The 2009 Kendall County Salute to Veterans is proud to have State Representative and Gulf War and Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran Jim Watson as the guest speaker for this year’s Salute on Friday, July 10th from 4:00pm to 8:00pm at Ralph’s Place on the Blackberry Oaks Golf Course. Tickets are available at Ralph’s Place (2245 Kennedy Road, Bristol) and online at www.kendallgop.com.
Representative Watson’s diverse background includes teaching at both the high school and college level and 10 years of business experience. Jim is a veteran of both the first Gulf War and also Operation Iraqi Freedom. He is a former member of the U.S. Marine Corps and Marine Corps Reserves, and is currently a member of the Individual Ready Reserve. As a Staff Sergeant with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves’ 3rd Civil Affairs Group, he was recently deployed to Iraq as a member of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force’s Governance Cell.
While in Iraq, Watson served as a Governance Chief and the Chief Liaison to the Anbar Provincial Council, assisting the Iraqi people during their transition to a representative form of government. To achieve this objective, Watson’s unit focused on tribal engagement – working with the existing tribes in the region to form functioning governments incorporating local leaders.
His duties included working with city councils and the provincial leadership council, analyzing and revising provincial laws, synchronizing and coordinating local and provincial governments, and establishing tribal relations. Watson believes that governance is the key to victory, and states that the Iraqis are working hard to implementing their own form of representative government.
In the General Assembly, Representative Watson has been a strong advocate for veterans’ rights, and currently serves on the Veterans Affairs Committee. He has represented the 97th District in the General Assembly since December 2001 and is currently serving his fourth term in the House. His Legislative District covers all or portions of seven counties, including Calhoun, Greene, Jersey, Madison, Macoupin, Morgan, and Pike counties.
Watson is a father of three children, Katie, Jacob and Lexi. He and his wife, Lisa, reside in Jacksonville.
