Who's Running?

Greybull's Town Hall candidates

The following candidates are running unopposed for Greybull's mayor and Town Council positions. Candidates' responses are printed as received, with spelling, grammatical and word-limit edits as needed.

Mayor

Michael Johnston

Bio

My name is Michael Johnston, and I am a candidate for Mayor of Greybull. I am a retired U.S. Army veteran, having served 21 years, and I am also the owner of Red Rock Transport, a Wyoming-based transportation company. Through my business and military experience, I have developed leadership, budgeting, logistics, and problem-solving skills that I believe are valuable in local government.

I have lived in Wyoming for many years and chose to make Greybull my home because of the people and the quality of life. I have been actively involved in our community by attending Town Council meetings, participating in the Chamber of Commerce, serving on community development initiatives, and working to establish a community trade school that would help train the next generation of skilled workers while supporting affordable housing. 

What do you believe are the top issues facing your town?

I believe Greybull’s biggest challenges are economic growth, housing, infrastructure, and preparing our workforce for the future. We need to attract new businesses while supporting the businesses that are already here. We also need more affordable housing options and continued investment in our aging water and sewer infrastructure.

I’m especially passionate about creating opportunities for young people so they can build successful careers without having to leave our community. Growing our local economy and expanding opportunities will help strengthen Greybull for future generations. Wouldn’t it be great that our children can raise their children in Greybull for generations to come? 

With the changes in property taxes creating tighter budgets, what would be your priorities?

Limited budgets require responsible leadership. My priorities would be maintaining essential services, protecting public safety, investing in critical infrastructure, and ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent efficiently.

I believe every expense should be evaluated based on whether it provides measurable value to the community. At the same time, we should aggressively pursue grants, partnerships, and economic development opportunities that bring outside investment into Greybull rather than relying solely on local taxpayers.

What is your stance on government transparency?

I strongly support transparent and open government. Residents deserve to know how decisions are made and how their tax dollars are being spent. Public notices, open meetings, access to public records, and a positive working relationship with the local press are essential to maintaining public trust.

If elected, I want to improve communication by providing regular updates on town projects, encouraging public participation before major decisions are made, and making information easy for residents to access. Good government begins with honest communication.

How will you separate your personal business interests from the interests of the town?

The people of Greybull deserve a mayor who always puts the town first. If a matter comes before the Town Council that presents a conflict of interest involving my personal business or financial interests, I will disclose that conflict and follow Wyoming law and ethical standards, including recusing myself when appropriate.

My goal is not to use public office for personal benefit but to serve the entire community. Every decision I make as mayor will be based on what is in the best long-term interest of Greybull and its residents. My plan for my business is to use it to help facilitate and fund entertainment for the residents and to help fund the trade school and offer scholarships. I also have been approached to sell my business which I am fine with as long as the buyer stays in Greybull. 

Town council

Robert Skillman

Bio 

My full name is Robert C Skillman Jr. I grew up in Ranchester Wy, just over the Bighorns. I Graduated from Tongue River High School in 2001 and went to Sheridan Community College for one year. I have lived in the Greybull area for at least twelve years. My wife and I opened up Bobs Diner and Bakery October 2020 and Skillman Art Productions February 2025. I am registered Republican and have been actively involved in our community through the businesses I own, Big Horn County Arts Guild, being president of the Greybull Area Chamber of Commerce for three years now, and being a part of the Grow Greybull Board. My family and I have chosen to make Greybull our home because of the great and strong sense of community and the hardworking people and of course the quality of small town living. I am running for counsel because I live out what I preach and something I am always preaching to my kids is a famous quote by Thomas Jefferson “Evil triumphs when good men do nothing” I like to believe I am a good man and it is my responsibility to step up and serve my community the best I can.

What do you believe are the top issues facing your town? 

Greybull, like many small towns, has practical challenges that affect daily life and its long term stability.

Economic Vitality: How can we better support our local business and also attract more to our town.

Affordable and Stable Housing: Getting more businesses to our town has become an issue because of the lack of housing.

Fixing and Replacing Existing Infrastructure:

Upgrading our water lines without breaking the bank for our residents.

With the changes in property taxes creating tighter budgets, what would be your priorities? 

Fiscal responsibility and transparency.

With a tighter budget, I will prioritize with discipline and common sense:

1. Public Safety and Core Services First — Adequate funding for police, emergency response, and basic operations that protect lives and property.

2. Essential Infrastructure — Focus on critical repairs and upgrades to water, sewer, and streets. Finish key projects and use preventative maintenance to avoid bigger future expenses. Aggressively pursue grants and state/ federal funding.

3. Fiscal Efficiency — Review every expenditure for value. Look for operational savings, shared services where practical, and competitive yet sustainable compensation to retain good staff.

4. Protect Residents from Rate Shock — Minimize utility rate increases wherever possible. Delay or scale back nonessential projects until revenues stabilize.

5. Transparent Budget Process — Involve the public early with clear information so priorities reflect what residents actually need. I will always ask: Does this expenditure deliver the best long-term value for Greybull taxpayers? Nice-to-haves come after must-haves.

What is your stance on government transparency?

Transparency builds trust — I fully support and will actively uphold Wyoming’s open meetings and public records laws.

Public Notices and Meetings: Ensure agendas and supporting materials are posted well in advance and are easily accessible. Encourage public participation and make meetings as accessible as possible (including recordings or summaries when feasible).

 Public Records: Respond promptly and helpfully to requests.

Communication: Be responsive and straight forward with the local press. Provide regular, clear updates, meetings, and other channels on budgets, projects, and decisions.

Keeping Residents Informed: My approach is proactive — no surprises on major issues. Regular, easy-to-understand communications about what the council is considering and why. Town government works for the people of Greybull, and I will treat every resident as a stakeholder who deserves to know what’s happening. 

How will you separate your personal business interests from the interests of the town? 

Public office is a public trust. My duty is to Greybull and all its residents, not any personal interest.

Full Disclosure and Recusal: If any issue comes before the council that directly affects my personal business, family, or financial interests, I will disclose it openly and recuse myself from discussion and voting.

Town-First Decision Making: Every decision will be evaluated on objective criteria: Does it improve safety, infrastructure, fiscal health, economic opportunity, and quality of life for the broadest number of Greybull residents?

Is it responsible and sustainable?

No Personal Gain: I will never use the office for personal advantage. If a conflict cannot be managed appropriately, I will handle it in the way that best protects the public interest.

The people of Greybull deserve leaders who put the town first — that is the standard I will follow every day.

Bob Williamson

Bio

I am a relatively new resident of Greybull. I have lived here for almost two years, and feel grateful to call this community home. However, Greybull is not new to me or my family. My grandparents moved here in the 1930s and owned the U-Smile Grocery on the south end of town. Family ties to Greybull have remained strong ever since.  I have visited Greybull since the 1960s and I always felt drawn to live here. After a career that took me across the country and around the world, my wife Gayla and I are thrilled to have built our home in the Frontier Subdivision and finally put down roots where I have wanted to be since childhood. I love Wyoming’s wide-open spaces and the Bighorn Mountains that frame this town of wonderful and friendly people.

I earned a bachelor’s degree in Geology in 1985 before commissioning in the U.S. Air Force. Over a 25-year military career, I flew F-15s, instructed in the T-38, commanded a flying training squadron and later a group of six squadrons.  In my final assignment, I served as senior reserve advisor to the commander of Air Education and Training Command. I earned a master’s degree in human resources development from George Washington University as part of my continued education in the military. Gayla and I raised our two children, Rachel and Tyler, with assignments across the U.S. and deployments to Korea, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iceland, and Israel. After retiring from the Air Force, I worked as a business analyst and product manager, trained pilots in Afghanistan as a contractor, and flew for United Airlines, based out of Denver. Retirement has finally allowed us to escape the city life and return to the small-town values and pace we cherish.

Gayla and I enjoy outdoors including skiing, hiking, camping, and biking among other things.  Gayla volunteers at the Thrift Store and I have stayed active in efforts supporting Greybull’s future while we complete our home. We deeply value the small-town charm that makes Greybull special and are committed to preserving it.  I want it to be the place our kids and grandkids want to spend time in as their life allows.

What do you believe are the top issues facing your town? 

I am running for Town Council because I believe my leadership experience in high-stakes, resource-constrained environments—leading teams, managing budgets and operations, and building effective organizations—translates directly to serving our community. Having witnessed the challenges of rapid, unplanned growth in larger cities and bases, I see both the opportunities and risks facing Greybull. Pressing issues include guiding responsible economic development that strengthens our tax base and creates jobs without sacrificing the character that draws people here to live and visit. Initiatives like the Bright Block Initiative, a future trade school, and dinosaur museums in Greybull represent smart, intentional steps to support local businesses and long-term vitality.

With the changes in property taxes creating tighter budgets, what would be your priorities? 

Financial realities are clear: budgets are tight for the town and for families. As a council member, I would focus on fiscal responsibility—prioritizing essential services, seeking efficiencies and partnerships, and ensuring every dollar delivers maximum value to residents. 

What is your stance on government transparency?

Equally important is fostering genuine collaboration between the council, business leaders, and citizens so we are all “paddling in the same direction.” This requires integrity, transparency, and clear communication to build trust and achieve win-win outcomes.

How will you separate your personal business interests from the interests of the town? 

I have no current business interests in Greybull and am fortunate to be financially independent in retirement. Should opportunities arise to invest in projects supporting the town’s responsible growth—as a resource rather than a primary income source—I would fully disclose them and recuse myself from any related decisions where a conflict could even be perceived. My military command and airline experience taught me to weigh choices strictly on their merits for the broader mission and community, not personal gain. Greybull’s success comes first, always.

Greybull has a wonderful community spirit of helping one another. With focused, principled leadership, we can harness that spirit to navigate challenges and secure a prosperous future while staying true to who we are. I would be honored to contribute my experience, perspective, and dedication to that effort.

For State Candidates, see: https://lovellchronicle-wy.newsmemory.com/?special=BHC+Election+Edition