Council Candidate: Steven Atkins

Editor's note: Each day leading up to the election on July 26 we will re-feature one council candidate profile. We will also be sending all the council candidates questions to answer. If you would like to submit a question, please contact Editor Clare Kennedy at clare.kennedy@patch.com.

Candidate Steven Atkins, 53, has lived in Burnsville for 8 years. he is about to finish up a Master's in Business Administration.

When asked why he is running, Atkins said, "I am a fiscal conservative just as (Crichton) was and I want to keep a balance to the council."

In Atkins' opinion, Burnsville's strengths are its "natural beauty with wooded neighborhoods and parks; The safe suburban feel to the city, ie. you feel safe walking down the street in Burnsville, day or night; and the hard working friendly people that make up the community."

According to Atkins, the city's weaknesses lie in the "fact that the city is getting older and is starting to show signs of aging. The roads are in poor repair and the retail businesses are starting to look a little worn.

Another weakness would be the fact that Burnsville has few high-wage jobs in the city, with many people having to go north of the river to find work, he said.

If elected, Atkins would like to "attract business to the area in order to enhance the tax base and "offer incentives for business to modernize and re-vitalize the face of business in Burnsville."  

To see the other candidates, go .

In early June, the candidates attended a forum. Read about it . Click to see video of the debate.