Richard Johnson Announces Cheyenne City Council Re-Election Bid

Ward III Cheyenne City Councilman Richard Johnson has announced that he is running for another term on the council.

Johnson is a lifetime Cheyenne resident who attended Bain Elementary School, Johnson Junior High School, and East High School. Johnson was first elected to the council in 2014, serving one term. He did not run for re-election in 2018 but returned to win election to the council in 2020.

Johnson has been an extremely active council member in his two terms, tackling issues as diverse as allowing Cheyenne residents to keep chickens to substance abuse to helping small businesses.

Among his achievements, he points to helping to raise almost $3 million for Cheyenne projects including the Cheyenne Skatepark and the Depot Splashboard. He says he has also helped local small businesses navigate the city council process.

Johnson prides himself on his transparency, often floating ideas in the media and through opinion articles to get a reaction from the public before moving forward. Among the awards he has received during his time on council, Johnson has been honored with the 2018 Downtown Main Street Award, being elected as council Vice-President in 2022, President of the Council in 2023, and was the first-ever Volunteer of the Year for Blue Cross/Blue Shield.

Johnson Explains His Philosophy On Council Service

Johnson told Townsquare Media that his philosophy on the council is much like how people should approach campsites, with the idea of leaving things better than you found them.

He says if he wins another term his priorities will include housing choice vouchers and further conversations about substance abuse and mental health.

Wyoming's primary election is slated for August 20. Under Wyoming law, mayoral and city council elections are non-partisan. That means candidates do not affiliate with a political party and don't receive partisan nominations. Instead, the top two candidates for each open seat advance to the general election, assuming at least two people have filed to run. So with two Ward III seats open, four candidates could advance in Ward III to the November General Election from the primary election.

Candidates have until May 31 to file to run in the primary.