Robbie Skinner

Robbie Skinner knew he wanted to be mayor of Buckhannon, WV, at a very young age.

“I have loved Buckhannon my entire life, and I always had a strong desire to give back to this community in a big way,” he says. “I’ve known every street, landmark, business and house—and who lived there—my entire life.”

Skinner describes an idyllic childhood growing up in a neighborhood surrounded by family and friends.

“Dad took my brother, cousins and me fishing on Sunday afternoons over at Stonewall Jackson Lake, and when I was old enough, he taught me how to play golf, a hobby I still enjoy with him today,” he says.

West Virginia is an important part of Skinner’s identity, and his grandfather instilled in him the value of exploring. He takes every opportunity he can get to explore the state to its fullest.

“As a landscape photographer, the entire state of West Virginia is my playground. I have visited all 55 counties, hiked through every state park, driven thousands of miles on every state highway, captured breathtaking mountain scenery and challenged myself to see some of the most hidden and protected waterfalls and landscape views,” he says. “We are so blessed to live amongst such incredible natural beauty here in West Virginia, and I love seeing it all through every season.”

Skinner’s love of the Mountain State runs deep. When he took office as mayor of Buckhannon in July 2020, he felt he was fulfilling a lifelong dream.

“Each day presents its own set of opportunities and obstacles, but I love working directly with the people of my hometown,” he says. “I also love seeing my decisions, and the decisions our City Council makes, create visible, tangible, positive development in our community.”

Skinner’s biggest challenge as mayor came in October 2021 when a historic building on Main and Spring streets caught fire, destroying the four businesses inside and the building’s second-floor apartments.

“We lost so much that day: history, homes, businesses, personal belongings and an 18,000-square-foot structural anchor along our beautiful Main Street,” he says.

Skinner knew it was crucial that he exude calm leadership to help pull his city through its loss. While the misfortune was heartbreaking, the disaster also brought out the best of Buckhannon. The chamber of commerce and visitors bureau provided drinking water for firefighters, and neighboring restaurants fed them that evening once the fire was out.

“I’ve said on multiple occasions that Buckhannon is a family, and nothing was truer that day,” Skinner says. “We saw a terrible tragedy expose the very best of our community spirit, and for that, I was extremely proud to serve as mayor of a truly amazing city.”

As if fulfilling his mayoral duties isn’t enough, Skinner also serves on the boards of directors of the West Virginia Municipal League, Upshur County Development Authority, St. Joseph’s Foundation, Buckhannon-Upshur Chamber of Commerce, West Virginia Strawberry Festival Association and Artistry on Main. He is also a charter member of Create Buckhan­non, where he and other Buckhannon leaders focus on the preservation and growth of the city’s historic downtown.

“I am driven to always give back to my community, region and state,” he says. “I am very involved in my community, aside from serving as mayor, and have been for many years. I love this community, and I had an extraordinary childhood growing up here. The drive to always give back comes from those experiences. I want to ensure that the next generations can enjoy their childhood in a Buckhannon that is even better than it was when I was young. Serving as mayor of my hometown is the ultimate labor of love.”