Mark Gilbert Announces Candidacy for Robbins Board of Commissioners

Local small business owner and military veteran Mark Gilbert has announced his candidacy for a seat on the Robbins Board of Commissioners.

Gilbert, who owns Simply Coffee in downtown Robbins with his wife, Eden Holt, said his decision to run comes from a deep appreciation for the town he now calls home.

“I was lucky enough to fall into this town,” Gilbert said.

A 23-year veteran with multiple combat deployments, Gilbert brings decades of leadership and government experience. During his military service, he participated in key leader engagements with towns and villages across the globe.

“I’ve seen government at the strategic and diplomatic level, all the way down to sitting with village elders to talk about how they can improve their community,” Gilbert explained. “That exposure taught me a lot about how to build connections and get things done.”

If elected, Gilbert said one of his priorities will be to help Robbins strengthen its identity and showcase the town’s potential to the rest of Moore County.

“We need to work better on our marketing,” he said. “There are people in Moore County who don’t even know we exist. Depending on which road they take through Robbins, they may only see gas stations, a Domino’s, or a couple of Dollar Generals. But there’s so much more to this town.”

Gilbert believes Robbins should do more to highlight community events like Farmers Day, Freedom Fest, or events at our Green Space, citing examples of how other towns promote festivals with signage across the county. He also supports boosting local businesses by creating incentives to bring in new services.

“There are other businesses that would be welcomed here,” Gilbert said. “We just need to figure out how to make it worth it for them.”

Alongside economic development, Gilbert emphasized accessibility and transparency in town leadership. As a business owner who spends most days at Simply Coffee, he hopes to remain approachable for citizens.

“One thing I want to bring to the commission is accessibility,” he said. “I’m here every day, and anyone can come talk to me. I’ve even thought about starting ‘Coffee with a Commissioner,’ where residents can sit down, share concerns and ideas, and have their voices heard.”

Gilbert said this idea stems from his belief that citizens deserve more opportunities to address their leaders.

“There’s no public speaking at the end of town meetings, only at the beginning,” he said. “If something comes up during the meeting, people should have a chance to respond without waiting a month. I want to provide transparency and accessibility that people deserve.”

Gilbert also pointed to smaller quality-of-life improvements, such as putting trash cans back on Middleton and Salisbury sidewalks and adjusting traffic flow around Hope Academy, which can cause backups on the main road to two other schools.

As a commissioner, Gilbert said his mission will be to serve openly and faithfully while helping Robbins grow into a destination for small businesses and families.

“I believe in this town,” Gilbert said. “We’re not the town of the past that our neighbors remember. Robbins is moving forward, and we need to move forward in leadership.”

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Written by Curtis Self