Kirk Watson

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Kirk Watson
Kirk Watson.jpg
President pro tempore of the Texas Senate
In office
January 8, 2019 – May 27, 2019
Preceded byRobert Nichols
Succeeded byJoan Huffman
Member of the Texas Senate
from the 14th district
In office
January 9, 2007 – April 30, 2020
Preceded byGonzalo Barrientos
Succeeded bySarah Eckhardt
54th Mayor of Austin
In office
May 1997 – November 2001
Preceded byBruce Todd
Succeeded byGus Garcia
Personal details
Born
Kirk Preston Watson

(1958-03-18) March 18, 1958 (age 63)
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Liz McDaniel
Children2
EducationBaylor University (BA, JD)

Kirk Preston Watson (born March 18, 1958) is an American attorney and politician from Austin, Texas. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as Mayor of Austin from 1997 to 2001. He ran unsuccessfully for Texas Attorney General in the 2002 election, when he was defeated by Republican Greg Abbott, later governor of Texas. In 2006, Watson was elected to the Texas Senate from District 14.

In 2011, Watson was chosen by his Democratic colleagues to chair the Senate Democratic Caucus and served until 2015.[1] On the first day of the 86th Legislature, he was chosen by his colleagues—Democrats and Republicans—to serve as president pro tempore. The position typically goes to the most senior member, regardless of party, who has not yet served as President Pro Tem, and is second in line of succession to the Governor.[2]

It was announced by the Austin American-Statesman that Watson planned to resign from the Texas State Senate to become the first dean of the University of Houston's Hobby School of Public Affairs.[3] His resignation was effective April 30, 2020.[4]

Early life and education[]

Watson was born in Oklahoma City and raised in Saginaw, Texas, a suburb of Fort Worth, where he attended Boswell High School.[5] He received a bachelor's degree in political science in 1980 and a Juris Doctorate in 1981 from Baylor University in Waco, Texas.[6] At Baylor Law School, Watson was editor-in-chief of the Baylor Law Review and graduated first in his class.[7] He subsequently clerked for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.[6]

Early political career[]

Watson was elected president of the Texas Young Lawyers Association in 1990[8] and served on the executive committee of the State Bar of Texas. Watson was an active Democrat throughout the 1990s and served as the chairman of the Travis County Democratic Party.

In 1991, Watson was appointed by Governor Ann Richards to serve as chairman of the Texas Air Control Board, the state agency that was charged with protecting air quality in Texas. During his tenure, he worked to merge the agency with the Texas Air Control Board and the Texas Water Commission to form the Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission, and oversaw implementation of the 1991 amendments to the federal Clean Air Act.

In 1994, he was named the Outstanding Young Lawyer of Texas.[7] In 1997, Watson co-founded the Austin law firm of Watson Bishop London & Galow, creating a broad law practice that represented families, doctors, small businesses, and some of the state's major universities.

Mayor of Austin (1997–2001)[]

In 1997, after Watson moved from Rollingwood to Austin, he was elected mayor of Austin, a nonpartisan position. He ran on a pledge to build consensus in a city that was then dominated by political battles between environmentalists and developers. He campaigned to raise more than $78 million for land preservation and $300 million for transportation improvements. And he led efforts to revitalize downtown Austin, secure the city's long-term water supply, proactively improve air quality in Central Texas, and build a bypass to Interstate 35 through Austin.

In March 1999, he was named Best Mayor in Texas for Business by Texas Monthly Biz Magazine. Forbes and Fortune Magazine also named Austin as the best city or place in the U.S. to do business during this period. And for his service, Watson received recognitions from the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Austin Alliance, the Texas Nature Conservancy, Austin Family magazine, the International Downtown Association, and the Austin Chronicle.

As a result of his work as mayor, Watson became a recognized speaker on economic development.[9] His work was also referenced in the book The Rise of the Creative Class by Richard Florida.

In 2000, Watson was reelected with 84% of the vote – the highest percentage a mayoral candidate has ever received in Austin. In November 2001, he stepped down to run unsuccessfully for Texas Attorney General. In 2005, he served as chairman of the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce.

Texas Senate (2007–2020)[]

Watson in 2012

Watson was elected to the Texas Senate in November 2006, succeeding Senator Gonzalo Barrientos. He received more than 80 percent of the vote.[10] Watson was unopposed in the March 2006 Democratic Primary.[11]

He serves as vice-chairman of the Senate Transportation and Homeland Security committee, as well as on the Senate Business and Commerce, Economic Development, Jurisprudence, and Nominations committees. In 2008, he was appointed as one of two senators to the state Business Tax Advisory Committee.

Watson has become a prominent voice on transportation, clean energy, and higher education issues, and he has campaigned to widen transparency in the state's finances and increase health coverage for Texans, particularly children. In 2009, he led the fight against a budget rider that would have effectively banned embryonic stem cell research at Texas universities. The rider ultimately was not adopted.[12]

Watson has served on many committees including the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO), of which he is the former Transportation Policy Board Chairman. CAMPO is federally designated as the primary transportation planning organization in Central Texas.[13]

The July 2007 Texas Monthly magazine recognized Watson as "Rookie of the Year" for the 2007 session of the Texas Legislature. In 2009, the magazine named him one of the state's 10 Best Legislators.[14] He also was given the Price Daniel Award for Distinguished Public Service by the Baylor Alumni Association, and the Excellence in Leadership Award by Concordia University, Texas.

Watson considered running in the 2010 race for governor, but in August 2009 decided to instead seek re-election to the Texas Senate.[15]

In June 2013, Watson moved to overturn a ruling designed to end the filibuster of Senator Wendy Davis. Together, their efforts averted the passage of SB5, a bill that its opponents claimed would enact severe abortion restrictions in Texas.[16][17] Instead, in a second special session the same bill was passed (96 to 49) by the Texas House,[18] and then (19 to 11) by the Texas Senate,[19] and then signed into law by Gov. Perry less than a month later.[20] State Rep. Charles "Doc" Anderson of Waco (Texas HD 56) told reporters following the Davis filibuster that the additional special session might "cost taxpayers more than $800,000."[21] Another news organization estimated special-session costs at roughly $30,000 per day.[22]

In the general election on November 6, 2018, Watson easily won reelection, 274,122 (74.1 percent) to 96,355 (25.3 percent) for his Republican opponent, George W. Hindman. A Libertarian Party candidate, Micah M. Verlander, held another 10,838 votes (2.8 percent).[23]

Watson resigned from the Texas State Senate on April 30, 2020 to become the first dean of the University of Houston's Hobby School of Public Affairs.[4]

Controversy[]

Texas highways[]

Much of Watson's first year in office was spent mediating a long, very bitter dispute on the CAMPO board over highway improvements in the Austin area.

While many of the improvements had been in transportation plans for years, they had never been constructed. A lack of transportation funding, affecting projects across Texas, had led previous boards to support plans that would toll the additional capacity as well as nearly completed projects, sparking intense opposition throughout the region.

Upon being elected chairman by the rest of the board in January 2007, Watson led the effort to keep the controversial projects in the region's transportation plan. He then spearheaded a public effort to create a process that would allow policy makers and the public to analyze the need for transportation projects, mechanisms to pay for them, and potential public benefits from them.

On October 8, 2007, the CAMPO board overwhelmingly approved a plan to add new toll lanes to several existing highways (U.S. Highway 290, U.S. Highway 183, and State Highway 71).

Most of the improvements were approved on a 15-4 vote, and none were opposed by more than five board members. The board was heckled with shouts of "Political suicide!" and catcalls.[24]

2008 Chris Matthews interview[]

Following Senator Barack Obama's victory in the 2008 Wisconsin Democratic Primary Election on February 19, 2008, Watson appeared via live feed on MSNBC's election night coverage as a supporter of Senator Obama, whom Watson had endorsed. During the interview, Chris Matthews asked Watson to name one of Senator Obama's legislative accomplishments. After Watson was unable to list one of Obama's accomplishments, Matthews responded, "You've supported him for president, you're on national television, name his legislative accomplishments, Barack Obama's, sir."[25] After Watson was excused, Matthews commented, "He [Watson] is here to defend Barack Obama and he had nothing to say; that's a problem."[26]

Electoral history[]

2018[]

: Senate District 14[27][28]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Kirk Watson 276,052 71.93 -8.05
Republican George W. Hindman 96,834 25.23 +25.23
Libertarian Micah M. Verlander 10,889 2.84 -17.18
Majority 179,218 54.75 -5.21
Turnout 383,775 46.61 n/a
Democratic hold

2014[]

Texas general election, 2014: Senate District 14[29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Kirk Watson 154,391 79.98 -0.31
Libertarian James Arthur Strohm 38,648 20.02 +0.31
Majority 115,743 59.96 -0.62
Turnout 193,039 n/a n/a
Democratic hold

2012[]

: Senate District 14[30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Kirk Watson 212,527 80.29 +19.56
Libertarian Ryan M. Dixon 52,187 19.71 +16.10
Majority 164,578 60.58 +35.52
Turnout 264,714 n/a n/a
Democratic hold

2010[]

Texas general election, 2010: Senate District 14[31]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Kirk Watson 115,949 60.73 -19.59
Republican Mary Lou Serafine 68,100 35.67 +35.67
Libertarian Kent Phillips 6,884 3.61 -16.07
Majority 47,949 25.06 -35.57
Turnout 190,933 n/a n/a
Democratic hold

2006[]

Texas general election, 2006: Senate District 14[10]
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

2002[]

Texas general election, 2002: Texas Attorney General[32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Greg Abbott 2,542,184 56.72 +2.46
Democratic Kirk Watson 1,841,359 41.08 -3.1
Libertarian Jon Roland 56,880 1.26 -0.3
Green David Keith Cobb 41,560 0.92 +0.92
Majority 700,825 15.63
Turnout 4,481,983
Republican hold

2000[]

: Mayor of Austin[33]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
nonpartisan Kirk Watson 29,777 84.03 +35.56
nonpartisan Leslie A. Cochran 2,755 7.77 n/a
nonpartisan Dale A. Reed 1,662 4.69 n/a
nonpartisan Jennifer L. Gale 1,244 3.51 +2.84
Majority 27,022 76.26 +67.68
Turnout 38,166 7.0 -10.0

1997[]

: Mayor of Austin[34]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
nonpartisan Kirk Watson 30,278 48.47 n/a
nonpartisan Ronney Reynolds 24,915 39.89 n/a
nonpartisan Michael "Max" Nofziger 5,966 9.55 n/a
nonpartisan Jennifer L. Gale 420 0.67 n/a
nonpartisan Kirk Becker 361 0.57 n/a
nonpartisan Ray Blanchette 197 0.31 n/a
nonpartisan Ted Kircher 165 0.26 n/a
nonpartisan John Johnson 154 0.24 n/a
Majority 5,372 8.58 +5.0
Turnout 62,840 17.0 +1.0

A majority is usually required to win a mayoral election in Austin, and if no candidate receives more than 50 percent in the general election, a winner is usually determined in a runoff election. However, on May 5, 1997, two days after the general election, candidate Ronney Reynolds, a two-term council member, withdrew from the runoff resulting in Watson's election as mayor.[35]

Personal life[]

Watson is married to Elizabeth Anne "Liz" McDaniel and is the father of Preston McDaniel and Cooper Kyle Watson.

Notes[]

  1. ^ Mike Ward, "Democrat leader in Senate to leave post", San Antonio Express-News, October 10, 2015, p. A4
  2. ^ Lindell, Chuck (8 January 2019). "Austin's Kirk Watson elected Senate president pro tem". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  3. ^ Pollock, Cassandra (18 February 2020). "State Sen. Kirk Watson to retire from Texas Senate". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  4. ^ a b Goudeau, Ashley (April 30, 2020). "State Sen. Kirk Watson headed to University of Houston". KVUE. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  5. ^ Watson, Kirk. "MEET KIRK". kirkwatson.com. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  6. ^ a b "Pro Texana, Medal Of Service: Sen. Kirk Watson". Baylor Magazine. Fall 2010. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  7. ^ a b Hunt, Alan. "Kirk Watson To Speak At Baylor Law Graduation April 30". Baylor.edu. Baylor University. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  8. ^ "TYLA 80th Anniversary – 1930-2010". Texas Young Lawyers Association.
  9. ^ "Naked City - News - The Austin Chronicle".
  10. ^ a b Office of the Secretary of State. "Race Summary Report; 2006 General Election". sos.state.tx.us. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  11. ^ Office of the Secretary of State. "Race Summary Report; 2006 Democratic Primary Election". sos.state.tx.us. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  12. ^ "The Dark Rider | Texas Senator Kirk Watson".
  13. ^ CAMPO Board members Archived 2012-07-31 at archive.today
  14. ^ http://www.texasmonthly.com/preview/2009-07-01/feature2[bare URL]
  15. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-06-07. Retrieved 2009-08-15.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. ^ Texas Senate Livestream 83(3). YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-11.
  17. ^ Hoppe, Christy (June 26, 2013). "Still disputed whether SB5 vote met midnight deadline". Dallas Morning News.
  18. ^ MacLaggan, Corrie (July 10, 2013). "Texas House OKs bill restricting abortions, moves it to Senate". Reuters News Service.
  19. ^ MacLaggan, Corrie (July 13, 2013). "Texas passes abortion restriction bill, governor certain to sign". Reuters News Service.
  20. ^ Blake, Aaron (July 18, 2013). "Perry signs Texas abortion bill into law". The Washington Post.
  21. ^ Elizondo, John (June 26, 2013). "2nd special session could cost taxpayers additional $800K". KXXV-TV, News Channel 25 (Waco).
  22. ^ Brooks-Harper, Karen (July 17, 2013). "Lawmakers pass abortion, juvenile justice bills with time running out in second special session". Community Impact Newspapers (Texas). Archived from the original on July 17, 2014. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
  23. ^ "Election Returns". Texas Secretary of State. November 6, 2018. Archived from the original on November 10, 2018. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
  24. ^ Austin-American Statesman "Board approves five new toll roads"
  25. ^ Wonkette (with video)
  26. ^ Texas-Observer
  27. ^ Office of the Secretary of State. "Race Summary Report; 2018 General Election". sos.state.tx.us. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  28. ^ Office of the Secretary of State. "County by County Canvass Report; 2018 General Election". sos.state.tx.us. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  29. ^ Office of the Secretary of State. "Race Summary Report; 2014 General Election". sos.state.tx.us. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  30. ^ Office of the Secretary of State. "Race Summary Report; 2012 General Election". sos.state.tx.us. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  31. ^ Office of the Secretary of State. "Race Summary Report; 2010 General Election". sos.state.tx.us. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  32. ^ "2002 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2014-01-09. Retrieved 2006-12-15.
  33. ^ Office of the City Clerk. "Election History". AustinTexas.gov. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  34. ^ Office of the City Clerk. "Election History". AustinTexas.gov. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  35. ^ de Marban, Alex; Duff, Audrey (9 May 1997). "Mayor: What, Me Negative?". Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 17 February 2019.

External links[]

Political offices
Preceded by
Bruce Todd
 Mayor of Austin
1997–2001 		Succeeded by
Texas Senate
Preceded by Member of the Texas Senate
from the 14th district
2007–2020 		Succeeded by
Preceded by President pro tempore of the Texas Senate
2019 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from ""