T
oni Atkins: Leads and achieves as public servant
Emory & Henry has watched closely the political career of an alumna who has built a reputation for leadership and results as she has worked consistently on behalf of her neediest constituents. Once named by the Democratic Leadership Council in California as a “rising star,” Toni Atkins (’84) has continued to live up to that expectation. In November, she was elected to the California Assembly, representing the 76th Assembly District. She began working toward this goal in 2008 after ending eight years of service with the San Diego City Council (council members have eight-year term limits). For six months during that time, she served as interim mayor of the city after the previous mayor, Republican Dick Murphy, resigned amid a federal investigation of the city’s pension fund. As interim mayor, she earned high praise for her management expertise, her work ethic and her ability to organize disparate factions of the community. She also earned national press attention as the first openly gay leader of a major U.S. city. As an indication of her growing respect in the California Democratic Party, she was named majority whip for the Assembly. In this leadership role, she helps ensure that the Democratic Caucus has the votes necessary to move the party’s platform.
Atkins and the San Diego skyline at night.
As a California legislator she has gone from representing a council constituency of 167,000 people to an assembly district of 450,000 residents. Although she maintains her home in San Diego with spouse Jennifer LeSar, she spends four days out of the week working in Sacramento, the state capital. She is assisted by four legislative staff members and four field workers. Much of her political reputation is built on the successful work she has done on behalf of disadvantaged communities in San Diego. She fought for and achieved affordable housing in San Diego’s challenging housing market. She has worked successfully on behalf of veterans, the elderly and the homeless while remaining focused on fiscal responsibility. “I totally continue to believe and be grateful that my time at Emory & Henry really helped prepare me for the role and path I’ve taken in civic engagement and public service,” Atkins said. “I continue to believe, as I was helped to understand as a student in Dr. (Steve) Fisher’s courses, that working with others on a common goal, I’d be able to make a difference.” u
Much of her political reputation is built on the successful work she has done on behalf of disadvantaged communities in San Diego.
9 E&H ALUMNI MAGAZINE • Winter/Spring 2011