Kirk Watson: Difference between revisions
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Following Senator [[Barack Obama]]'s victory in the [[Wisconsin Democratic primary, 2008 | 2008 Wisconsin Democratic Primary Election]] on February 19, 2008, Watson appeared on national television ([[MSNBC]]) as a supporter of Senator Obama, whom he had endorsed. He was on a live feed from Texas. |
Following Senator [[Barack Obama]]'s victory in the [[Wisconsin Democratic primary, 2008 | 2008 Wisconsin Democratic Primary Election]] on February 19, 2008, Watson appeared on national television ([[MSNBC]]) as a supporter of Senator Obama, whom he had endorsed. He was on a live feed from Texas. |
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After establishing that Watson was a supporter of Senator Obama, MSNBC pundit [[Chris Matthews]] asked and demanded Watson to name at least one of [[Barack Obama#Senate career | Senator Obama's legislative accomplishments]]. Despite repeated opportunities to do so, Watson was unable to name even one. He even admitted that he would not be able to do so at that moment. |
After establishing that Watson was a supporter of Senator Obama, MSNBC pundit [[Chris Matthews]] asked and demanded Watson to name at least one of [[Barack Obama#Senate career | Senator Obama's legislative accomplishments]].<ref name=Wonkette> Wonkette (with video)[http://wonkette.com/358440/chris-matthews-angrily-harasses-obama-supporter-to-death]</ref> Despite repeated opportunities to do so, Watson was unable to name even one. Matthews clamored, “Sir, you have to give me his accomplishments. You’ve supported him for president, you’re on national television, name his legislative accomplishments, Barack Obama’s, sir.”<ref name=Wonkette /> He even admitted that he would not be able to do so at that moment. Once Watson was excused, Matthews commented, “He is here to defend Barack Obama and he had nothing to say; that’s a problem.”<ref> Texas-Observer [http://www.texasobserver.org/blog/index.php/2008/02/19/kirk-watson-v-chris-matthews/] </ref> |
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==Election history== |
==Election history== |
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Revision as of 05:16, 20 February 2008
Kirk Watson (born March 18, 1958) is a Texas attorney and Democratic politician from Austin. He served as Austin mayor from 1997 to 2001. He ran unsuccessfully for Texas Attorney General in the 2002 election, defeated by the Republican Greg Abbott. In 2006, Watson was elected to the Texas State Senate from District 14.
Watson is the husband of Liz (Elizabeth Anne McDaniel) and father of Preston McDaniel and Cooper Kyle Watson.
Early life and career
Kirk Preston Watson was born March 18, 1958 in Oklahoma City and grew up in the Fort Worth, Texas area, attended public school in Saginaw, Texas. Watson attended Baylor University in Waco where he was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1980 and a J.D. in 1981. While attending Baylor Law School Watson was editor-in-chief of the Baylor Law Review and graduated first in his law school class. He subsequently clerked for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
Early in his career as a trial lawyer Watson was elected President of the Texas Young Lawyers Association and in 1994 was named the Outstanding Young Lawyer of Texas. In the early 1990's Watson co-founded the Austin law firm of Watson Bishop London Brophy, P.C. and focused on medical malpractice law.
Political life
In 1991 Watson was appointed by Texas Governor Ann Richards to serve as Chair of the Texas Air Control Board, the state agency that was charged with addressing air quality in Texas.
Watson was active in Democratic party politics throughout the 1990s including service as Chairman of the Travis County Democratic Party.
In 1997 Watson was elected mayor of Austin, a position which he held until 2001 when he stepped down to run unsuccessfully for Texas attorney general.
Watson was elected Senator for the Texas Senate, District 14 in November 2006, succeeding Sen. Gonzalo Barrientos. Watson was unopposed in the March 2005 Democratic Primary when Sen. Barrientos chose not to run for reelection.
Watson currently serves on many committees including the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO), of which he is board Chairman.[1]
The July 2007 Texas Monthly magazine recognized Sen. Watson as "rookie of the year" for the 2007 session of the Texas Legislature.
Controversy
Texas Highways
On October 8, 2007, the CAMPO board approved expanding several existing highways (U.S. Route 290, U.S. Route 183, and Texas State Highway 71), while at the same time creating toll booths on the previously free roads. During the votes, the board was heckled with shouts of "Political suicide!" and catcalls, with one protester holding a sign saying "Watson won't listen". [2]
The Chris Matthews Incident
Following Senator Barack Obama's victory in the 2008 Wisconsin Democratic Primary Election on February 19, 2008, Watson appeared on national television (MSNBC) as a supporter of Senator Obama, whom he had endorsed. He was on a live feed from Texas. After establishing that Watson was a supporter of Senator Obama, MSNBC pundit Chris Matthews asked and demanded Watson to name at least one of Senator Obama's legislative accomplishments.[3] Despite repeated opportunities to do so, Watson was unable to name even one. Matthews clamored, “Sir, you have to give me his accomplishments. You’ve supported him for president, you’re on national television, name his legislative accomplishments, Barack Obama’s, sir.”[3] He even admitted that he would not be able to do so at that moment. Once Watson was excused, Matthews commented, “He is here to defend Barack Obama and he had nothing to say; that’s a problem.”[4]
Election history
Election history of Watson.[5]
Most recent election
2006
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Kirk Watson | 127,223 | 80.32 | +27.61 | |
| Libertarian | Robert "Rock" Howard | 31,180 | 19.68 | +15.51 | |
| Majority | 96,043 | 60.63 | +51.05 | ||
| Turnout | 158,403 | −12.29 | |||
| Democratic hold | |||||
Previous elections
2002
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Greg Abbott | 2,542,184 | 56.72 | ||
| Democratic | Kirk Watson | 1,841,359 | 41.08 | ||
| Libertarian | Jon Roland | 56,880 | 1.26 | ||
| Green | David Keith Cobb | 41,560 | 0.92 | ||
| Majority | 700,825 | 15.63 | |||
| Turnout | 4,481,983 | ||||
| Republican hold | |||||
Notes
- ^ CAMPO Board members
- ^ Austin-American Statesman "Board approves five new toll roads"
- ^ a b Wonkette (with video)[1]
- ^ Texas-Observer [2]
- ^ Uncontested primary elections are not shown.
- ^ "2006 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Retrieved 2006-12-15.
- ^ "2002 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Retrieved 2006-12-15.
External links
Members of the Texas Senate | ||
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88th Texas Legislature (2023)
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