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John Atkins (Delaware)
John C. Atkins is a former Democratic member of the Delaware House of Representatives, representing District 41 from 2009 to 2015. He switched parties, from Republican to Democrat, in 2008.
Biography
Atkins is the owner of Blue Hen Disposal.[1]
Committee assignments
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Atkins served on the following committees:
| Delaware committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Agriculture, Chair |
| • Gaming & Parimutuels |
| • Manufactured Housing |
| • Natural Resources |
| • Telecommunication Internet & Technology, Vice Chair |
| • Veterans Affairs |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Atkins served on these committees:
| Delaware committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Agriculture, Chair |
| • Corrections, Vice Chair |
| • Manufactured Housing |
| • Natural Resources |
| • Public Safety & Homeland Security, Vice Chair |
| • Sunset Committee (Policy Analysis & Government Accountability) |
| • Veterans Affairs |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Atkins served on these committees:
| Delaware committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Agriculture, Vice Chair |
| • Corrections, Vice Chair |
| • Energy |
| • Manufactured Housing |
| • Natural Resources |
| • Public Safety & Homeland Security, Vice Chair |
| • Joint Sunset |
| • Sunset Committee (Policy Analysis & Government Accountability) |
| • Veterans Affairs |
Issues
Sponsored legislation
Atkins' sponsored legislation includes:
- HB 107 - "requires that any rental payments or rental increases shall be paid in equal, pro rata, amounts extended equally over a calendar year. Any requirement of a lump sum payment for rent shall be forbidden, unless the tenant requests such payment, and the owner/landlord agrees to such lump sum payment."
- HB 215 - "The State of Delaware spent more than 9 million dollars in FY2008 publishing legal notices in newspapers throughout the State. This Act will use the internet as a means to modernize the notice requirements for procurement bids, agency meetings, and public hearings. This Act will require State agencies to electronically publish notice of all procurement contracts subject to the bid requirements of Chapter 69 of Title 29 by January 1, 2010."
- HB 258 - "increases, from $34.50 to $65.00, the filing fee assessed by the Superior Court in connection with an application for a license to carry a concealed deadly weapon."
For details and a full listing of sponsored bills, see the House site.
Resignation from safety committee
After making derogatory statements about a policeman, State Rep. John Atkins resigned from the Delaware House of Representatives' public safety committee in late March 2012.[2]
After he was pulled over for speeding, Atkins complained about the traffic officer in a strongly worded email to state police. According to reports, the email blasted the policeman and hinted that the representative could seek revenge in the legislature. Atkins has said that media have misconstrued his email, but did not specify how. Because of resulting media outcry, Atkins resigned his position on the Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee.[2]
Atkins had recently come under scrutiny over tire-burning on his father-in-law's property. A former state trooper confronted Atkins at the scene, and wound up punching Atkins. The ex-trooper says Atkins has covered up his complicity in the tire-burning. Atkins says he was not involved the illegal activity, and his father-in-law plead guilty. The state Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control reviewed the incident and decided not to charge Rep. Atkins.[3]
Elections
2014
Elections for the Delaware House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on September 9, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was July 8, 2014. Incumbent John C. Atkins was unopposed in the Democratic primary, while Richard G. Collins was unopposed in the Republican primary. Atkins was defeated by Collins in the general election.[4][5][6]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican |  Richard G. Collins |
52.2% | 3,189 | |
| Democratic | John C. Atkins Incumbent | 47.8% | 2,919 | |
| Total Votes | 6,108 | |||
2012
Atkins ran in the 2012 election for Delaware House of Representatives District 41. Atkins ran unopposed in the Democratic primary on September 11, 2012 and defeated Richard Collins in the general election on November 6, 2012.[7]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | John Atkins Incumbent |
50.4% | 4,421 | |
| Republican | Richard Collins | 49.6% | 4,352 | |
| Total Votes | 8,773 | |||
2010
On November 2, 2010, Atkins won re-election in the 41st District. He defeated Gregory A. Hastings in the general election.[8]
| Delaware House of Representatives, District 41 2010 General election results | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| John Atkins (D)
|
4,865 | 55.3% | ||
| Gregory A. Hastings (R) | 3,926 | 44.7% | ||
2008
On November 4, 2008, Atkins won election to the Delaware House of Representatives from Delaware's 41st District, defeating Gregory Hastings (R). Atkins received 5,665 votes in the election while Hastings received 5,025 votes.[9] Atkins raised $85,559 for his campaign; Hastings raised $76,346.[10]
| Delaware House of Representatives, District 41 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| John Atkins (D)
|
5,665 | 53.0% | ||
| Gregory Hastings (R) | 5,025 | 47.0% | ||
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Delaware scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2014
In 2014, the Delaware General Assembly was in session from January 14 through July 1.
- Legislators are scored on votes which relate to family issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2013, the Delaware General Assembly was in session from January 8 through July 1. Ballotpedia staff did not find any state legislative scorecards published for this state in 2013. If you are aware of one, please contact editor@ballotpedia.org to let us know. |
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term John + Atkins + Delaware + House
See also
- Delaware House of Representatives
- Delaware House Committees
- Delaware House of Representatives District 41
- Delaware State Legislature
External links
- Delaware House Democrats - John Atkins
- Profile from Open States
- John Atkins on Facebook
- Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign Contributions: 2008
Footnotes
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Biography," accessed March 20, 2014
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Associated Press, "Atkins resigns from public safety committee," March 27, 2012
- ↑ Delaware News Journal, "State Rep. Atkins won't be charged with illegal tire burning," March 29, 2012
- ↑ State of Delaware, "Official primary election candidate list," accessed July 10, 2014
- ↑ State of Delaware, "Official general election candidate list," accessed July 10, 2014
- ↑ State of Delaware, "Official general election results," accessed November 13, 2014
- ↑ Delaware State Board of Elections, "Candidate List," accessed July 13, 2012
- ↑ Delaware Elections Division, "Official 2010 Election results," accessed March 20, 2014
- ↑ Delaware Elections Division, "Official 2008 Election results," accessed March 20, 2014
- ↑ Follow The Money, "Campaign contributions," accessed March 20, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Delaware House District 41 2008–2015 |
Succeeded by Richard Collins (R) |
