(5/2019) Beginning in 2012, Emmitsburg News Journal Publisher Mike Hillman invited the newly seated Adams County Board of Commissioners to keep residents informed of Adam County news by submitting a column to the ENJ. We as a Board accepted that invitation, never missed a month, and by my rough calculation with this month's submissions, we have thus submitted approximately 89 articles.

Publisher Hillman has had a unique opportunity and platform to review our body of work as commissioners over the past eight years, evaluate our position on a variety of issues and assess our accomplishments. He has attended and covered many of the events we attend. He has gotten to know each one of us personally. Thus, it is with significant pride, that I can report that Mike Hillman and The Emmitsburg News Journal has chosen in this issue of the ENJ to endorse Commissioner Jim Martin and myself for the contested Republican Primary Election on May 21. Jim and I are both appreciative and honored that the publisher has enough trust in our past performance, abilities and accomplishments, to come out and publically endorse us for four more years. Support such as this is earned over time and simply reinforces our consistent commitment to continue our enthusiastic and dedicated service to Adams County residents for four more years!

My primary allegiance and responsibility as county commissioner is to effectively represent the residents of Adams County. I hopefully have lived up to that responsibility! As the County Commissioner Association of Pennsylvania Board of Directors Region 3 Representative, I have been selected, for the past six years, by twenty-nine of my county commissioner colleagues, in nine other counties to our west, to represent them on the Board of CCAP. This is certainly an honor bestowed on me by my peers; but also provides me with enhanced knowledge of issues, resources and input to better serve Adams County. I also serve on the Adams County Land Conservancy Board of Directors, the Adams Regional EMS Board of Directors and the Penn State Mount Alto Advisory Board.

As the Adams County Commissioner Board Chairman, I believe the current Board of Commissioners has much to be proud of. Looking back over the past eight years, numerous accomplishments stand out. We began our tenure with funding and implementing the sorely needed county-wide 911 digital emergency radio project to protect our residents and emergency responders. The project had been languishing and unfunded for several years. I am happy to report it has been deemed extremely successful by our county emergency responders. We also successfully re-structured and consolidated several departments for greater efficiency including tax services and planning. The new Human Services Building project proved both fiscally responsible and operationally effective, by getting the county out of rents and leases and assuring that departments were together for improved collaboration and service. This massive undertaking also resulted in a greatly improved space for both residents and staff, with the project enabling the repurposing of a vacant yearbook plant along with 26 additional acres for the future use. The benefits of the Human Services facility will resonate for decades.

We have an exceptionally good relationship with our legislators and other elected officials that produces results. I am very proud to have played a role in the long awaited Adams County Law Enforcement Firearms Training Range beside the 911 Center becoming a reality. Due to the formation of a private/public partnership, the range was built at no expense to county taxpayers with over $175,000 raised. There is some more work to be done; but the range is currently in use for training by Adams County law enforcement personnel. As a result of Adams County's health joinder relationship with York County, we are currently in the process of leading an initiative to turn the vacant Mercy House beside St Francis Church into a community substance counseling center as well as a residential treatment center for seven males in recovery. This will soon become reality as the first such facility in Adams County. The fiscal health of any governmental entity is critical and a primary responsibility of elected officials. I can proudly report that the state of Adams County fiscally is in excellent shape because of overall fiscal conservatism, prudent budgeting, good investment, and effective fiscal oversight that has resulted in two bond increases to AA+ during this Board's tenure. The economic forecast for Adams County is cautiously optimistic with residential building overall picking up; but more appropriate commercial development is desirable.

Four years ago when Commissioner Martin and I ran for our second term as Adams County Commissioner our campaign motto was as follows: Experience, Leadership, Common Sense and Vision. This time we have added one more very important word to those four. It is the word Results. Experience, Leadership, Common Sense & Vision = Results. We do not need to tell you what we can do, what we might do and who we are? You already know. that!

It is distinct privilege for Jim and I to serve as your Adams County Commissioners - and we would be honored by your continued support!

No matter what you do in Adams County, get out there and experience all the historical, recreational, agricultural, natural and cultural opportunities that beautiful Adams County has to offer!