Darrell Atchison, a resident of Williamsville, has been very busy during his first days as Missouri’s 153rd District representative.
“I’m not overwhelmed, but there’s a lot going on,” said Atchison after his first week on the job. “I’m learning to multitask better.”
Atchison, a Republican, was sworn into the 101st General Assembly on Jan. 6, along with 161 other members of the House of Representatives. He replaces Jeff Shawan, who served one term.
“It was great,” Atchison said of the swearing-in ceremony in Jefferson City. “It was a surreal moment.
“I was excited and a little bit emotional getting sworn in.”
There haven’t yet been any debates on the house floor, Atchison said, and most of his first week was spent meeting his fellow legislators and learning the lay of the land.
“For the first week, you get acclimated to the routine and the people and start building relationships with those people,” he said. “A lot of it is getting to know folks and the lay of the land, so you know how to navigate when you need to get something done.”
Atchison already has been assigned by Speaker of the House Rob Vescovo to three committees.
“I have been assigned to the insurance, utilities and veterans committees,” Atchison said. “Those were three of the five I requested.”
As a longtime Modern Woodmen representative, Atchison has a lot of experience in insurance and financial matters, and he’s a 23-year veteran of the Missouri Army National Guard.
“Those were things I thought I could lend some experience to, and if I went to a committee meeting, I’d know what it was they were talking about,” Atchison said of his committee assignments.
While Atchison said there tends to be a divide between rural legislators and those from more urban areas, he will listen and work with each one to benefit the state in general.
His priority, however, is the 153rd District. It includes portions of Ripley, Wayne, Butler and Carter counties.
“I’m most interested in the doings and goings-on of the 153rd District. That’s what I ran on,” Atchison said. “I’m passionate about listening to the citizens of the district and taking their message to Jefferson City.
“I think I have a good pulse of what’s going on, and the messages I hear are what I will tell the people in Jefferson City.”
And, Atchison believes, what is good at home in the 153rd District can be good for everyone in Missouri.
“If it’s good for the district, it’s good for the state,” he said.
Atchison has yet to file any bills, but has some things in the works already.
“I’ve not filed a bill yet, but there are a couple things I’m looking at,” he said.
Atchison understands his new positions will require long hours and time away from his family, but, he said, he’s ready for the challenge.
“My wife and kids are home, and I’m up here, but I’m prepared for whatever needs to get done,” he said.
And, he’s motivated to get to work.
“I’m not a very excitable guy, but I’m kind of excited about this,” he said.
He’s also ready for the COVID-19 pandemic to be over, so his constituents can visit him at the capital.
There’s nothing saying legislators can’t have guests now, he said, and “one of things I’m looking forward to is having visitors from the district.”
“I invite people to come to Jefferson City and see the capital,” he added.