It’s official.

Jeffrey Olsommer, a supervisor for Sterling Twp. in Wayne County, who also owns an insurance agency, will square off against Robin Skibber, the retired head of Pike County’s Area Agency on Aging, for the 139th Legislative District seat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

Olsommer, a Republican, and Skibber, a Democrat, are vying to replace Rep. Joe Adams, who resigned his seat on Feb. 9, citing personal reasons.

“We live in a special place – a place where you can raise a family, build a business and count on your neighbor,” said Olsommer. “I became a township supervisor to serve my community and help protect our rural way of life. That is why the people of Wayne and Pike counties can trust me to use my proven experience, record of accomplishments and conservative values to make our communities better places to live, work and raise a family.

“My priorities will be those of the people in Pike and Wayne counties – reducing taxes for our hardworking families and seniors on fixed incomes, enacting pro-growth policies to help rural Pennsylvania prosper, investing in our police to reduce crime,empowering parents to have more control over their children’s education, reducing the amount of government intrusion in our daily lives, defending the sanctity of human life and safeguarding our 2nd Amendment rights.”

Skibber coordinated services and administered the budget for the Pike County Area Agency on Aging since 2001. “I’ve spent my career helping people and I look forward to doing the same in a new role,” she said. “In my 22 years, I prioritized efforts to keep seniors in their homes and provide services to prevent premature institutionalization and hospitalization.

“I’ve also always worked in a non-partisan manner, and I am pleased that I have already received support from both sides of the aisle. I’m interested in serving the public, not a political party or extreme ideology. That’s the track record and attitude I will take to Harrisburg.”

The special election is slated for April 23 – the same day as the state’s presidential primary. The victor will serve out the remainder of Adams’ term.

The voters in the 139th will also choose nominees for the fall general election. Skibber is the lone candidate on the Democratic side, while Olsommer and Matthew Contreras are the GOP candidates.

Republicans hold nearly a 2-to-1 advantage in voter registration in the district that comprises the townships of Blooming Grove, Dingman, Greene, Lackawaxen, Milford, Palmyra, Shohola and Westfall and the boroughs of Matamoras and Milford in Pike County, as well as the townships of Cherry Ridge, Dreher, Lake, Lehigh, Palmyra, Paupack, Salem, South Canaan and Sterling and the borough of Hawley in Wayne County.