Frankly, the current at-large system is continuing to work well for the city's 173,000 residents. A ward system would be a mixed blessing. It would elect commissioners from specific neighborhoods, who then would have that commissioner's ear on specific concerns relating exclusively to that neighborhood. That's all well and good. But as has happened in other communities, the concerns of the neighborhood quite often take precedence over the concerns of the greater community.
Turf battles can overshadow efforts to work on behalf of an entire city.
The at-large system used in Amarillo does require commissioners to be attentive to everyone's concerns, regardless of where they live. So it should be under the current system. One more point needs to be made. Every registered voter in Amarillo regardless of ethnicity needs to take part in these municipal elections. The election coming up May 5 likely will produce yet another dismal turnout.