Jamie Bardwell
With the recent passing of former city council member Cheryl Wedel, council members nominated potential candidates to fill the vacant seat.
After a council meeting earlier this year, council member James Newman nominated Jamie Bardwell who has now officially been appointed to the Cordell City Council.
With quite the foothold here in Cordell from managing Cordell’s Sonic back in the day to currently running the Community Care Project, Bardwell says he hopes to see the town prosper during his time on the board.
Though not officially sworn in until the following city council meeting, Bardwell said he is ready to join the board.
The Cordell Beacon had the chance to talk with Bardwell to discuss being chosen as one of the council’s newest members.
Editor's note: Some of these answers have been edited for length.
How does it feel to have been chosen?
Exciting, scary, a lot of responsibility.
Actually, when I was thinking about leaving Sonic two years ago, I actually left Sonic in 2020 in March, one of my first deals in my thought process was that I'd really like to stay focused on the community and do as much as I can to help.
With the ministry that we do there, I feel like that's one aspect that I really felt passionate about.
My thought process, even back in 2020, was that I'd like to be involved with the city on the city council level if it was possible.
Now I'm actually at a place where all of my [real estate] properties are rented and the ministry is going well, it's set up.
So now I absolutely have the time to devote whatever time I would need to put in to be able to make good decisions for the community.
Are you ready to start working for the people of Cordell? Do you currently see any immediate issues that the council should/is tackling?
I'll be honest with you. I came with no agenda other than to hear the problems and opportunities that the city would have, and do my very best to keep in touch with what the people really want, take a common-sense approach, and really make things happen.
When we moved here, Cordell was probably close to 3000 people in population, and one of the things we always do when we go out and look for opportunities to put a Sonic in is the population.
Cornell back in the sixties was running somewhere around 3000 plus people. Now we're a little under 2,700. I think they show us losing a percent every year. We're down about 8.4% depending on which source you take it from.
I'd love to see Cordell grow and actually have attractions here. When I rent a business here and a new restaurant would open up, I was always excited because I know exactly what happens in small communities.
I felt like the more businesses and opportunities we'd have here, the more folks we’d draw in and the more they’d stay in town. They don't have to leave, which gives more business and opportunity.
I'd like to see that change. I'd like to see us show positive numbers and growth and make some good decisions.
I'm invested in Cordell. I think it's a great place to live.
I've been out in Florida and been all around and I'm back here in Cordell and I think the people are tremendous.
Obviously, with the ministry and the outpouring of [residents] hearts and how much they give, we don't even have to ask. I've never asked for donations or money, it's self-supporting.
We just want to bless and take care of. That's just been one of the deals that I appreciate so much about the community thing they've been really good to give, and I'd like to be able to continue to serve in whatever capacity I can.
Do you have any broader long-term plans that you hope to accomplish during your term?
I've heard, and obviously, I'm aware of some issues, but without being privy to some of the information and doing my due diligence, I hate to comment on anything like that.
But obviously, there's some issues I'd like to see resolved that I think it appears that the council is moving in the right direction.
They’re doing some things to correct our water problem and different things that are going on. Ambulance services is still one that obviously needs to be resolved.
But other than that I would love to see potential attractions for the community to come in. Anything that would help our businesses and the city itself to be an icon.
I’ve been here enough years that I've seen some really neat things done for Cornell with grants provided.
I know the council does part of that, planning and zoning and different things, but I would just like to be a part of that process that helps Cordell be a very nice community to live in.
Do you think you’ll run for the position once your term is up? What’s that future look like for you?
I would hope that I feel like there's unity and a real desire, but absolutely yeah.
We’re about four months in since the election for council members took place, how does it feel coming onto the board at this time?
Honestly, all I can think about is, when I come in and what I can do now. I can't really do anything about the priors.
My biggest concern right now is just getting accurate information and really getting a pulse on what I feel like the people want.
Because again, that's what I'm there to do is represent them and that'll be my goal. To figure out how to get in touch and make sure that I represent [residents] the way they would like.
What do you expect going into the position will be like? Do you have any experiences that you think will help you fulfill these new duties?
Obviously, I've sat in on a lot of different meetings.
Again, no agendas with me other than to listen to each item as it comes across, and honestly try to decipher what the people would like and what would make our community strong.
I know you can't please everyone, but at the same time, there's decisions that in the long run, it'll start showing the decisions made by the leadership.
If the community begins to grow and good decisions are made, then it's obviously going to do good for the community.
What are you looking forward to now that you’ve been appointed to the board?
Honestly, meeting the people. I've done that off and on. Sonic has kept me abroad a lot.
When I used to live in Elk City for a few years and Texas, I still came to church here. I actually drove here to do that.
I have family here and I actually have a son and two daughters. My son and daughter live here and I've got a daughter in Dumas that plans on moving back to Cordell. So I'll have all my kids and grandkids living here.
So my deal is, Hey, I'd love to help make sure that they have the kind of community that they would be proud of and be successful.
You seem to have a strong foothold here in Cordell. What does Cordell mean to you?
I think in smaller communities, again, I've been in Jacksonville, Florida, and Amarillo, Texas a little bigger communities, but you really create some strong relationships with people.
Even for the renters, it's been unique. I have people wanting to move to Cordell and the last three folks that have moved from out of state I’m like, “Why Cordell? Just curious.”
And they say, “I just want to live in a small community.”
I'm like, “But you're in Colorado. How did you, out of all the communities in the states, how’d you pick Cordell?” And really no answer.
They have no family around here or nothing, and yet they're picking this place.
So anyway, I appreciate this community. I appreciate the relationships that I have.
I've been a part of the community and as I stepped out of my position [at Sonic] and became regional and partner I didn't necessarily function in the chamber. I was a member of the chamber years ago.
Honestly, just being around here, knowing the folks, knowing the community.
I was interested enough to buy a lot of properties, make my home here, and try to convince my kids that, “Hey, this is where you want to be.”
So I really do appreciate the community.
And it's clean. I have Sonics in a lot of communities. This is a very clean, nice community to live in.
Looking ahead, what do you think the future holds for the citizens of Cordell?
Hopefully a great hospital, great ambulance service, a good police department, businesses that are successful, people wanting to move into town and do business here and live here.
Hopefully, the theater opening back up, and taking care of our parks. We've got a beautiful park.
The swimming pool sounds like it's got a couple of issues that's going to have to be worked on. Now, I heard something about a potential splash pad.
I think all of that, um, would keep Cordell a point of attraction where folks would want to come and maybe make this their home.
Is there anything else I might have missed that you’d like the people of Cordell to know?
I’m just happy to be here in this community and happy to get a chance to serve.
I understand there's a lot of things that go on in the meetings, and I just hope that I'm able to do all the due diligence and honestly reflect what the community would really like to see.