Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
>> Representative Atkins thank you for joining us today. >> It is my pleasure thank you for having
me. >> tell us a little bit about yourself your
district and your professional career. >> I represent the district I was born in,
I've been in Inver Grove all my life I went to school there and church there and now raise
my family there. Previous to serving in the Minnesota House I serve on the school board
for a couple of years and that I retired from politics when I was like 24 or something like
that when I was done at being on the school board and later got elected mayor and then
started serving here. My outside shot this practicing law have a small law firm in South
St. Paul and outside of that I enjoy doing things with my family. I have three children
and go to basketball games and that kind of stuff is a lot of fun.
>> what are your top legislative priorities? >> probably the same as most. Making sure
kids are educated well and the budget is balanced and you look at Washington with a print more
money sometimes and just balance it that way we actually balance the budget here in Minnesota
and. Health-care making sure that people get decent care and the go to the hospital and
going to the doctor. I think the same sort of things that are important to most Minnesotans.
>> what you see as the biggest challenge facing your district?
>> our district as the same sort of challenges that everyone does. We wanna make sure kids
get educated well, that folks are going to work, in fact we're fortunate in Dakota County
where I live we have the lowest unemployment rates not just in the state of Minnesota but
all across the country our jobless rate is around 4%. Folks have jobs the kids get educated
well, health care is sound, those of the sorts of issues that are important.
>> what is the most difficult aspect of being a legislator?
>> probably the same thing is for all my colleagues, is a challenge to balance especially when
you're also trying to work outside the Legislature like I am trying to balance that and be a
good husband and a good dad and and do good job representing folks here at the capitol.
>> if given a chance who would like to beat for a day, or who would like to exchange rules
with? >> honestly am happy being myself, I would
like to be a younger version of myself suddenly woke up one day and all this gray hair I,
my Achilles and could run faster and more, so just having a good time doing what I'm
going. . .