Бывший сотрудник Пентагона Джим Чиро баллотируется в городской совет Чейенна за развитие и ответственное планирование

CHEYENNE — Jim Chiro, a retired U.S. Air Force medic and former Department of Homeland Security employee, is hoping to represent Cheyenne’s Ward 1 on City Council with an emphasis on community service, responsible growth and bringing new amenities to Wyoming’s capital city. Chiro, who is originally from Florida and previously lived in Buffalo, New York, said he has owned property in Medicine Bow since 2010 and has lived in Cheyenne for two-and-a-half years. He spent 26 years with the Department of Homeland Security and 33 years with the Air Force, and holds a criminal justice degree from the University of Georgia. Chiro’s community involvement, he said, is central to his decision to run for office. “Everywhere that I’ve lived, I’ve always been very community-oriented,” Chiro said. “… I believe in helping out your neighbor.” He said he currently helps maintain several lawns in his neighborhood, including those belonging to a single mother, an elderly resident and other families. He also said he has helped clean up dumped furniture, cabinets and other trash from city alleys, taking the items to the transfer station. “You can’t have a shiny nickel if you’re surrounded by tarnished pennies,” Chiro said. “That’s just how I am. I get out there and I help the city out.” If elected, he said he would make himself available to residents and follow up on their concerns. Among his priorities would be improving streets and addressing issues like curb repairs, paving and resurfacing. He also wants to expand air service at the Cheyenne Regional Airport. Chiro said he has been talking with airport director Doug Bullock on potential charter flights and additional airline service. He said a possibility would be having a regular charter flight to Las Vegas, or connecting flights to Dallas rather than solely Denver. He’s also interested in bringing minor league baseball to Cheyenne. Chiro said he is working with two potential sponsors, but could not identify them due to confidentiality agreements. He said his initial vision would be to use Pioneer Park for practices and games before eventually developing a new stadium. His longer-term proposal involves an approximately 80-acre property near where Park-n-Ride buses are parked for Cheyenne Frontier Days, which he said could potentially be annexed and used for a stadium. He said the project could create construction jobs for locals, and provide another source of entertainment and community activity. “I think it’ll really be a good thing,” Chiro said. “We deserve it. Cheyenne deserves something.” He said the team would be Single-A minor league baseball rather than a higher-level professional team. Another major issue he would address is industrial development. While he said he supports economic development and small businesses, he expressed concern about building thousands of additional data centers in the area. He said that rapidly changing technology could eventually make some facilities obsolete, potentially leaving the city with large amounts of vacant, specialized development. He also expressed concern about the longer effects of large-scale development on surrounding property owners. Chiro said his approach to growth would focus on balancing development with the interests of existing residents. “It’s controlled growth, responsible growth, and you’re looking out for your neighbors,” Chiro said. “If I have to live in a subdivision next to 3,400 acres, I bought that subdivision to be out there in the country. What about those people’s property rights? … You got to look out for everybody.” He said city officials should consider other forms of economic development, including call centers, redevelopment of abandoned buildings and mixed-use developments that combine businesses and housing. His broader vision, he said, is to encourage economic development while preserving the character that attracted him to Cheyenne. “I truly, truly, truly care about the city,” Chiro said. “I will fight to my last dying breath. People thought I was crazy. (They said), ‘You’re going to go to windy, cold Wyoming?’ as if I don’t understand the mentality and the beauty of the state. I left Florida to come here.” Regardless of the outcome of the election, he said he plans to remain involved in the community. “Win or lose, I will continue being the person that I am, helping my neighbor in doing cleanup, in holding the city and (city engineer) responsible for curb repair, paving the streets, resurfacing, all that type of stuff,” Chiro said. “… I have to live in Ward 1 to run for Ward 1. I care about every house from here all the way down to the south side.” Chiro will appear on the Aug. 18 primary election ballot for the council’s Ward 1 seat, which is currently held by Larry Wolfe, who was appointed in November and is not seeking election. He is one of nine candidates in the nonpartisan race, and only two will advance to the Nov. 3 general election.