Atkins, Collins battle for RD 41
Rep. John Atkins, D-Millsboro, and his Republican challenger Rich Collins are running for the Representative District 41 seat. The Cape Gazette asked the candidates about growth, clean air and water and the powers of the county sheriff. Answers were limited to 100 words and edited for length.
Collins did not respond to the questions.
Meet the candidates
Rep. John Atkins
Rep. John Atkins, 42, is a full-time legislator. He is chairman of the House Agriculture Committee.
Atkins worked for the DuPont Chemical Company in Seaford before it closed. Afterward, he became a poultry farm field liaison and a small business owner.
Atkins has previously been endorsed by the National Rifle Association, the Fraternal Order of Police, Delaware State Education Association, Indian River Education Association and the Correctional Officers Association. He is also active in various veterans organizations and athletic programs, and he has worked to obtain funding for volunteer fire companies.
Rich Collins
Millsboro resident Rich Collins, 63, is a Delaware lobbyist and small business owner. He owns Access Insurance and Financial Services on Route 113 in Millsboro. He has worked in the insurance industry for nearly 33 years.
Collins is also a lobbyist for Positive Growth Alliance, a group he started 11 years ago to advocate for small government and individual rights.
A Delaware native, Collins grew up in Seaford and is a graduate of University of Delaware. He and his wife, Susan, live in Millsboro.
Q: Should the state legislature encourage development close to existing town centers where infrastructure exists? Why or why not?
Atkins: As a lifelong Sussex Countian, my roots run deep in this community. It means everything to me that our families have safe streets, first-class schools and a great quality of life. I think we all know that development without proper infrastructure in place is not a good idea. I’ve said for the past 10 years that the county and state must do a better job of working together to ensure this happens.
Q: Do you support the sheriff's lawsuit to extend the powers of the sheriff and sheriff's deputies to include arrest powers? What positive or negative side effects could this change cause if Delaware courts side with the sheriff?
Atkins: The sheriff has a constitutional right to seek a lawsuit if he wants, but I do not support a countywide police force at this time. The current county council just voted this year unanimously to have the General Assembly define what our county sheriff’s role is. This was a tough vote for me, but unlike many of my colleagues I did the right thing by casting a vote.
More than 300 constituents contacted me on this issue, asking me to vote against this. Through the county’s estimation it would cost taxpayers $75 million, and that would be an extra burden to many Sussex County families during tough economic times.
Q: Should the legislature take further steps to promote clean air and water? If so, what steps? If not, are the existing regulations appropriate?
Atkins: In the past few years the NRG power plant in my district has made great strides in reducing emissions. NRG invested $360 million in clean air upgrades while putting 700 construction workers back to work over a two-year period. I was proud to be part of this accomplishment. This is an example of a win-win situation by cleaning up emissions and putting hundreds of people back to work.
As far as more regulations, I’d want to see that we do everything possible to make sure existing regulations are working before we rush to implement new ones that could hurt our economy.
