ERIC WATSON

Current office and 2026 campaign

Eric Watson is a Republican candidate for Meigs County Commission, District 2, on the August 6, 2026 ballot ³. He advanced from the May 2026 Republican primary alongside incumbent Ralph "Dude" Minnis; independent Jason Goode also appears on the general-election ballot ³⁴.

Background and career

Watson is a former state legislator and county sheriff who owns a used-vehicle business in Bradley County ¹.

Office history

Watson served as a Republican member of the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 22 - which then covered Cleveland, Meigs County, Polk County, and part of Bradley County - from 2006 to 2014, first winning a January 2006 special election ¹. He was elected Bradley County Sheriff in 2014, defeating incumbent Jim Ruth, and resigned his House seat upon taking office; he lost re-election as sheriff in 2018 to Steve Lawson ¹.

Legislative record and accomplishments

Watson was named "Legislator of the Year" by the County Officials Association of Tennessee in 2010 and was appointed to the Tennessee Criminal Justice Coordinating Council in November 2011 ¹.

Documented disputes and controversies

In July 2017, while serving as Bradley County Sheriff, Watson was arrested and charged with six felony counts related to altering and falsifying vehicle titles connected to his used-car business; the charges exceeded the legal limit on private vehicle sales ¹⁵. All of the felony charges were dismissed in January 2018 ¹. In June 2016, Bradley County Commissioner Dan Rawls submitted a set of misconduct allegations against Watson to prosecutors and investigators, including claims about the underpriced sale of a county surveillance van and misuse of county funds ¹. A separate federal lawsuit filed against Watson in 2019 was dismissed in 2020 ². At a June 2006 Tennessee Marriage Protection Amendment rally, Watson said it would be "a sad day when queers and lesbians are allowed to get married" and declined to apologize ¹.

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