Republican Chair and Gaffney ask Atkins to Quit.
March 25th, 2007 by Dan GaffneyDave Burris, the Chair of the Sussex County Republican Party is asking for State Representative John Atkins to quit or be kicked out of the house. Reluctantly I agree with Dave. I think John needs professional help. I hope he can heal, and return to public life someday.
Here is the complete text of the Dave Burris letter:
TO: The Members of the House Majority Caucus
c/o Rep. Terry R. Spence, Speaker of the House of RepresentativesFROM: David M. Burris, Chairman, Sussex County Republican Committee
Dear Members of the House Majority Caucus:
Throughout this entire ordeal, I stood by John Atkins, defending him against certain charges and often appearing on the radio encouraging others to give John the benefit of the doubt until the ethics process was complete. I have interacted with John on a regular basis, often multiple times in the same day. I have also received reports from others, some I’ve never met, of John’s outside activity.
In my interaction with John, at no time has he expressed any remorse for what occurred on that night. At no time has he expressed any desire to improve his situation through counseling or other means. In fact, he went to great lengths to avoid and to alter his court-ordered counseling.
What John has done is adopt an all-consuming fiery passion to take down as many other elected and appointed officials as possible, on both sides of the aisle. He encouraged me to use my blog and/or my connections with other bloggers and media to promote various charges against several members of the House Democratic Caucus.
John has also been spotted drinking in local bars on several occasions during the first few months of this calendar year, most recently on Friday, March 16, 2007 at Smitty McGee’s in Fenwick Island. While the act in itself is not illegal or specifically unethical, for John to be seen drinking in a public place in the middle of his ethics process reveals to me that he has learned nothing from this experience, and that it will just be a matter of time before another incident occurs.
That is the crux of this whole situation — if you let John off with a slap on the wrist, you, the House Republican Caucus, have bought and paid for his next mistake. Whenever he slips up again, it will belong to you as much as it does to him.
To adopt the recommendations of the ethics committee – which, to the average citizen, translates to absolutely no punishment at all – is simply not enough. Your actions will tell the people of Delaware, of all ages, that lying in a deposition to the ethics committee (something we impeached a President for) and driving a car after being told that you have a BAC nearly twice the legal limit essentially carry no punishment beyond public embarrassment.
How can you as elected Republicans have the moral authority to set policies governing the behavior of the ordinary citizen when you won’t enforce proper behavior out of your own members, even in the most extreme of cases?
I can firmly say at this point with no reservation whatsoever that it is in John Atkins’ best interest and the best interest of the caucus, the Republican Party and the State of Delaware that John resign or be expelled from the Delaware House of Representatives.
I can not guarantee you that the Republican Party will retain the seat in the 41st district. I can only say that we feel incredibly optimistic that we can do so. We have a multitude of potential candidates, all people of character, who will serve admirably and with honor and I guarantee you that the Sussex County Republicans would work tirelessly to win the special election.
It brings me no joy, only extreme sadness and frustration to write this letter. I am certainly putting my position as Chairman on the line in reaching out to you, as this letter will be released to the public. However, I believe leadership requires doing the right thing, not the easy thing, and requires doing it out in the open.
As a result, I am prepared to accept whatever consequences come my way, even if it costs me my position, because I know that this action is in the long-term interests of our Party, and improving those long-term interests is my duty.
I respect the undue burden that you face in casting judgment on one of your own, as we are all flawed in our own way, but I urge you to consider the message you send to the people of our State, including the young minds who don’t understand the concept of Censure. They only see that an elected official drove drunk mere moments after being released without punishment from driving drunk; that the same official lied under oath to the committee investigating the incident; and that the official will get away with doing all of it in every way that a young mind can comprehend.
Take this opportunity to teach those young minds that Republicans are willing to demand a minimum standard of character in our elected officials.
Demand John Atkins’ resignation or vote to expel him.
With Respect and Humility,
David M. Burris
Chairman
Sussex County Republican Committee                                              Â
Sorry John. I think it’s for your own good.
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March 25th, 2007 at 5:06 pm
Thank you, Dave Burris, for doing the right thing despite the possible negative effects it could have on your political career. That is integrity and we could stand to see a little more of it.
March 25th, 2007 at 5:16 pm
Doing the right thing isn’t always the easiest of things … Kudos Dave
March 25th, 2007 at 5:25 pm
I commend Dave Burris for has principled stand on this sad issue, and for his personal and political courage in speaking out on this matter. We need more people like Dave Burris in our public arena.
My wish for John is that he sincerely and with humility accept the reality of his current obvious personal difficulties, and take whatever steps are needed to move forward for the sake of himself and his family. He has family, many friends, a base of support upon whom he can rely for support at this moment; now is the time!
March 25th, 2007 at 6:08 pm
As an aside, with no current committee assignments, and the “buzz” that seems to be surrounding this issue certainly cutting into his effectiveness … it just seems like the best step for those in the 41st, as a matter of fairness to the constiuency.
Then, if the people want John to return, he runs again and wins in the 2008 election.
March 25th, 2007 at 7:07 pm
Finally a polictican who sees right from wrong, and not just right from left.
March 25th, 2007 at 9:06 pm
Seems like Mr. Burris seeks to discredit Mr. Adkins before other unseemly accusations are brought to the fore.
March 26th, 2007 at 6:59 am
So, how do the folks of the 41st District see it, in light of this stabbing-in-the-back ?
March 26th, 2007 at 8:12 am
I am truly sad at this whole affair, and wish that John would do the right thing and step out of the way. He does seem to be arrogant, and show no remorse whatsoever in conversations I have had with him — and I am very saddened by this as I consider him a friend. However, you can care for a friend and despise what he does and I now believe he must go. Shame on Gerald Hocker for continuing to defend him…
March 26th, 2007 at 8:58 am
No matter the accusations, the truth will come out and it wont be pretty! You have to also realize that alot of politicians make wrong descisions, look at Nixon for example.
March 27th, 2007 at 5:04 am
Let the people of the 41st district decide. They voted Atkins in. If they no longer want him there let it be their choice. Don’t take the choice away from the people. What makes you think you can decide for them? I hope the people of the 41st all rally and stick together and put up a fight against the higher ups in Dover trying to make a decision for them!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I wonder what politician will be next if Atkins resigns or is thrown out on his ear by the higher ups in Dover.
March 27th, 2007 at 6:05 am
This problem in behavior and judgment goes well beyond the 41st, but certainly involves them as well.
If John Atkins is expelled, my understanding is that there will be a special election in about a month to select a successor. Then, in 2008, as Matt said, John can run again. So the 41st still has a major voice in resolving this situation to their satisfaction. I trust that the 41st voters will use good judgment, and that right now the House will do likewise, regarding resolving this very sad situation.
March 27th, 2007 at 1:53 pm
When a public official denies their oath, they need to be fired or they need to take the initiative to QUIT
March 27th, 2007 at 5:50 pm
Thank God John Atkins is no longer a State Representative. He did not represent all of the voters in District 41 as I have never and will never vote for him. Our time has been wasted by a liar and an alcoholic. Shame on you John Atkins for trying to fool so many people. Time has caught up with you finally. Good riddance.
March 27th, 2007 at 7:40 pm
John Atkins arrogance got him in the end. When backed into a corner, rats lie, fanagle, cheat or use whatever means neccessary to get out a situation even blame others for they’re problems. Sorry, John, but the day of reckoning has arrived. I hope you receive the help you need, but with the way you handled this, I doubt you will seek help. You’re followers and supporters should also seek help since they were baffoned into believing you.
I believe you when you say that many legislators are not squeeky clean, but in time, if they continue to act in such a way as you just performed, they will be kicked to the side.
We live in a society of apathetic and forgiving people: This is our downfall.
Moral and ethical conduct of our leaders is a must. If you people cannot live up to these standards, sit on the sidelines. The people have spoken.
March 28th, 2007 at 10:02 am
Joemomma said: “You’re followers and supporters should also seek help since they were baffoned into believing you.”
Let me explain why I feel the way I do in having supported John.
First of all, I have met John, and find him to be a “what you see is what you get” type of a person. He puts his money (or his actions) where his mouth is. That IMHO is what endeared him to his constituents. The sports clinic he hosted in Millsboro last April is one example, joining with former and current UD athletes to reach kids with the message that sports and drugs don’t mix.
IMHO (and keep in mind I live in Ohio) what John did that night, albeit not cool (and against the law), was not that huge a deal and could have been dealt with a censure - the end.
Let me tell you a little about the recent history of my state…
I live in a state where a Congressman has been involved with racketeering for some 20 years and kept getting off on technicalities until most recently, when it caught up with him (and his toupee).
I live in a state where another Congressman (referred to in another blog on this site) hooked up with a lobbyist and got involved in corruption (exchanging political favors to that lobbyist for lavish gifts).
I live in a state where the governor accepted gifts in return for political favors, including a rare coin dealer, who invested $50 million in worker’s comp money into rare coins (oh, and $10-13 million of that money was missing).
So I know John, and that might make me somewhat biased. But what he did that night was 200% wrong…but is it as bad as taking bribes, racketeering, going golfing as an incentive to make a poor investment, etc. ?
That’s why I feel the way I do.
That’s my story, and I’m stickin’ to it.
March 28th, 2007 at 12:12 pm
Pat, I split my time between DE and NJ. Everything you say about Ohio political corruption (is true) and can be multiplied by 100 for here in NJ, and that is quite a sad state of affairs, because in NJ many have sat back and decided in their own minds that it’s the way business is done here…an unbending fact-of-life.
I agree Mr. Atkin’s “incidents” are in no way comparable to the ones you described in Ohio nor are they in any way approachable to the severity of corruption in my state. My problem with John was with his arrogance regarding the entire matter and in his calculated procrastination to do what he ultimately was forced to do. He was daring his colleagues and the public to the bitter end. That is not a readily forgiveable trait.
I also wish him well on many levels, and wish the people of his district and the whole of Delaware political vigilance of their elected officials so this fine State can avoid the moral depravity of other States.
Now we move on.
March 28th, 2007 at 7:20 pm
I liked Traficant …
Beam me up
From one of his One Minute Speeches on the House floor …
“Mr. Speaker, the school prayer issue is out of control, literally. Students in Pennsylvania were prohibited from handing out Christmas cards. Reports say students in Minnesota were disciplined for having said merry Christmas. Now if that is not enough to find coal in your athletic supporter, check this out: A school board in Georgia removed the word “Christmas” from their school calendar because the ACLU threatened to sue. Beam me up. If this is religious freedom, I am a fashion model for GQ. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the fact that Christmas is not about a jolly old fat man. Christmas is about the birth of Christ. “