Statement about running for governor: No public statement. The Minnesota Independent on June 15 listed him as one of the candidates "in the ether," along with Assistant Senate Majority Leader Tarryl Clark, state Reps. Tom Rukavina and Joe Atkins, and U.S. Rep. Tim Walz. … [Rukavina] and Atkins would both be long-shots. …The latter has displayed a genius for getting his name in the newspaper and is thought to harbor statewide ambitions but was largely absent from the debate during the recently completed session.

Party: DFL

Current government position: State representative, District 39B

Elected: 2002

Term: 4th

Occupation: Attorney

Birth date: Oct. 6, 1965

Home: Inver Grove Heights 

Education: B.A., political science, University of Minnesota; J.D., William Mitchell College of Law

Website: JoeAtkins.com
 
E-mail: rep.joe.atkins@house.mn

Key issues and priorities: Atkins has worked on mortgage predatory lending, data privacy laws, affordable health care coverage and prescription medications, insurance practices, tax reform and the minimum wage.

Political experience: Youngest and longest-serving mayor of Inver Grove Heights, from 1992-2002, before being elected state representative in 2002.

Background articles:

1) Wikipedia page

2) Minnesota House profile