Cheney mayor candidates vying for spot in primary

The candidates are as diverse as a food court menu:

A 71-year-old female incumbent, a Vietnam veteran chiropractor, a textbook store owner and a Mexican-American maintenance worker are all vying for the job of Cheney mayor. Voters will decide between Mayor Amy Jo Sooy, chiropractor Dennis F. Higbee, businessman Allan Gainer and maintenance worker Hip Sarmiento on the Sept. 20 primary. The top two candidates will run in the Nov. 1 election. Sooy is seeking her third four-year term. Gainer, who along with Sooy is a Cheney High graduate, made an unsuccessful bid for City Council eight years ago.

“It’s an exciting time in Cheney and I want to continue being a part of it,” Sooy said. “Businesses are coming in and things are going along fairly well.”

Higbee and Sarmiento, both longtime workers in Cheney, have never run for office. Higbee, who received a Bronze Star with Valor in the artillery and infantry for his service in Vietnam, said he feels it is time to serve his community. He would like to encourage mentors for school-aged citizens and a better connection between youth and older people.

Sarmiento is well connected in Cheney through his maintenance work with Cheney Real Estate Management.

“I want to rearrange the budgeting and everything,” Sarmiento said. “It’s a little bit too top heavy.”