(3/2021) Early every year I take some time to develop a list of priorities. It helps me remain focused and, in some ways, invigorated to step into the new year. My list for 2020 fell apart pretty quickly and by the Spring it was simply COVID, COVID, and COVID. So far 2021 has been dominated by COVID related matters, but it is finally subsiding and I am able to focus on some project goals for 2021.

Before I get into my goals for 2021, let me say my peace on 2020.

Science is a good thing. I’ll trust scientists over politicians any day. Please wear your mask and get the vaccine.

Black lives matter. Until we lift up those that have been held back, we will end up holding everyone back. Please remember the conclusion of our pledge of allegiance "with liberty and justice for all".

It is a national embarrassment that many still believe, despite all of the evidence to the contrary, that our elections are not safe and secure and that this delusion lead to an armed uprising.

Onward to 2021.

After soliciting advice from residents and reflecting on existing challenges in Adams County, I have come up with the following four priority areas for 2021. In no particular order my priorities are, (1) election education, (2) supporting the @Home in Adams Initiative, (3) increasing affordable broadband access, and (4) developing a plan for a women’s substance abuse recovery house. These are not lofty unattainable goals, these are right in front of us. All we lack is the will to accomplish these goals.

2020 saw an unprecedented amount of voter confusion and election misinformation. This resulted in a large portion of the public feeling that the 2020 election was invalid. It is important to note that in PA the state creates the rules, but counties are the boots on the ground running the election. I plan to focus on processes that we use to manage elections here in Adams County and throughout the state. For example, there are still elected officials in PA stating that over 200,000 extra votes were cast in this election than voters. This was simply people using incomplete data and coming to the wrong conclusion. That isn’t evidence of voter fraud, it’s evidence of system under intense stress and some counties filing data slower than others.

My intention in drawing attention to this issue will be to pull back the veil and assist voters in understanding the process of how a candidate gets onto the ballot, how ballots are processed, counted, and eventually certified. I am not an expert on this, but I do have access to county and state staff willing to help explain this process. While I have full faith in our election process, I do also believe that we have areas to improve. But first we need to be educated on how elections work.

Supporting the @Home in Adams initiative is something we should all get behind. @Home has been doing a deep dive into the relationship between affordable housing, transportation, and our workforce needs. In a county where over half of our workers travel outside of the county for work, we owe it to ourselves to learn more. A great example of their work so far is the new RabbitTransit bus route established between Gettysburg, New Oxford, and Hanover. This will be a huge help in getting employees to three important county employment centers and beyond.

Prior to the pandemic it was clear that portions of our broadband infrastructure in Adams County was inadequate. After 2020 it is without a doubt one of the leading challenges to our future success. Affordable high speed internet in no longer a luxury. Affordable high-speed internet is vital for students learning remotely, employees working from home, obtaining medical appointments or scheduling a covid-19 vaccine, and other vital business transactions. Inadequate internet access is already holding us back, if this continues Adams County there could be lasting impacts on our local economy and quality of life.

Lastly, the pandemic may have slowed down construction on the Mercy House substance abuse recovery center, but we are now on track for a Spring open house. To refresh your memory, the Mercy house will be the first substance abuse recovery center in Adams County. It will provide educational and supporting services for any residents seeking solutions to addictions. It will also have affordable apartments for up to seven adult working men actively in recovery. While the doors are not even open yet, we already know we have a need for a women’s recovery house. If the outpouring of support for the Mercy House is any indication, we should be able to develop a plan and obtain funding in 2021 to break ground on a women’s recovery house in 2022.

These topics will not be the only things that I work on this year, but these will be my top priorities. If any of you have input, questions, or would like to help on these or any issue in the county do not hesitate to contact me at mqually@adamscounty.us. Let’s do our best to make 2021 a turning point in our county.