At a Glance
Current Position: Chief of Staff to U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.)
Career History: District Director, Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) (1994-2007); Political Consultant (2001-2003); Administrative Assistant to Bobby Rush, Chicago City Council (1986-1993); Legislative Assistant to Bobby Rush, Chicago City Council (1984-1985)
Birthday: July 12
Hometown: Chicago, Ill.
Alma Mater: Chicago Baptist Institute, B. Th. (Theology), Monmouth College, B.A. (Government)
Spouse: Angelia Watkins
Religion: Baptist
DC Office: 2268 Rayburn House Office Building Washington D.C. 20515
State/District Office: 700-706 E. 79th. St. Chicago, Ill. 60619
Why He Matters
The chief of staff to Illinois Democratic mainstay Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.), Watkins has been a top adviser and political aide to Rush throughout his long career in local and national politics. ??Watkins is an expert on transportation, policy and appropriations issues. However, his role as chief of staff is “keeping Mr. Rush relevant in the eyes of the constituents and in tune with the wishes, desires and needs of an ever-changing constituency,” he said. ??With Rush on the House Energy and Power subcommittee, Watkins is paying attention to energy policy, with special consideration to nuclear safety, renewable energy and developing a coherent national-energy policy.
In His Own Words
“There’s a blessing and a burden of working for an elected official. The blessing is that we get to help people, the burden is that we don’t get to help enough people. In between that, we work to maximize the blessing of it and minimize the burden of it,” Watkins said.
“Being able to advise Mr. Rush governmentally and politically, it’s my responsibility to take his vision, and he is a great visionary, and set a priority for him to see what we can accomplish,” Watkins said.
Path To Power
Watkins’ career spans 35 years and countless campaigns.
Illinois politics
A native of Chicago’s South Side, Watkins got his feet wet in politics as a college sophomore working on a campaign in Warren, Ill.
Watkins met Bobby Rush in 1984, while the former was working on a campaign for state Rep. Lovana “Lou” Jones (D), the late assistant majority leader in the Illinois House and representative for the 26th legislative district.
Watkins continued to volunteer for Jones’ campaign but also began working for Rush, who at the time was an alderman on the Chicago City Council.
Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill)
By 1993, when Rush was elected a U.S. representative, Jones was his trusted assistant, and joined Rush in Washington, D.C.??Watkins left for Chicago in 1994 to become Rush’s district director before returning to Washington in 2007 as the congressman’s chief of staff. ??”He’s been both an alter ego and seemingly a twin wrapped in one because of the longevity of our relationship,” Watkins said of Rush.
Watkins said he’s fortunate to have been with Rush so long that he had the opportunity to help Rush shape his views on legislation.
The Issues
Watkins has worked on transportation, policy and appropriations issues. His boss, Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.), sits on the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee and has chaired the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade. That means Watkins’ portfolio includes data privacy and toxic chemicals, but his main focus is energy, Watkins said.
Energy
As the top Democrat on the House Energy and and Commerce Power subcommittee, Rush has focused most of his attention on energy policy.
“Over the last five or six months we’ve had to come back to speed on energy policy,” Watkins said. “Today energy policy is a major issue confronting the nation.”
Watkins said he’s become an energy “geek,” and makes sure his entire staff is educated on energy issues in order to maximize Rush’s role on the committee. ??”You can’t go into it without having as much information as possible if you want to make informed decisions,” he said.
Rush is focused on supporting renewable energy, so that it can become a source of energy for the nation. Watkins said it’s an issue that needs to be taken more seriously.
Nuclear Energy
Watkins and his boss are also focused on keeping nuclear energy safe, especially in light of the nuclear meltdown that occurred at a Japanese plant after a powerful earthquake struck.
“The incident in Japan has moved nuclear energy policy to the forefront of Mr. Rush’s agenda because of the fact that Illinois has the largest amount of nuclear reactors of any state in the nation,” Watkins said.
The Network
Watkins works most closely with his boss, Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) and said he also works closely with Missouri Rep. Lacy Clay (D).
Watkins is close with Mikael Moore, chief of staff for California Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), and calls National Urban League Senior Vice President Chanelle P. Hardy an “invaluable friend.”
Developing relationships with Republican staffers is important, Watkins said, pointing to his positive relationship with Craig Roberts, chief of staff for Rep. John Shimkus (R-Ill).