· Context
Council orders a vote on a citizen-initiated abortion ordinance as Proposition A, 4-1
At the same meeting the council adopted Resolution 08-13-24-2, ordering a special election on a citizen-initiated ordinance titled "Ordinance Outlawing Abortion, Declaring Amarillo a Sanctuary City for the Unborn," which became Proposition A on the same November 5 ballot. Proposition A was not a charter amendment. The staff memo said the initiative process began December 29, 2023 and that ordering the election was ministerial under Article II, Section 23 of the Charter. The council amended the ballot wording from "establishing a criminal offense" to "and making it unlawful" and adopted the resolution 4-1, Councilmember Craft voting no.[1][2][3]
Cole StanleyJosh CraftDon TippsTom ScherlenLes Simpson
What the sources say
- ✓ Verified
The staff memo for Resolution 08-13-24-2 states that the initiative process began December 29, 2023, that the City Secretary validated the initiating committee's proposed ordinance, and that ordering the election at the committee's request was a ministerial step under Article II, Section 23 of the Charter. The council amended the ballot wording from "establishing a criminal offense" to "and making it unlawful" and adopted the resolution 4-1 (Scherlen, second Tipps), with Councilmember Craft voting no. [2][1]
- ✓ Verified
Stephanie Coggins, City Secretary: The Amarillo Tribune reported that a petition for the ordinance was submitted in April 2024 with more than 10,000 signatures, about 6,500 of which the City Secretary validated; that the council voted down the proposed ordinances on June 11, 2024; and quoted City Secretary Stephanie Coggins: "the power really lies with the citizens on this initiative and referendum process." [3]