Robin Adams has announced that she will run as a Republican candidate for Tioga County commissioner.

Adams, 51, believes Tioga County residents “are ready for fresh perspectives,” noting the current commissioners will have served a combined 60 years in the office, according to a press release.

Adams, a Wellsboro native, has worked in and with all levels of government. Among other state-level positions, Adams worked as a program specialist and legislative specialist.

Later in her career, she served the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as a speechwriter within the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the press release said.

Since her return to Wellsboro, Adams has owned and operated three businesses and founded a nonprofit organization that serves children and families impacted by substance use. She remains deeply committed to improving the well-being of Tioga County’s children, according to the release.

“I’m passionate about vulnerable children yet disappointed in our local officials’ efforts. There’s a lot of hand-wringing but little action,” Adams said.

She plans to keep children in the spotlight and continue working on expanding behavioral health services while preventing additional drug overdoses across the county. Adams believes increasing access to behavioral health services creates a ripple effect that benefits employers, too, by helping to build a healthier workforce, the release said.

For the past several years, Adams has urged county officials to make documents like budgets available to the public on the county website.

“Most public hearings are held to solicit the public’s input on how to spend our limited dollars. Not entrusting the public to view the actual documents, which are the subjects of the hearings, is not a correct application of the statute and builds mistrust,” said Adams.

She cites this example as just one of the ways she plans to modernize county government and make transparency the norm.

“Tioga County has an abundance of resources, including an abundance of smart, well-intentioned citizens who have been waiting to be considered and heard,” she said.

Adams also plans to engage constituents actively and hold live-streamed roundtables throughout the county.

“While I agree we should keep a keen eye on managing our budget, there are smart ways to invest in the everyday people who live and work here,” she said. “At the very least you and your neighbors deserve a say. While Tioga County’s picturesque landscape, strong business community, good schools, and numerous places of worship make our surroundings near perfect, our living rooms need help.”

Adams lives in Wellsboro with her husband, Sean, and son, Asa. She is the CEO of Milestone Innovations and I’mPACT, and co-owner of The Roost restaurant.

To learn more about Adams’ campaign, visit www.voterobinadams.com, call 570-948-1361, or engage through Facebook at www.facebook.com/voterobinadams.