After a historic November eleciton, the city of Bowie, Maryland, has sworn in its first African-American mayor.
Tim Adams started his first week as mayor on Monday.
"For a lot of people going back and looking at the history of the city itself - that was significant and I embrace that," Adams told News4.
He won 42 percent of the vote and beat out four other candidates, WTOP reported.
But the campaign trail was a challenge for Adams, who is paraplegic.
"You know, it was very very difficult. I won't be [disingenuous] about that. There were many places in the city I went that was unaccessible. I went to areas where we tried to knock doors and there weren't the curb cuts there yet," Adams said.
He said some people questioned his ability to lead.
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"There were those who said they were not comfortable with a mayor who was in a wheelchair, and my job is just to make sure that I'm a mayor for all the people now," he said.
Adams is a successful defense contractor who founded System Application & Technologies, Inc., a multi-million dollar tech company.
His wife, Judge Sheila Tillerson-Adams, is the administrative judge for Prince George's County. They've raised their family in Bowie for nearly 25 years.
"I wouldn't be where I am today if it were not for the city of Bowie," Adams said.
Adams ran on a platform promising the citizens of Bowie better development and more thoughtful planning, which he says he's already started working on in his first few days of office.
