All language subtitles for Kid.Candidate.2021.720p.BluRay.x264.AAC-[YTS.MX]

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(static buzzing)

- My name is Hayden Pedigo,

and I'm running
for city council.

(upbeat rock music)

(chair clatters)

My name is Hayden Pedigo.

I'm running for city council
place two in Amarillo, Texas.

I believe that a lot of
local, small business owners

out here are straight
up getting bonked.

(upbeat rock music)

(air whooshing)

♪ You don't know a thing ♪

(bell dinging)

(numbers clicking)

♪ You don't know
what day it is ♪

♪ I don't show where I go ♪

♪ You, you, you, you,
you, you, you, you ♪

♪ Lost it all, lost it all ♪

♪ You, you, you, you,
you, you, you, you ♪

♪ Lost it all, lost it all ♪

♪ You, you, you, you,
you, you, you, you ♪

♪ Lost it all, lost it all ♪

♪ You, you, you, you,
you, you, you, you ♪

♪ Lost it all ♪

(upbeat rock music)

- Hey Hannah?
- Yeah, baby.

- Can you get a velvet
jacket and lint roll it off?

I may wear that.

(hair dryer buzzing)

(lint roller scraping)

The reason why I'm running
for city council here

in Amarillo is I felt
like there was a lack

of representation, especially
amongst my age group.

Hayden asked me, he said,
"should I run for city council?

"Would I look stupid doing it?"

And I told him, I
said, "well, Hayden.

I said, "You do truly
care about the city."

And I'm like, "You're constantly
talking about Amarillo."

To me that's the only
qualification, is
that you're genuine,

and you care about the city,

and you care about the people.

Just don't be an asshole.

So it's kind of,
what I tell him.

(cheery country music)

- Where do I file
to be on the ballot.

I do it here.

- Yes, sir.

Did you fill out
your application yet?

- No, they said, can
you print it off for me?

And I can just call that.

Perfect.

- Thank you.
- Thank you.

Thank y'all so much.

And I'm all good to go.

Well, thank y'all so much.

Hayden, he's a
well-meaning unwitting dupe

Who has no business, none

thinking he can do anything.

- Well, you know fine,
if that's the rule

that if he's younger and
that makes him better,

let's run a baby.

(upbeat music)

Early on, we were
just on a spur.

We'd go shoot a bunch
of stuff downtown

and then I'd go home

and make some vaguely
cohesive edit out of it,

that looked cool.

(hip hop beat plays)

- Why, why!

- Here use this!
- Are you insane?

(maniacally laughing)

- Wow.

It works.

- Damn, pretty
impressive actually.

- Hey look a blind person.
- I can't see him.

(punch)

- I can see!

(Spanish music)

- The reason the videos
initially started
was I always admit

by accident in a sense

because me and Alex
talked one evening

and I told him I wanted
to make a weird video.

I want to make something

like Harmony Korine used to
make back in the nineties.

- So I went to METI
park with the chair

and he was digging around
in the back of my car.

I was like, Hey,
maybe you could be

like a city Councilman or
a guy running for mayor.

And you're just like,
if this is your trope

you're seeing how the
city measures up to stuff.

And you're showing people
how you're going to

fix the city kind of thing.

I helped him pick
out at Goodwill, the
jacket and the tie.

And I said, well, have fun

cause I had to go to work.

And then I came home and
he was like, this is good.

- A couple days later

he posted on Facebook
and it just blew up

- At that end of the
day, I think 70,000 views

in that day, I would get
different responses from people.

It'd be you're the guy
running for city council.

Oh, you're the guy
from adult swim.

- One of my really good friends
messaged me and was like

it's on the front
page of Reddit.

- I was like, dude maybe you
should go for a city council.

Like people are
really liking this.

You could probably
follow through and win.

We're taking a closer
look at the candidates

who are running for
Amarillo city council

ahead of election
day on Saturday.

Four people are on the ballot
for Amarillo city council

place one.

- Elaine Hays, Rich
Herman, Jake Kirkman,

and Hayden Pedigo running
for city council place one.

People have until
next Friday to file.

- What I'm doing currently
isn't from the same perspective

of how I started it from
accidental on a joke.

I found more of a
reason to continue,

this thing that was
absurd, started growing

into something that can
legitimately affect life.

Creative people, talented
people end up leaving Amarillo.

They go to bigger cities.

They go to places
where they think

there's more opportunities
and they don't view Amarillo

as a place that they
can Excel at anything.

I say, why not stay in Amarillo

and be able to do
what you want to do?

Even if I don't get elected

I want this to at
least inspire somebody.

You know, just to get them to
vote would be a major step.

- Amarillo is not just unique
and not just different.

It is really very beautiful.

It's one of the most beautiful
places in the United States

physically with some
of the ugliest people

who happened to be in it.

Amarillo very recently
figured out, wait a minute

we can swindle taxpayers
and never get caught.

All we have to do is
own the government.

A group was formed
called Amarillo matters
where the elites

formed an organization,
pooled their money

and made sure that their
elitist friends got elected.

- Each individual council
member and mayor are

all wealthy lawyers,
accountants, business owners.

I do think money is the
main decider in politics.

And sadly, why are six-figure
amounts being spent

on Amarillo elections?

We're not Dallas.

We're not Houston.

We're Amarillo.

And we have campaigns that
are in the six figures.

- Three of the biggest large
contributions that took place

in the last reporting
period are the where's,

the people who own the
largest privately held bank

in America, not in
Amarillo in America.

They've run Amarillo
for the longest time,

and they still do.

Amarillo matters is
designed to facilitate that

by ensuring that
they have safe people

in office that will
never ask any questions.

Now what the people here
are going to find out is

all of our money has been blown

on making a handful
of people rich.

And we're not going
to have the resources

to deal with the
crises that are ahead.

That's my real fear
for this place.

(church choir singing)

- The people who had the
least shouldn't have to

go through the most to survive.

We're so excited to build a new
strip mall on the South side

of town with two tenants

that probably won't be
there in three years,

but you have a food desert here

in the North side community.

People can't go and get a
piece of fruit on Hughes street

which is the main
African-American road that goes

through the center
of other communities.

You can't buy a
piece of fruit there.

You have plenty of places to
buy blood scans and 40 ounces

but no place to buy a banana.

If you got dying parts
of your community

it's going to spread.

It's going to fester.

- To me, it feels like
our votes don't matter.

They just want us to
feel like we matter

but really they're in control
and they pick and choose.

You don't know my struggles.

You don't want to help me.

You just want me to be on
your side so you can like

oh look, I'm down when
you really not down

cause you really
don't understand.

I love Amarillo, I
love the panhandle.

I don't want to
leave this place,

but I do want to see change.

I find there's just
more that could be done.

If you really cared
for the people in you,

you would do more.

- Being the mayor in Amarillo
is a wonderful thing.

I ran because I felt like
God was asking me to step

into an arena of
influence, to love people

and to do that in my city,
through serving in government.

It's funny to me

that people say that we're
from old Amarillo money.

I'm not, neither is my husband.

And both of us lived in very
normal middle class homes.

Our parents still
live in those homes.

We had student debt, we
brought our student debt

and our two used cars

and moved to Amarillo
and frankly have been so

blessed to have the American
dream come true for us.

Another phrase that comes to
mind that we've really lived

out over the last two years is

that God allows
you to be baptized

with criticism so that you'll
be inoculated against praise

because no good leader is
doing it for the praise.

- If I was Ginger Nelson

I would say I'm running a
faith based government instead

of a greed based government,
which is what she's doing

because that probably
sells better.

The only solution to
that level of corruption

says the courts is political.

When you got would be
leaders like Hayden Pedigo

that's a pretty dim prospect.

(whispering)

- It's a little
terrifying, you know

like I don't want to be some
like jackass doing this.

I know my parents are
upset with what I'm doing.

It was like a embarrassment
to the family.

That hurts really, really bad

you know.

Essentially I grew
up with parents

a mom and a dad that were

I think maybe a little bit
wild when they were younger

and went to religion and
Christianity very hard

and the opposite direction.

They homeschooled me and
my sister first grade

through high school,
the whole thing.

And my dad preached
at a homeless shelter.

Then he preached at a truck
stop where my dad would tell me

that I was like a caged animal,
just like pacing to get out.

So it's like, he felt like
you didn't know anybody

and living out in the
middle of nowhere.

And sometimes it just felt

like the same day over
and over and over again

- Hayden was always
physically taken care of

but mentally his parents
did a number on him.

He has such a massive fear of
failing just with his parents

constantly demonizing him

and making him feel like a
failure because he wasn't saying

or doing everything
that they, they saw fit.

- I spent a lot of my
life beating myself up

over mistakes I had made.

And it's like this
infinite cycle, you

you do something wrong.

You make a mistake.

So it's like, well, I'm
kind of a piece of shit,

so I'm going to keep doing it.

- Like I remember Hayden, I
got in a fight in our marriage

and he said from, he said, I
feel like I'm, I'm Lenny from

of mice and men.

And I just want to
hold the puppies

but I keep killing them
because I hold them too hard.

- And he just, for
the longest time

felt like everything he touched,

he'd just destroy, including me.

It's just so hard.

(distorted guitar sounds)

- My dad's biggest
critique of me growing up

was he would say I was like
an unplugged alarm clock.

Like when it flashes 12

like I had forgotten
everything and can not retain.

And like, I'm about to be 25.

It's like, I still think about
that stupid stuff, you know?

And-

sorry.

- I got your suit minus the tie.

I got you underwear and
socks, and then that's right?

- Yes, I feel like I'm not
helping for these piecing.

During those years of my
life where I was cut off

from everything music and
things like that meant so much

to me because it represented
everything I ever

hoped and dreamed for.

It was an escape from all
the things that hurt you.

And it just was important.

I can't even just explain

just how important
that stuff was to me.

(guitar music)

- Hayden is very much a child
of Amarillo and his parents.

Hayden is also is, he's
a conservative Christian

bank working kid.

You know, he is
not some punk rock,

you know, Sam Hain
tattoo wearing,

you know street urchin.

Hayden could have gone
anywhere and done anything.

Why isn't he in Austin,
New York or Berlin?

Where the people who make this
kind of music are welcomed.

He's in Amarillo fucking Texas.

- Politics are
critical in music.

Whom else to respond
to the conditions,

then somebody a Troubadour.

It's a longstanding tradition,
whether it was Marvin Gaye

whether it's Bob Dylan,
whether it's Eddie Vedder.

Whomever it is, we
need people like that.

This Hayden, the fact that
he's willing to just go

against everything
that is the status quo.

Everyone's going to tell him

that he's crazy and
that's terrific.

Let me prove you wrong.

- Hayden's upbringing
definitely factors

into him running
for city council.

There's a part of him

that it's almost like
a fuck you to them.

Like, Oh, you think
I'm an embarrassment
to the Pedigo name?

Well,

I'm just going to go further

and embarrass you even more.

(EDM music)

- I feel like my
life really began

at 18 when I moved out
of my parents' house

because you feel that strongly
about I have to do it.

I've wasted so much time.

I've been held back for so long.

So why not do the biggest
thing I possibly can?

My name is Hayden Pedigo.

I am running for city
council place one.

I'm 24 years old making me
the youngest candidate running

for city council here.

I'm all for progress,
I'm all for development,

but I'm not for development

that's indebting future
generations of Amarillo.

We have a government system
that is a small town government.

We are no longer a small town.

200,000 people is
not a small town.

And I want the younger
generation to step up and say

we want a better
Amarillo for the future,

that's not going to indebt us.

We want progress for all.

And we want a government
that fits our city.

And that's the reason why
I'm running, thank you.

That was very impressive.

- I may not know much,

but I do know about Amarillo.

Amarillo we're going to rebuild

and we're even brick this time.

We're going to break
the glass anyways.

This video was created
for budget of $0.

I have accepted no
donations for this campaign.

Thank you (echo).

- I think one of the reasons
why I've been pretty set

on running on no
donations is for one

the thing I said from the
beginning with the videos

even though they're ridiculous.

As I think people,
especially at my age

are burnout on politics
and off the bat,

I wanted to do
videos that didn't

feel like politics we knew.

It wasn't bashing on anyone.

It wasn't saying how your life
was going to get terrible.

And that's kind of where
the no donation came in.

I kind of want to make a point
by not accepting donations.

I don't want people's money.

You know, if I can
get people talking

about my message
and what I'm doing,

that I think that's worth
more than a yard sign.

If I can get people
talking about it

I don't need the money.

I don't need the signs.

I don't need T-shirts.

I want to change the way
it's done completely.

- Well, I admire anybody
that would put their name

out in the arena.

It takes a lot of courage.

If I were the one that I
guess stepped out and said

I'm not going to raise any
funds for this campaign.

I put, I feel like it puts

that leadership
opportunity at risk.

It's like sitting
down to play chess

but insisting that the
rules be for checkers.

You know, I would be the first
one to set down the weapons.

Well that person's
probably going to get shot.

(gun shot)

- When politics, you
get beat up, pretty good

for telling the truth.

Sometimes I just wasn't the
most popular guy in the room.

You know, when I was on
council, there was lots of

3-2 votes, you know, 4-1 votes.

I mean, and that's what she
wants a good healthy debate

but there's none
of that anymore.

And it appears that the
city's running real smooth.

Well, it is running smoothly.

If that particular group is
getting everything they want

you know, and that's the
way things have been going.

There are just a lot of
things down at city hall

that need to change
but it's not going

to happen in my lifetime.

Maybe Hayden's. (laughs)

- How are you?
- I'm doing good.

- You doing good.

How are you doing?

- Nice to meet you.
- Nice to meet you.

- What's your name?
- Hayden, Hayden Pedigo.

Nice to meet you.

- Yeah, thank you
all for coming.

Glad y'all came.

Amarillo's population nearly
40% is under the age of 30.

I didn't feel like Amarillo
was utilizing its young

population the way we should,

because that's the
future of the city.

You know, I love the
neighborhood over
by Amarillo College

those brick roads, those houses.

I love that area.

And I thought to myself, wow,

I never thought I would
see Amarillo like this.

This is incredible.

But I say, if you flip the
script, you're 17, you're living

in North Heights.

You're about to get
out of high school.

You're not sure if you'll
even make it into college.

You're not sure what
career prospects you have.

How is Amarillo looking for you

- Road to riches?

This is a money train.

I came a long way
from the hunger pains.

One deep cause
you n#*#*#*#* strange.

I heard they killed your
partner like the hunger games.

Dissect a n#*#*#*#* like anatomy.

I know mad max proud of me.

I'm stepping on you rappers mix.

Cause y'all are the main
people that was doubting me.

(rap music)

- North Heights of
Amarillo, Texas.

And this is my neighborhood
is where I grew

up at and what I do.

I'd rather not answer what I
do, but I do what I got to do.

Know what I'm saying?

The biggest problem living in
the Heights is like adversity.

You you're up against,
you know what I'm saying?

Well, I recently lost a
couple, like a few friends.

Like I said, whenever
there's nothing to do.

You know what I'm saying?

Problems,

tension gets high

and people want to
find something to do.

You know what I'm saying?

And just, that's a
fucked up situation.

It really is.

- I'm working two jobs.

Even though I have a degree
because there's not a lot

of opportunity here,
especially at entry level

because everything requires
experience and a degree.

I want to be a game
warden or a park ranger

or some kind of wildlife
or environmental science.

They would only hire me
to work like the gate

or cleaning up.

A lot of my friends, their
kids or their little brother

or their little sister, their
little sister is prostituting.

You know, like getting turned
out and doing tricks out here.

Just, just because that's
like the lifestyle here

because that's the only way
they've seen to get some money.

- Another reason why I
decided to run, was I felt

like there was a lot
of reckless spending

in Amarillo that benefited
a certain group of people

while other communities were
being absolutely ignored.

Because for example, you
can look at neighborhoods

like Sandra SUNO, North
Heights, East Ridge

historical neighborhoods
that have a lot

of value to Amarillo, but have
been held back for so long.

(trap beat)

- Charlie's barbecue
and soul food.

It's me and my
mother's restaurant.

And ever since we've been here

I use it as my soap box.

Small little ugly
soap box it may be,

but a soap box all the same.

And I stand on top of it.

I always speak about politics
because everything that I do

is based on kids

and parks

and opportunities

for those kids as
they grow older.

- Oh Lord, they watching us.

- Y'all going to ask
me any questions.

Or are y'all just
gonna film me yelling?

Get you a United Sack

and take a step, drop an
egg, take a step, drop a egg.

I need a bigger concentration

of eggs right here in front
of this basketball court.

We go on as far as I can see
with, with all these eggs

This is what Easter
looks like to me.

Just eggs everywhere,
everywhere, everywhere.

I just let y'all know.

I didn't ball, I didn't stuff,
not one egg I never have.

And I don't think I ever will.

- When you're a
child, you really

don't pick up

on the discrepancies
or the differences,

but there's just a huge growth
on the South side of town.

And on the North side of town

there's a huge project
of tearing down.

There's nothing vibrant.

You know, as soon as
you cross the tracks

the color goes away
except on the black faces.

That's the only color you see,
everything is shades of gray

the city late think
people don't see that.

But I see it.

- The whole idea of
elitist controlling is part

of the political culture of
Texas, where the better families

and the plantation owners
made all the decisions

and they suppressed voting.

Texas has the lowest
voting participation

in the United States.

The wealthy don't want
those people voting

because they know best,

Massa knows best.

We'll handle this for you.

And that's the way it goes.

- The attitude of Amarillo
is don't talk about it.

Don't worry about it.

While other parts
of our state, Austin

Arlington Dallas
are getting rid

of symbols of
the Confederacy.

We tiptoe around that
issue and we still have

a rebel general in a park.

We still have an
elementary school

named after a rebel general.

Robert E. Lee never lived here.

We have something
named after him

but we know what that
symbol stands for.

Those symbols disappeared
after the civil War.

And they came back actually
after soldiers came back

from World War I to the
South and the South said

we don't want these
n#*#*#*#*#* being too uppity.

So n#*#*#*#*#* know your place.

And so we started
putting Robert E. Lee

and we started the stars
and bars, the rebel flag.

And it's a false analogy.

What are we going to do about that?

Are the young politicians
going to address those issues

that we have in our community?

Or are they just gonna play
lip service to get elected

and then play the game.

When you step up and say I
want to represent a people.

You have to figure out sometimes

what they're getting out of it.

- What made you decide
to run for council?

I think there
should be a reform.

I think we should go

to voting by district
instead of at-large.

I believe that a mayor and
four council members elected

at large representing 200,000
residents, isn't working.

Certain parts of Amarillo
are being held back

and are not being
paid attention to

while others are
being developed.

If you look at similar
sized cities as Amarillo

they ditch the at-large
format decades ago.

I want the city to
get better as a whole

not individual parts because
that's not a progression

of a city that's
progressions of a class.

City that only
progresses in parts

is not progressing as a city.

- Thank you so much for
coming in this morning.

- Thank you.

- I appreciate you.
- Thank you.

- My name's Jeff,
I'm Jeff Blackbird,

and how are you?

Nice to meet you too.

This is Hayden
Pedigo, the big shot.

- So I met with Jeff
for the first time

and I think I had
expectations going into it

on what it was going to be like,

but he offered to help me on
my campaign and give me advice.

I'm running, running
for city council,

so I took him up on that
offer because I need his help.

- I don't know.

Maybe Jeff's sees a little
bit of Hayden like in himself

like maybe a younger Jeff.

Jeff Blackbird is a provocateur,
has been his whole life.

So, I'm sure he saw Hayden.

And went I want
to be part of this

I want to help this
kid stir up some shit.

You know, you've got to put down

like we talked about
before, the three things

that are controversial
and that matter to you.

That really matter and it
never get off messages.

You're different because
you do have ideas,

and I don't, I think you're

you're a very serious candidate.

I think he's a
friend and a mentor

and maybe even a father
figure in some ways.

Yeah, I think he's a
little bit of all of that.

And I know it means a lot
to Hayden when Jeff says

that he's proud of him.

- That's the decision
we got to finish.

Where do you want to,
what do you want to do?

It's up to us.

And thank you very much
for the indulgence.

I appreciate it.

- Was it all right.

- It was great.

- Kid I would tell ya,

if you would get up and say,

I think that Amarillo
should pass a resolution

in favor of
legalizing marijuana,

You'd pick up a thousand votes.

- That's something that if
somebody asked me, I would agree

with them would get into,

but if I have a
short amount of time,

I'm going to go after the
things that I think are-

- Remember what we
we're talking before?

You got to open the can, you
have to have a can opener,

and then people go like,
what did he just say that?

It's like, you know
what else I think?

A, B, C, D.
- Yeah.

Controversy's not
always the key tool

to getting your message out.

- Well I don't believe that.

Bullshit.
- That's not my stance.

I'm not going to go up

and talk about
decriminalizing marijuana

because it's too controversial.

I'm not going to go
and talk about it

because I feel I may not be
fully educated enough to talk

to a crowd of people
on that topic.

- Then you should
have gotten educated

before you decided to
run for god damn hall.

- Yeah, but that's not
my top three issues.

Why I'm even running

and I'm not going to make
up reasons why I'm running.

Because then at that point

- Let's just agree to disagree.

I'm going to go.
- Okay.

I maybe don't have the
thickest skin in terms

of people saying
negative things about me

and Jeff has been an asset in
one way, because it's kind of

nice to have somebody
on your side,

who's hurling the worst
criticisms towards you.

He was either slapping me in
the face or giving me a hug.

Sometimes it's best to have

somebody stab you in the front

and stab you in the back.

Jeff will always stab
you in the front.

You know?

So I think that was good for me.

- This guy can't even agree

with the governor of Texas
about decriminalizing marijuana.

This is the easiest position.

And the New Republican party
believes that in Texas.

Too controversial

- So, me and Jeff
talked the next day,

and after we talked
about music for an hour

the argument got brought
up because Jeff was saying,

yeah young people
support you online

but they don't support
you in real life.

But I said to Jeff,
I was like, Hey

what's going on at your
office Saturday the 13th?

And he said nothing.

And I said, can I
post on Facebook

that I'm throwing a rally there?

And he was like, sure.

And I said, okay I'm going
to get so many people there

that it makes you mad.

He really believes that
Facebook is reality.

Anyone can sit on their
butt and say cool,

like,

smiley face.

- I'm wanting a
rally that is insane.

Well, I mean, I, I wish more
people would have showed up.

I feel like you never know.

Especially with
political type events,

I feel like it's
hard to, you know.

(bagpipes play)

- You gotta mingle
with the crowd.

You gotta go talk
to people and ask

and tell everybody
you're so happy

that they're here.
- I know.

What's up, man?
- How are you doing?

- How's it going, that's crazy.

- You've made a huge push
to terrain to get the youth

to come out and vote.

Can you explain that
a little bit to me.

- I'm trying to talk
to people my age

and get them involved
so we can make

a change and move our city
in a more positive direction.

Stuff like this always
makes me anxious.

- Why?
- I don't want to look dumb.

- As long as there are
more people in the audience

than there are on the stage.

It's a success.

- Yeah. Very true.

I agree with that.

- Let's give Hayden
Pedigo a big hand.

- Amarillo for decades has
been a very fractured place.

There's so many
groups and communities

that are all separated
from each other.

They've been ignored, and
it's hell we make a change.

This is just going to
keep happening over
and over and over.

Be honest how was that?

- I thought it was the
best you've done so far.

- Awesome, good, good, okay.
- Okay?

- Okay.

- So I think you're discovering
something called policy.

- Yeah.
- That's good.

- I'm trying, I'm trying.

- I think you're getting there.

I mean, the forums
have been kind of

like lighting a
fire under my butt,

cause they've then coming from
and starting to get kind of-

- Those forums didn't
mean nothing compared

to the fact that you
can put together a group

of people that are
your actual supporters.

- Cause Hayden looks like he
really wants to make a change.

He wants to bring more diversity

into like, make everybody
feel like their region

and their area matters.

And you don't hear that
often here in Amarillo so.

- He's doing some good
shit, he really is.

He's open, opening
people's mind up.

- No one else young
is in our town,

caring enough to, to
get all this done.

- He's here for Amarillo
and he will help it grow

in ways that aren't
just money downtown.

- Well I applaud
Hayden for having

what I would consider
the right motivations

to get involved in
city government.

- Seeing Hayden do that is
that's really inspiring.

And it just makes me
think it's not as hard

as you think it is to
do big things like that.

- He wants to see
us thrive as a city.

And I think that's a good
thing for a young kid

especially to be
an example of that.

What can we do with
where we're planted?

How can we make our city better?

I think the more
this has gone on

kind of the heavier
it's felt, you know,

it's not a joke, I think
it can be inspiring

but it's constantly fighting,
inspiring and terrifying.

(plane engine roaring)

(indie rock music)

- This is a little
nerve wracking and
just a little nervous.

I just don't want to be
nervous while doing it.

That's my thing I'm
kind of worried about.

I'm sure like if I talk to
him for 10 seconds before

we're going to be fine.

How are you?
- Hey!

- Hi I'm Hayden.

- Good to meet you.
- Nice to meet you.

- How are you?
- I'm doing good.

Are we on film are we on camera.

- I think so.
- Hi how are you?

- For the story,

one of the biggest controversies

was North Heights had
a public swimming pool

that's been there for years.

- Right?
- I went to that pool as a kid

A couple of months ago the
state came out and they said,

"Hey we're shutting
down the pool,

It's not in good shape anymore."

So the neighborhood,

the North Heights neighborhood
was very up in arms going,

"You're taking
away our pool and-

- Just make the
repairs, do the work.

- Well, this is what
ended up happening was

they sent a rep from
the city who was like

the pool is too
far beyond repair.

We can't fix it.

We would have to rebuild it.

And that cost would be
three to $4 million.

And we just don't have
that right now sorry.

And then a few weeks later

the city approved $4
million for the scoreboard

at the baseball stadium
for the scoreboard.

Jeez.
- And so this community,

that's like you're taking
away one of our amenities,

this pool that's been a service
to public space for decades.

- Right.
- That, that is

a massive benefit to
that area of town.

You're taking away in
your answer as sorry

we don't have the money.

There's nothing
we can do for you.

- And then you
demonstrate a second later

that there clearly is the money.

- Yeah.

But the money is only there.

If it's something they
want to spend it on

and a community pool's not
going to make them money.

- Right.
- So what do kids do

if you live in a
neighborhood with nothing?

- Right.
- You take it away

and they're like oh,

I wonder why crime is going up.

- It's cause you keep taking-
- Yeah, you cause trouble.

Yeah, you keep taking
everything away

and then being stupid

and acting like
it's somewhere else.

- It's so depressing.

- Yeah, it is, it is
depressing for me.

And that's why I've, I guess
what I, what I told people

I originally, when the
videos were blowing up

I had this crossroads moment.

Either I can not run take the
attention and laugh this off.

Or do I take that attention?

I'm getting and
know how to form it

into something more important.

You know, now I'm making
rich old people in Amarillo

angry because I'm
calling out things

they don't want
you to talk about.

- Right.

Where are you,
ideologically, politically?

- I've always said that I kind
of just exist in the middle

of maybe one of
those younger people

that's fried on politics.

So I was invited,
I got a message

that I was invited to the
Amarillo tea party group forum.

- (in unison) To the flag of
the United States of America,

and to the Republic for which
it stands, one nation...

- Hello, my name
is Hayden Pedigo.

I'm running for city
council place one.

The reason why I
decided to run was

I believe the low voter turnout

combined with at-large elections

is the reason there wasn't fair
representation in Amarillo.

The system isn't working,
and we need to move forward

and have a more
progressive government.

Thank you.

A guy came up afterwards
and he was like

what did you mean
by progressive?

- Right?
- He was like,

one of the guys back there said

that he wanted to
punch you in the face

when you said progressive.

And I said, I meant-
- Like mandatory abortions.

- Well, I said, you
literally have to be gay now.

- Oh you said that to him?
- Yeah, no, I thought it,

but that was the thing
I meant progressive

in the literal
sense of progress.

- It is funny how that's become

a derogatory term for
people, progressive.

- When you do that
in a town like this

you get marginalized quickly
as a radical or a liberal

that no one should listen to.

And that's a really
great way here

where we only have
one political party,

the party of the insane.

It's a great way to,

to foreclose any
discussion about anything.

- So Amarillo matters released
to their 2019 voter's guide,

and they have a picture
of me with in red letters.

It says not recommended.

A 24 year old local
musician, Pedigo's Campaign

has been called a "art project",

inspired by independent
movie he saw.

His first campaign, it's
his "campaign" video

shows him throwing a metal
folding chair around apart

and measuring various outdoor
areas with a tape measure.

He says, this
campaign is serious,

but evidence indicates it
is a satire commentary.

We do not recommend Mr. Pedigo.

Well fuck.

Their, honestly, every
single one of their disses

are kind of like gold
because they're so weird.

Pedigo left-handed
and statistics show

that most serial
killers are left-handed.

We would not recommend
him at this time.

Like, that's basically what,
they're what they're saying.

I saw Hayden Pedigo in the
same room as a kid once,

possibly a pedophile.

I saw Hayden Pedigo
wear a bandana on once.

possibly a crip or a Muslim.

Oh man, or a crip Muslim.

- You can't lead
if you're not able

and willing to take a
few arrows in the back.

We've had so many
arrows in the back.

And part of it is because you,
you stepped into the arena.

Here's what I think
is, is admirable about
Amarillo matters.

They have stepped into the arena

and they're participating
in the process,

and anyone can do that.

If, if you don't like
what they're doing

start your own group.

- You have to do
something to activate people

a political action committee.

So we have one here in Amarillo
and there, you know what?

They're popping up
all over the state

They're not trying
to manipulate people.

They're trying to
move cities forward.

For 30 years Dr. Eddie Sauer
is a trusted family dentist

and friends to all,

a graduate of our public
schools in West Texas A&M,

Doctor Sauer strongly
supports education.

Pedigo strongly supports oxygen.

Like, no, one's gonna
say they're fucking
against education.

Dr. Sauer provides a voice

of experience and expertise
on, on medical issues.

Thank you Dr. Sauer.

- I personally will govern
myself with an ethic

that I will I will not choose

to bash or to break
down with my words,

Sadly, in the political arena

there are groups that
choose the other route.

And it's amazing though

how God can keep your
heart soft toward people.

Even while people

aren't soft with their words.

- You know what, I
don't know what to say

to those people that
are saying those things.

Those aren't the facts.

And I've shared
that as many times

in as many conversations
as I know how to share

and

what it boils down
to for our family

is we just keep serving

because I can't
convince 200,000 people,

what the truth is.

- The mayor doesn't have to
run her campaign like that

because Amarillo matters plays
the role of the dirty guy.

That way, none of the incumbents
have any responsibility

for the nasty things that are
said about their opponents.

Corporate businesslike city
government will do anything

to retain power.

I really hope that more people
now are starting to be like

maybe this group is
like full of shit.

(Futuristic Music)

- Nice, good choice
for Amarillo.

How are you, doing good.

My name is Hayden Pedigo.

I'm running for
city council here.

I'm passing out
these voter guides

about some of the candidates.

This is just a
little piece of paper

with my name saying place one.
- Gotcha.

- So this is my first day

of doing any type
of door knocking.

- Okay, campaigning?
- Yeah a little bit.

- All right.
- Well, thank you.

Good luck and good to meet you.

Thank you, good to meet you.

I hate this whole thing,
dude like no joke.

I just, this is
so uncomfortable.

Like this not cool at all.

- Right.

Okay. So if you want I'll
do most of the talking

I do this 10, 12 hours a day.
- All right

- I just use a Segway and I'm
the guy the mayor arrested.

If they laugh, they
laugh or smile.

I usually gotta sign in.

If not, I get the heck out of
there as quick as possible.

- Do you call up people
that just don't answer?

- Oh yeah.

- Oh really?

- Yeah

Hi, hi!

Hi, ma'am.

We're just going to give you

some literature on the election.

Thank you.

- My hands are freezing off.
- Yeah.

Okay, got it.

Okay, I'm going try this.

- He's not wired that way.

He's not political.

I ask him several times,

do you want to talk about
the water situation?

"No."

Did you read the
books I gave you?

"No."

"I'm, it's just
too overwhelming."

He's told me, it's overwhelming.

Well then don't run for office.

(message notification sounds)

- Last Sunday was
kind of strange for me

cause' that morning was probably

the most discouraged
I've ever been.

Like, why am I doing this?

And luckily,

I ended up

going to

the South Sudanese church.

I'm Hayden.

Yeah.

- When we have somebody
that running for that county

you know, we need to know
what he can do to us.

I didn't come here to
say exactly what I can do

for you outside of listen.

Cause I think that's
kind of the first thing I

kind of wanted to
come and meet you all

and listen to your experiences

because I feel like currently
our council isn't listening.

- The South Sudanese community

is quite large
here in Amarillo.,

And they're just always
working constantly over there

as like a meat packaging place.

And it's like the beef
capital, I guess, of dependent

or it helps, I
guess, of the world.

It helps feed a lot of people.

They wake up at
four in the morning,

come home at 2:00
PM so they can rush

and go pick up their
kids from school

and then go home and sleep.

It is like slave work.

It is, I don't know,

it's cold or it's hot, your own.

Once you go in that
building it's just you

and your thoughts to that
machine humming in your ear

while you're cutting meat
or you're packaging meat.

It's tough.

- There is so many families
that are scattered right now.

We have so many young people.

Now they go to jail, you know

- It means the world to me

that y'all let me come
here and speak and listen.

You know, it's always
humbling for me to stand

in front of people and
hear what they need.

You know, it's, it's also
somewhat scary because you, I

you don't want to
disappoint people, you know

cause y'all are equally a part
of Amarillo as anyone else

and you deserve to have a
voice as much as anyone else.

And thank you for
telling me your concerns.

Thank you.

My name is Hayden Pedigo.

- It ended up being
probably my favorite event

I've done just overall.

It was the most gratifying

in terms of why I'm
even doing this.

That's probably the
most meaningful thing
that's happened.

It was great day.

It started off absolutely
terrible with me crying.

And then it ended like that.

And you know, had me
kind of tearing up

for an exact opposite reason,
but it was, it was great.

And gave me a lot
more hope, you know.

- I invited Hayden to
South Sydney celebration.

That's like the time
for them to let loose

and have fun you know.

I want him to come
and show the community

that they're not
alone, you know.

There's somebody that
wants to run for council,

that wants to make a
change, that would be a part

of the change and feel
like we matter as well.

They say there's a Sudanese time

because you say the
event starts at seven

but really the event
won't start till nine

because people won't get
there until nine, you know.

The latest one that
I went to was like,

till eight in the morning,

I told my mom I had
to go, so I left her.

I don't know what
time she got back.

- Yeah, oh, wow.

So they, they get here at 11

and don't leave till
10:00 AM the next day.

- How do they stay awake?

(party music)

- I have to go speak. (yawning)

I'm running for
Amarillo city council

because I want to see
our city get better

for everyone because
sometimes they feel

like it's only gotten better
for certain parts of Amarillo.

Again, thank you all so much.

My name is Hayden Pedigo and
I'm running for city council.

Thank you all.

They were the only group that
didn't treat me like a joke.

I might've given them some hope

but they gave me hope.

It was inspiring but
it was also scary

because this is real
life with real people

that have real hopes
and goals and dreams.

And you're somebody
that could help them.

But if he has the heart,

he will do a lot for the
communities in Amarillo,

not just the
Sudanese community.

- I've never experienced
kindness like that,

and when she said
we love Amarillo

cause', cause' we can
sleep here in peace.

I've never had fear
like that before

and it's wanting to help
them and not know how.

I think that's the thing.

I don't want to let these
people down that we met now

just not knowing
how to help them.

This whole experience
has opened our eyes and

and we can't shut them now.

From what we've learned
and what we've seen

and this shit's gonna be
difficult to move forward

and we're going to move forward,

but trying to figure out

just how to make it
better for people.

Thank you so much for coming,

and those cameraman thank
you guys, fantastic.

I know you guys got
a long long day.

- Thank you for having us.

- All right thank you
so much for everything.

- Very kind, very kind.

(metal rock)

- I really support
him cause' I mean

he's right whenever he says

that younger people don't
care about politics.

I have no idea about any
of the city council stuff

until he started running.

Even while he's been running,

I feel like I've
been more involved

with community stuff
that I would never

been involved with
or even known about.

I honestly couldn't say
a bad thing about Hayden.

(metal rock)

- Today's May 4th election day.

(guitar music)

- We're going to go to a
campaign party tonight.

Oh my strategy is
if you do like,

do just a few little things

people my age normally
can't do, and then a jump.

- There's a lot going
through my head right now.

Mainly just trying to
stay relaxed, you know.

But I'm excited.

- Today was the first day that I

think I ever voted
in a local election.

- Whatever happens tonight
or any night like this

like it's all great initiative.

Pedigo vote. (in unison)

- Vote for Hayden Pedigo.

He's a good man
doing a good thing.

- I haven't voted yet.

I'm just praying
that the Lord goes in

and shows me
who to vote for,

when I go to the ballot,

I'm praying that
he highlights names

and says this person would
be good for the city.

I don't really look at
the political side of it.

I just ask the Lord, who
do you want over your city?

And then he's faithful in
showing me who that is.

(Pop Rock Music)

- We'll see how it goes.

I'll just feel so bad like
having everyone here if I bomb.

Sorry, sorry y'all.

We'll see what happens.

(thunder strikes)

(applause) (cheering)
- Thank you all.

My name is Hayden Pedigo
and I ran for city council.

I got the news that out of
the four people that ran

for place one, I
came in second place.

But I want to tell
you guys tonight,

I'm celebrating and
I feel very excited

because the thing is
this experience has been

beyond beautiful for me.

I never thought I
would be running

for city council in Amarillo.

I never thought I'd be meeting
the peoples and the people

in the communities I did

and I'm inspired
to be living here.

And I want to see the changes
that I've been talking about.

So our city can
progress as a whole.

And even though I lost this
time, this isn't the end for me,

and I think it's
only the beginning.

This is a beautiful
city, but I don't think

we should just be letting
all the 16 up year olds

decide the future of our city
because we live here too.

(applause)

I'm going to say thank you.

I'll say my name
is Hayden Pedigo.

I'm running for city
council, place one.

I lost.

Thank you all so much.

(cheering)

And, I believe now we
have Lake Dabs going on.

Is that correct?

Give it up for Lake Dabs.

(cheering)

(rock music)

- Everybody can kind of
work their way over here.

I think Eddie and Ginger

are going to say a
couple of things.

It's just been an amazing.

I don't know where to start

Two years, two and a
half years, two weeks.

All of it

and you guys have
been at the core of it

and actually it's, it's a
team that the Lord built.

So this has to be something
that the Lord will then.

And honestly, the
other reason I know

that the Lord willed it is
because my right hand person.

- Get over here, how was that?

- Very good.

I'm very proud.

(thunder roars)

(cheerful guitar music)

- Yuki come here, see,
no interest in that.

- That's not my job, okay.

I already created an office
that I elected myself to

which is the chief pain
in the ass around here.

You know, I'm happy with

with retaining that job and
serving as an incumbent.

- I don't think I'd ever want
to be an elected official.

I think you have to
worship at too many altars.

I hope to see that the
same people that are going

to council meetings and
are vocal and out there

doing something and out there
saying, I'm standing for this.

Continue.

- Everybody dies, but
not everybody lives.

And I don't want to be one of
those people that I look back

and didn't use my
life to the fullest.

I mean, truly at
the end of the short

brief time here on
earth, we want to know

that we used our time
to have an impact.

- Our marriage is
really good now.

And I do believe
that the election

and him running brought
us closer just cause'

Hayden has grown from this.

I have grown from this.

I feel like everybody
involved have grown from this.

I think he's got a good heart.

And as long as he
goes into anything

in life and his intentions
are pure, I will support him.

- Hopefully people
can learn that,

I think if there's something
you're passionate about

and you want to speak
up on, you can be heard.

Doesn't mean you're going to
win, but people know about it.

And just putting it out
there, changes the landscape.

And to me, it's like
chopping something down.

I might've put in the
first hit with the ax.

I might've put in the first
chip and there's a lot

of room to go, but I
put out the possibility

that something can be
cut down if we want it.

- I feel like we grew together.

- He definitely inspired me.

- You inspired me.

(guitar music)

(upbeat music)