Eric Watson (politician)
Eric Watson | |
---|---|
Member of the Tennessee House of Representatives from the 22nd district | |
In office January 2006 – August 2014 | |
Preceded by | Bill Harmon |
Succeeded by | Dan Howell |
Sheriff of Bradley County | |
Assumed office August 2014 | |
Preceded by | Jim Ruth |
Personal details | |
Born | Cleveland, Tennessee | September 14, 1973
Nationality | American |
Political party | Republican |
Residence | Cleveland, Tennessee |
Alma mater | Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy University of Tennessee at Martin Andersonville Theological Seminary (B.A.), (M.A.) |
Profession | Police officer |
Thomas Eric Watson (born September 14, 1973) is an American politician and police officer from Cleveland, Tennessee. From 2006 to 2014, he was a Republican member of the Tennessee House of Representatives for the 22nd district, encompassing Cleveland, Meigs County, Polk County, and parts of Bradley County.[1] Watson was elected Sheriff of Bradley County in August 2014.
Biography
Eric Watson was born on September 14, 1973.[1] He graduated from the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy, and received a B.A. and M.A. from Andersonville Theological Seminary in Camilla, Georgia.[1] He also studied at the University of Tennessee at Martin.[1]
Watson worked as a deputy sheriff for the Marion County Sheriff's Office from 1995 to 1998.[2][better source needed] He joined the Bradley County Sheriff's Office in 1999 as a captain. He resigned in October 2011.[3][4] He also worked as an officer for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency from 2000 to 2005 and as a detective for the Benton Police Department.[2]
Watson was first elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives in January 2006. He was re-elected four times. He was an at-large representative at the 2008 Republican National Convention.[2] In 2010, he received the Legislator of the Year by the County Officials Association of Tennessee.[5] In November 2011, Beth Harwell appointed him to the Tennessee Criminal Justice Coordinating Council.[6] On October 5, 2013, he announced his intentions to run for sheriff of Bradley County.[7] He was elected in 2014, and resigned from the Tennessee House the following August.[8]
Watson is a member of the National Rifle Association, Southern Gospel Music Association, and Keep America Beautiful.[1] He married Tenille Crabtree, a bail bondsman, in 2010. He has three step children.[9] He is a Baptist, attending First Baptist Church in Cleveland.[1]
Controversy
In late 2016, the Tennessee Department of Revenue began investigating claims that Watson's side used car sales exceeded the legal limit. In Tennessee, a dealer's license is required to sell more than five motor vehicles per year, and Watson had a salesman's license.[10] In July 2017, Watson was arrested and charged with six felony counts of altering and falsifying the titles of six vehicles.[11]
References
- ^ a b c d e f House of Representatives webpage
- ^ a b c Eric Watsob's Biography - Project Votesmart
- ^ Associated Press, 'Rep. Eric Watson resigns from sheriff's office', on Knoxnews.com, October 4, 2011 [1]
- ^ 'Eric Watson not resigning as Tennessee representative', in Chattanooga Times Free Press, October 5th, 2011 [2]
- ^ 'Eric Watson named Legislator of the Year', in Cleveland Daily Banner, [3]
- ^ Speaker Harwell Appoints Representative Watson To Tennessee Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, The Chattanoogan, November 3, 2011 [4]
- ^ "Rep. Eric Watson To Run For Bradley County Sheriff". Chattanoogan. Chattanooga. October 4, 2013. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
- ^ "Watson to be sworn in as Bradley County Sheriff: what's next for the department?". WRCB-TV. Chattanooga. May 7, 2014. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
- ^ "Only On 3: Why Watson left Sheriff's Office to keep House seat". WRCB-TV. October 6, 2011. Retrieved 2017-09-18.
- ^ Walton, Judy (December 4, 2016). "Bradley County sheriff's used-car sales appear to exceed legal limit". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved November 3, 2017.
- ^ "Sheriff Eric Watson booked at Bradley County Jail". WTVC News Channel 9. August 10, 2017.
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