There are three city commission positions that are being contested in the May 1, 2020 general/special election for the City of Pampa. Mayor, Ward 1 and Ward 4 are the seats up for grabs this spring.
The Pampa News will introduce you to each of the candidates in the coming weeks, starting with the candidates running for Mayor: Matt Rains and Lance DeFever.
Lance DeFever most recently served on the Pampa Independent School District Board of Trustees when he was appointed to fill an unexpired term in 2000 and then re-elected in 2011. He will finish out his term, which expires in April.
A 1982 graduate from Pampa High School, DeFever saw the opportunity to make the transition to the Pampa City Commission as Mayor when current Mayor Brad Pingel announced he would not seek re-election.
“I had been on the school board for almost 20 years and being up for election this year I decided it was time for someone younger and with kids in the system to take my spot,” DeFever said. “I thought about the Mayor position for several years but never wanted to run against Brad because we work together and have been friends for a long time. When Brad decided not to run again, I thought that maybe the time was right.”
After graduating high school, DeFever worked in his family’s petroleum business and in 1999 took over management at Fairview Cemetery where he took an interest in the funeral industry. He earned a degree in mortuary science and worked at Carmichael-Whatley as a funeral director/embalmer for 10 years while managing the cemetery.
Having served on the City of Pampa Planning and Zoning Commission for 10 years (the last seven as chairman), DeFever said he doesn’t have any major issues with the city that he would like to address.
“From the outside looking in, I recognize I don’t know the full story on everything, but there are always little things I look at and wonder about,” DeFever said. “But I want to see our community grow and prosper and do whatever I can to help. I feel like with the life experiences and community services I have, I feel like I have some knowledge that would be beneficial.”
While the School District and City of Pampa are two different entities, DeFever said his experience on the School Board will translate to some degree should he be elected.
“One of the big ones is the budget process,” DeFever said. “The School District is on a larger scale than the City, but I’m very familiar with formulating a budget, unfortunately sometimes we’ve had to cut budgets and do more with less. That is a process that’s the same whether it’s the City, County, School, State, etc.”
DeFever said he enjoys working with people and said he has a servant attitude that helps him listen to the public, their concerns and how he can help them.
“In my various walks of life I have developed positive relationships and learned valuable lessons,” DeFever said. “I view myself as a calm, level-headed and approachable person who is willing to listen to the concerns and am open to new ideas.”
Both entities being forms of government also gives DeFever familiarity with the Texas Open Meetings Act. DeFever is also familiar with many of the department heads and administration at the City of Pampa.
DeFever added he would like to help run the City as it was a business.
“Having been with the School District and a small-business owner, I have a lot of business experience, which I think is important,” DeFever said. “In the last few years at PISD, we’ve been at the max on the tax cap, we’ve had to make some serious changes in our functions to do more with less. No matter what organization, there are always things that can be run more efficiently. I think a fresh perspective or ideas can sometimes bring new things.”
As for what separates DeFever from his opponent, whether it’s life or public service, it’s the years of experience.
“I know he was on the Commission for a few years, but with my school board experience, I’ve seen a lot more situations rise and fall,” DeFever said. “I not only live here but I work here. Not to be disparaging to his job, but since I work here I’d be accessible so people can call or come by and see me if they have a question or concern.”
While age can be a double-edged sword in the eyes of some, DeFever feels like it is another tool in the chest for him.
“I’ve been more exposed to more different things and that makes a person well-rounded,” DeFever said. “That’s nothing against him. I wish I was still 39 at times (*with a chuckle). But I’m going to try to be up-lifting as far as the campaign because that’s the way to do things. I don’t think Pampa benefits from some of the politics we see on the national scene.”
As for the Pampa economy, while he feels like the latest Keystone Project will be a great benefit to Pampa, he would like to see growth in some of the businesses already in Pampa.
“I’ve thought for a long, long time that it’s been hard for Pampa to attract new businesses being close to Amarillo, their location, interstate and their gargantuan EDC,” DeFever said. “I’d like to see our EDC focus on a lot of our already established, existing, successful businesses and help them expand.”
DeFever has been a member of Lions Club, the Las Pampa Koi & Water Garden Society and serves his church.
DeFever is married to his wife of 27 years, Brooke, and the pair have raised four boys with two grandchildren and one on the way. The pair attend First Baptist Church.
“Pampa has afforded me many wonderful opportunities and as mayor, I would like to see it as my role to promote Pampa and see to it the next generation is given the same opportunities,” DeFever said.
For more information on Lance DeFever, give him a call at 806-669-4495.
