Michael Watson (Virginia politician)

Michael B. Watson (born September 19, 1961 in Hopewell, Virginia) is an American politician. A Republican, he was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 2011. He represented the 93rd district, made up of the city of Williamsburg and parts of the counties of James City and York and the city of Newport News on the Virginia Peninsula.[1][2]

Michael Watson
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
from the 93rd district
In office
January 2012 – January 2014
Preceded byRobin Abbott
Succeeded byMonty Mason
Personal details
Born (1961-09-19) September 19, 1961
Hopewell, Virginia
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Amy Michelle Bourbonais
ChildrenThomas (Cody), Adam, Taylor
Alma materOld Dominion University
New River Community College
OccupationBusiness Owner
CommitteesGeneral Laws
Science and Technology
Websitedelegatewatson.com

Early life, education, business career

Watson was born in Hopewell, Virginia. His father was a millwright and a tugboat operator.[1][2]

He attended Old Dominion University and New River Community College, receiving an A.A.S. degree in Instrumentation Technology from the latter school in 1983.[1][2]

In 1988 he established Control Automation Technologies Corporation, an industrial controls business, in North Carolina which was named North Carolina's Small Business of the Year in 1998 and was selected as finalist for the national Blue Chip Enterprise Award in 1999.[3] He founded CATLab - Accredited Calibration Laboratories division in 1999 and in 2006 established a second laboratory, returning to his native Virginia. He is currently president of Control Automation Technologies Corporation, parent company for its NC and VA laboratories.[1][2]

He married Amy Michelle Bourbonais. They have three sons, Cody, Adam and Taylor.[1][2]

Political career

Watson was the 2011 Republican nominee in the 93rd House district, whose Democratic incumbent, lawyer Robin Abbott, was redistricted out.[4] Abbott moved back into the redrawn district and ran for reelection. Watson defeated her, with 51.7% of the vote.[5]

During his first year in office Watson earned the legislature's second highest business rating from Virginia Free, won the Champion of Free Enterprise Award from the VA Chamber of Commerce, and was named Freshman Legislator of the Year.[6] Following the 2013 session, Watson held VA Free's highest cumulative pro-business rating in the General Assembly by any member having served at least one full term [7] and was awarded the Champion of Free Enterprise Award for the second consecutive year.[8] He was also one of four founders of the General Assembly's first ever bi-partisan Business Development Caucus.[9]

After being targeted by national progressive organizations [10] Watson lost his reelection bid to Monty Mason in 2013 in a district that had just re-elected President Obama by a 16-point margin [11][12] In June 2014, Watson was named Coordinator of the Small Business Subcommittee under the Business Climate Industry Council of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce.[13] with a mission of developing the Chamber's legislative agenda for the implementation of Blueprint Virginia.[14] In November 2014, Watson was appointed to the Higher Education Advisory Committee to General Assembly’s House Committee on Education.[15]

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References
  1. "Virginia House of Delegates 2012; Delegate Michael B. Watson;". Virginia House of Delegates. Retrieved 2012-11-08.
  2. "Mike Watson; Delegate". Retrieved 2012-11-08.
  3. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-03-11. Retrieved 2014-03-10.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. Walker, Julian (2011-03-30). "State political redistricting could weaken Hampton Roads". The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved 2012-11-08.
  5. "November 2011 General Election Official Results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 2013-05-20. Retrieved 2012-11-08.
  6. http://www.vachamber.com/wp.../05/2012_legislative_report_cardfinal.pdf%5B%5D
  7. "Virginia FREE". Retrieved Feb 10, 2019.
  8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-03-11. Retrieved 2014-03-10.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-06-09. Retrieved 2019-05-23.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. "Howard Dean Vows To Inject $750K In Five 2013 Virginia House Races". Newswire. Retrieved Feb 10, 2019.
  12. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-03-11. Retrieved 2014-03-10.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. http://www.vagazette.com/news/va-vg-watson-chamber-0709-20140708,0,5658923.story%5B%5D
  14. "Blueprint Virginia 2025 Survey". Virginia Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved Feb 10, 2019.
  15. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-06. Retrieved 2015-08-03.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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