CHEYENNE — Jim Chiro, a retired U.S. Air Force medic and long-time federal employee, is seeking the Ward 1 seat on Cheyenne City Council with a platform built around community service, measured development and increasing local amenities.
Background and community roots
Chiro, originally from Florida, has lived in Cheyenne for roughly two-and-a-half years and owns property in Medicine Bow since 2010. He previously lived in Buffalo, New York. His career includes 33 years with the Air Force and 26 years with the Department of Homeland Security. He also holds a degree in criminal justice from the University of Georgia.
Community involvement figures heavily in Chiro’s decision to run. He described a hands-on approach to neighborhood upkeep that he said has followed him to every place he has lived.
“Everywhere that I’ve lived, I’ve always been very community-oriented. … I believe in helping out your neighbor.”
Chiro said he currently helps maintain several lawns in his neighborhood — including those for a single mother and an elderly resident — and participates in alley cleanups, hauling discarded furniture and other trash to the transfer station. He used a simple metaphor to explain his outlook on neighborhood appearance: maintaining the small things matters to the overall community.
Priorities: streets, airport connections and recreation
Improving city streets is a primary focus for Chiro. He listed curb repairs, paving and resurfacing among the issues he would push to address if elected, and said he plans to make himself available to residents and follow up on their concerns.
- Infrastructure: Curb repairs, paving and resurfacing of neighborhood streets.
- Airport service: Pursuing expanded options at Cheyenne Regional Airport, including charter flights.
- Recreation: Exploring the possibility of bringing minor league baseball to Cheyenne, with initial use of Pioneer Park and a longer-term stadium proposal.
On airport service, Chiro said he has discussed potential opportunities with Cheyenne Regional Airport Director Doug Bullock. He suggested possibilities such as regular charter service to Las Vegas or more connections to destinations like Dallas, rather than relying solely on Denver for air travel.
Chiro also expressed interest in establishing a minor league baseball presence in Cheyenne. He said he is working with two potential sponsors under confidentiality agreements. The immediate idea would be to use Pioneer Park for practices and some games, with an eventual plan to develop a larger stadium on a parcel he estimated at about 80 acres in his longer-term vision.
Approach to development and governance
Chiro framed his proposals around what he described as responsible growth: adding amenities that improve quality of life while ensuring development is controlled. He did not provide detailed plans or timelines for the airport or stadium proposals, emphasizing instead responsiveness to residents’ needs and hands-on problem solving at the neighborhood level.
His public-service background and local volunteer efforts are the backbone of his campaign pitch, and he said those experiences inform how he would approach constituent services on the City Council.
| Area | Chiro's Focus |
|---|---|
| Neighborhoods | Yard maintenance, alley cleanups, resident outreach |
| Infrastructure | Curb repairs, paving, resurfacing |
| Air service | Charter flights, connections beyond Denver |
| Recreation | Minor league baseball, Pioneer Park use, future stadium |
Chiro’s campaign highlights several questions for voters to consider about the city’s future: how to balance neighborhood maintenance and municipal infrastructure with new amenities that could stimulate economic activity, and how to pursue expanded air service in a way that is sustainable for Cheyenne Regional Airport. The candidate’s emphasis on being a visible, accessible council member complements his proposals, but specifics on financing, timelines and partner commitments for projects such as a stadium or expanded airline service were not provided.
Cheyenne voters in Ward 1 will evaluate Chiro’s record of federal service, local volunteer work and the feasibility of his proposals as the campaign progresses.
