{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nEric 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 [3][4].\n\n## Background and career\nWatson is a former state legislator and county sheriff who owns a used-vehicle business in Bradley County [1].\n\n## Office history\nWatson 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].\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\nWatson 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].\n\n## Documented disputes and controversies\nIn 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 [1][5]. 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].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Eric Watson (politician) - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Watson_(politician)) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[2] [Federal lawsuit filed against former Bradley County sheriff Eric Watson in 2019 dismissed - Chattanooga Times Free Press](https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2020/mar/04/federal-lawsuit-filed-against-former-bradley-count/) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[3] [Candidates qualify for upcoming Meigs County election - Daily Post Athenian](https://www.dailypostathenian.com/news/article_9e1d293c-1706-4188-a622-00c823c54d67.html) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[4] [DECISION 2026: Winners in Meigs County's Primary Election - Local 3 News](https://www.local3news.com/local-news/decision/decision-2026-winners-in-meigs-county-s-primary-election/article_d272975f-c706-4455-9230-1a70d094c427.html) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[5] [Sheriff Eric Watson booked at Bradley County Jail - NewsChannel 9](https://newschannel9.com/news/local/sheriff-eric-watson-booked-at-bradley-county-jail) - accessed 2026-07-23","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission_district_2","county":"Meigs","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"primary","state":"TN","title":"County Commission District 2"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"ERIC","fullname":"ERIC WATSON","lastname":"WATSON","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission_district_2","contest_title":"County Commission District 2","county":"Meigs","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"county_commission_district_2","office_title":null,"party":"R","pgr":"primary","state":"TN"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":null,"party":"R","primary":{"contest":"county_commission_district_2","contest_title":"County Commission District 2","county":"Meigs","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"county_commission_district_2","office_title":null,"party":"R","pgr":"primary","state":"TN"},"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"county_commission_district_2","office_title":"County Commission District 2","state":"TN","terms":[]}],"summary":"Former TN state representative (2006-2014) and one-term Bradley County sheriff (2014-2018); Republican candidate for Meigs County Commission District 2; record includes 2017 felony vehicle-title charges later dismissed.","terms":[],"token":"OHWob1PNeD"}