Richard (Rick) Cheatum

Rep. Richard "Rick" Cheatum is a Republican state representative from Pocatello, currently serving his second term in the Idaho House of Representatives for District 28 Seat A. The district covers portions of Bannock County (Pocatello) and Power County (the American Falls area). He was first elected in 2022 and re-elected in 2024 in a three-way Republican primary, as documented on his Ballotpedia profile. He is seeking re-election in the May 19, 2026 Republican primary.

Background

Cheatum was born in western Kansas on a farm near Syracuse and moved to Idaho in 1977. He earned a B.S. in broadcast journalism from the University of Kansas in 1972. His career has spanned managing a Pocatello radio station starting in 1977, automobile sales as Honda sales manager at Ted's Inc. from 1985 to 2001, Idaho Wireless Corp. from 2002 to 2006, and multiple positions at Idaho State University Federal Credit Union from approximately 2006 until his retirement in 2017, including roles in marketing, business development, and indirect lending, as documented on his Idaho Legislature member profile. He has been married to his wife Debra ("Debbie") for more than 34 years and has one daughter and one stepson. He is an NRA life member and active in hunting and conservation groups including Safari Club International, the Mule Deer Foundation, the National Wild Turkey Federation, Ducks Unlimited, and Friends of the NRA.

Political Career

Cheatum was elected to the Pocatello City Council in 2017 (Seat 6) and re-elected in 2021, serving as Council President in 2022 and 2023 across approximately eight years of service before not seeking re-election. He served as council liaison to the airport commission, transportation planning, development authority, historic downtown, senior center, and community-action agency, and as a regional director of the Association of Idaho Cities. He has also served as past president of Portneuf Valley Partners, past chair of Chamber Chiefs, on the Idaho Central Credit Union board (including as chair), and as chair of the Pocatello-Chubbuck Chamber of Commerce Local Issues Committee. He was first elected to the Idaho House in 2022. His committee assignments in the 2025-2026 biennium include Business, Local Government, and Revenue & Taxation. He opposed House Bill 93 (the 2025 Parental Choice Tax Credit), as reported by Idaho EdNews, and voted against 2025 legislation that would have restricted legislators from simultaneously holding certain local elected offices, as reported by the Idaho Capital Sun.

Policy Positions

Cheatum's stated philosophy is "moderate conservative" with an emphasis on listening and local solutions. In a 2024 candidate questionnaire he wrote, "I consider myself a moderate conservative and have learned I do not have all the answers, I need to listen to others of every political persuasion, and I can be wrong. I want to protect personal freedoms, every individual's right to make their own decisions, and perform the necessary functions of government with the lightest touch." He has no personal agenda and believes "the best government is the one closest to the electorate," as documented in an East Idaho News candidate Q&A. His priorities include managing growth-driven demand on water, sewer, transportation, housing, labor, and compliance through local-authority input rather than one-size-fits-all state mandates. He has called for fiscal notes that include realistic local-government impacts and opposes omnibus bills bundling unrelated provisions. On growth: "We cannot stop the growth, but we can look for innovative ways to manage and accommodate the growth while sustaining the lifestyle that is attracting the new residents."

Political Alignment

Cheatum presents as a moderate, locally grounded Republican drawing on decades of Pocatello civic involvement, chamber leadership, and city-council service. Coverage has consistently described him as a moderate Republican focused on local-control conservatism and growth management. His civic honors include the Pocatello-Chubbuck Chamber Volunteer of the Year, the ISU College of Education Volunteer of the Year, and Idaho Fish and Game awards.

Campaign and Endorsements

Cheatum is running for re-election in the May 19, 2026 Republican primary against James Lamborn and Mike Saville. In 2024 he won the three-way Republican primary with 40 percent to Lamborn's 33 percent. His campaign coalition reflects local Pocatello business, civic, and conservation interests built across nearly a decade of city-council and Idaho House service. The general election is November 3, 2026.