MARTINSVILLE, Va. (Feb. 25, 2014) – Martinsville Mayor Kim Adkins announced at the Martinsville City Council meeting that she is seeking the Democratic nomination for Virginia Senate in the 20th District currently held by State Sen. Bill Stanley, R-Glade Hill. She will not seek re-election as a member of city council.

The election for Senate will be held in November 2015.

Adkins said she announced early because once she made her decision to run for state office she had an obligation to tell the citizens of Martinsville what her plans were moving forward.

“It has been an honor serving as Martinsville’s mayor, and I will continue to serve in this role until my term expires on Jan. 1, 2015,” Adkins said.

Adkins was elected mayor in July, 2010, immediately after being sworn-in to her first term on council. She was re-elected mayor on Jan. 1, 2013.

“I will continue to do the best that I can as Mayor and to be a positive voice for the City of Martinsville. If I am fortunate to win this Senate seat, I hope to take my experiences as Mayor and my commitment to serving the public to Richmond,” Adkins said.

The district represents all of Martinsville, Galax and the counties of Henry and Patrick and part of Danville and the counties of Carroll, Franklin, Halifax and Pittsylvania.

Adkins said her time on the city council, professional background and civic leadership positions have provided her with the experience to help Southern Virginia as a state Senator.

“I have learned if I wait for the perfect time to do something I will be waiting for a very long time. I know winning this seat is going to be tough, but I am willing to take a chance because I love this community, and I think I can bring a perspective to Richmond to help our region to tackle our unique challenges,” she said.

Adkins is a small business owner of a marketing, public relations and fundraising consulting firm, which she opened in 2013. She is the former chief executive of the West Piedmont Workforce Investment Board and the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce.

Prior to the Chamber, Adkins was the director of corporate communications and investor relations with Tultex Corp and worked for the National Rifle Association.

Adkins is currently a member of the West Piedmont Planning District Commission and has completed the Virginia Certified Planning Commissioners Program. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism from the University of Maryland and is a graduate of Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership.

She has served on numerous boards and commissions across the region.

For 25 years, Adkins has been married to Jeff Adkins, a former standout in basketball from the University of Maryland and the current varsity boys’ basketball coach for Martinsville High School. Jeff is also a small business owner. They have two children, Jack, who is a senior and a member of the golf team at Elon University and Claire, a freshman and swimmer at James Madison University.