Chester G. Atkins

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Chester Greenough Atkins is a former member of the United States House of Representatives. He was a Democrat from Massachusetts.

Atkins was born in Geneva, Switzerland on April 14, 1948 and graduated from Concord-Carlisle High School of Concord, Massachusetts in 1966 and Antioch College in 1970. Atkins was exposed to progressive politics on Antioch's highly politicized campus in the late 60's and early 70's. He was elected a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1970 to 1971 (the youngest ever elected in Massachusetts) and the Massachusetts Senate from 1972 to 1984. He was Chairman of the (state) Senate Ways and Means Committee, and he also served as chairman of the Massachusetts Democratic State Committee from 1977 to 1990.

When James Shannon decided to run for the Senate seat vacated by the ailing Paul Tsongas, Atkins ran and was successfully elected as a Democrat to the 99th Congress in 1984. He served there for four succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1985–January 3, 1993). In his 1990 reelection bid, Atkins won by a surprisingly thin margin for the heavily Democratic 5th district, and as a result, in 1992, Democrats backed Democratic challenger Martin T. Meehan, fearing the seat could fall to the Republicans. His last campaign was riddled with accusations of check-bouncing and mis-managing his own finances. His wife Cory would later run successfully for his old state house seat. His wife and Congressman Atkins have been separated for several years.

Atkins founded the ADS Ventures, Inc. consulting and lobbying firm in 1993. He currently resides in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Preceded by
James Shannon		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Massachusetts's 5th congressional district
January 3, 1985 – January 3, 1993		 Succeeded by
Marty Meehan
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