Former councilwoman announces bid for Henderson mayor

By Jeremy Twitchell

Friday, Oct. 3, 2008 | 7:25 p.m.

Former City Councilwoman Amanda Cyphers became the first declared candidate for Henderson mayor, saying voters urged her to run to succeed Jim Gibson, who will be ineligible to run next spring.

Cyphers, who served on the council from 1995 to 2007, announced her candidacy Thursday, setting aside a successful career in residential real estate to return to politics.

"I started to receive phone calls from citizens who were saying 'We miss you, we need you back,'" Cyphers said. "I'm one of those people that, when someone asks for help, I'm usually there."

Cyphers said she discussed a run for mayor with her husband, Mike, who is Henderson's emergency management coordinator, and son Colin, 9.

Their response was one that Cyphers said she heard repeatedly from friends and co-workers when she mentioned the idea: "This is where you belong."

Cyphers said she developed close ties to the community during her 12 years in office and said that connection would be her greatest strength.

"That's been one of my greatest strengths — my relationship with the citizens," she said. "I know my place, and I know that they are my bosses."

The announcement could set up a showdown with one or more of her former colleagues on the council. Though Cyphers is the only one to have announced, Councilmen Andy Hafen and Steve Kirk are both widely rumored to be considering a run. Both are in the middle of their final terms on the council.

The filing period will be open Jan. 27 to Feb. 6. The municipal primary will be April 7 and, if no candidate captures more than 50 percent of the vote, a general election will be June 2.

Cyphers said she has developed strong working relationships with both men, and a race against one or both of them would not change that.

"The way I view it, we have something in common," she said. "We're running for a seat. We're not running against each other. In the end, the voters will decide who they think will best represent them."

If elected, Cyphers said, one of her goals would be to create a volunteer network called Henderson Helping Henderson — the city, churches and senior and other community groups working to recruit volunteers and put them to work in Henderson.

"When they're able to help within their own city, people are more willing to help out," she said. "But if they're able to help within their own community or neighborhood, then they're very, very willing to help out. There's such a huge resource out there, and we need to tap into it."

Cyphers also pledged to be a full-time mayor if elected. She has allowed her real estate license to expire and said that her time off from politics has given her a new perspective on the city.

"I'm the one that walked away from politics," she said. "I got a good perspective. I know where the problems are, I know who the player are."

Cyphers said she has been happy focusing on her family in her time off and wouldn't be returning to politics if she weren't convinced it was the right thing to do.

"It really is in my heart," she said. "This passion is back and it feels right."

Jeremy Twitchell can be reached at 990-8928 or [email protected].