2008 Woodie Awards
Williams to run for City Commission; decision will impact board of regents
Rachel Nelson
Issue date: 2/22/07 Section: Front Page
- Page 1 of 1
Board of regents member Prenis Williams will run for Place 2 on the City Commission. If elected, he will resign his position with the board because, according to Texas law, he cannot serve on more than one governmental body in the same taxing entity at a time.
Williams' two-year appointment would expire in 2008 but will be cut short if he is successful in the election.
According to Williams, running for the City Commission was his strategy all along.
"I accepted the appointment to the board of regents with the condition and understanding that I would probably run for City Commission if a position came open," Williams said.
"The regents understood that, and the college understood that as well."
The board of regents was a preparatory stage for Williams.
"It's been positive, for sure. It's prepared me, in a very short period of time, of course. Having served on several other commissions and boards in the past, I kind of knew what to expect," Williams said.
"Serving on the board has been a preparatory stage. I've probably attended about a dozen meetings."
Williams has served on the KACV-TV advisory board, the Athletic Study Committee and the AC Foundation board.
Williams was appointed to a two-year regents term after board member Lisa Cherry lost her fight with breast cancer in April 2006.
"I consider myself a community activist; all the things I do are geared to giving back," Williams said. "The City Commission just seems like a helpful place for me to make a difference."
If elected to the City Commission, budget amendments and approval of appointments to the staff would be a couple of issues Williams would deal with. He compared the position to the board of regents, saying, "They are very, very similar."
Thoughts on who would take Williams' place if he is successful in his quest for the City Commission are unsure.
"Obviously it's in the back of our minds, but we're not going to do anything until the race is run and we know for sure what the outcome is," said board President Lilia Escajeda.
Escajeda praised Williams' time on the board up to this point.
"He's brought some things to the board that we didn't have before. He's represented a community that we certainly want to keep in mind, and that is our African-American community," she said.
"But he serves all the citizens of Amarillo. Everyone knows Prenis, and he's been a very good addition to our board."
A news conference concerning the matter is scheduled for 4 p.m. Feb. 28 at City Hall.
No matter what the outcome, Escajeda promised that the board of regents will do what is best for AC.
"I think that we have a strong board of regents, and we certainly conduct business," she said.
"We do want to have a full slate of regents, but we will take our time and do things in a very orderly way and be sure that we do the best for the college and the students of Amarillo College."
Williams' two-year appointment would expire in 2008 but will be cut short if he is successful in the election.
According to Williams, running for the City Commission was his strategy all along.
"I accepted the appointment to the board of regents with the condition and understanding that I would probably run for City Commission if a position came open," Williams said.
"The regents understood that, and the college understood that as well."
The board of regents was a preparatory stage for Williams.
"It's been positive, for sure. It's prepared me, in a very short period of time, of course. Having served on several other commissions and boards in the past, I kind of knew what to expect," Williams said.
"Serving on the board has been a preparatory stage. I've probably attended about a dozen meetings."
Williams has served on the KACV-TV advisory board, the Athletic Study Committee and the AC Foundation board.
Williams was appointed to a two-year regents term after board member Lisa Cherry lost her fight with breast cancer in April 2006.
"I consider myself a community activist; all the things I do are geared to giving back," Williams said. "The City Commission just seems like a helpful place for me to make a difference."
If elected to the City Commission, budget amendments and approval of appointments to the staff would be a couple of issues Williams would deal with. He compared the position to the board of regents, saying, "They are very, very similar."
Thoughts on who would take Williams' place if he is successful in his quest for the City Commission are unsure.
"Obviously it's in the back of our minds, but we're not going to do anything until the race is run and we know for sure what the outcome is," said board President Lilia Escajeda.
Escajeda praised Williams' time on the board up to this point.
"He's brought some things to the board that we didn't have before. He's represented a community that we certainly want to keep in mind, and that is our African-American community," she said.
"But he serves all the citizens of Amarillo. Everyone knows Prenis, and he's been a very good addition to our board."
A news conference concerning the matter is scheduled for 4 p.m. Feb. 28 at City Hall.
No matter what the outcome, Escajeda promised that the board of regents will do what is best for AC.
"I think that we have a strong board of regents, and we certainly conduct business," she said.
"We do want to have a full slate of regents, but we will take our time and do things in a very orderly way and be sure that we do the best for the college and the students of Amarillo College."
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