: At The Heart of Historic Route 66 and Polk Street

The Barfield Hotel was built into a historic building in Downtown Amarillo that shows some of the charm of the Panhandle while remembering the days of speakeasies and prohibition

Downtown Amarillo Over The Years

Downtown Amarillo has seen an incredible metamorphosis. Take a look at the photos below to see just how much it's changed--you won't believe the difference.

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