John Watkins (Virginia politician, born 1947)
{{short description|American politician}}
{{ Infobox officeholder
| birthname = John Chewning Watkins
| name = John Watkins
| honorific-suffix =
| image =
| caption =
| state_senate = Virginia
| district = 10th
| term_start = January 16, 1998
| term_end = January 13, 2016
| preceded = Joseph B. Benedetti
| succeeded = Glen Sturtevant
| office2 = Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
| term_start2 = January 13, 1982
| term_end2 = January 13, 1998
| alongside2 = George W. Jones and
Robert E. Russell until 1983
| preceded2 = Alex McMurtrie Jr.
| succeeded2 = Lee Ware
| constituency2 = {{ubl|34th district (1982–1983)|65th district (1983–1998)}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age | 1947 | 3 | 1}}
| birth_place = Petersburg, Virginia, U.S.
| party = Republican
| spouse = Kathy
| children = 3 sons
| residence = Midlothian, Virginia
| education = Virginia Tech (BS)
| occupation = Nursery owner
| committees =
| allegiance = {{flag|United States}}
| branch = United States Army
| serviceyears = 1970–1971
| rank =
| unit =
| commands =
| battles =
| awards =
}}
John Chewning Watkins (born March 1, 1947) is a Virginia businessman and politician, who served in the Virginia General Assembly for 34 years. A Republican, Watkins served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1982 to 1998, when he was elected to the Senate of Virginia. He represented the 10th district, situated in part of the city of Richmond and its westerly suburbs, including all of Amelia and Powhatan counties and parts of four others.Senate of Virginia bio
Early and family life
Born in Petersburg, Virginia, Watkins graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in horticulture. He served in the U.S. Army 1970–71. He is President of Watkins Nurseries Inc.The General Assembly of Virginia 1982-1995, p. 184
Political career
Watkins was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 1982 and re-elected twice. He was then elected to the Virginia Senate. He became known for supporting public transit and regional cooperation.{{Cite web|url=https://www.styleweekly.com/richmond/the-power-list/Content?oid=1363263|title=The Power List|first=Scott|last=Bass|website=Style Weekly}}
Although he faced no opponent in 2007, and easily defeated Democrat David Meade Bernard in 2011, in November 2014, Watkins announced that he would not run for re-election in 2016. He cited wanting to spend more time with his grandchildren as well as new ethics laws following the conviction of former Governor Bob McDonnell.{{cite web|url=http://wtvr.com/2014/11/25/john-watkins-announces-retirement/ |title=State Senator John Watkins announces retirement; cites post-McDonnell ethics scrutiny |publisher=CBS6 |date=November 25, 2014 |accessdate=November 26, 2014}} As legislators work part-time, many have full-time jobs. Watkins owns a nursery, land along Virginia Route 288 coveted by developers (for a shopping mall, among other things) and is Chairman of the Board of Essex Bank. The Richmond Times-Dispatch noted that Watkins was also considered a maverick, more liberal than many in his party.{{Cite web|url=https://richmondmagazine.com/api/content/4eeba4ea-78fe-11e5-bc1e-22000b078648/|title=The Maverick|first=Mark|last=Robinson|date=November 2, 2015|website=richmondmagazine.com}} In a hotly contested race to succeed him in the 10th District, Republican Glen Sturtevant defeated Democrat Daniel Gecker.{{Cite web|url=https://historical.elections.virginia.gov/elections/search/year_from:2004/year_to:2016/office_id:9/district_id:27274|title=Virginia Elections Database » Search Elections|website=Virginia Elections Database}}
References
{{reflist}}
=Sources=
- {{cite web|title=Senator John Watkins; Republican - District 10 |publisher=Senate of Virginia |url=http://sov.state.va.us/SenatorDB.nsf/23b0c13df27a5ef585256fc7004febb2/1b375ba0e3169c9a85256aa0007199a6?OpenDocument |accessdate=2008-11-02 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090115144801/http://sov.state.va.us/SenatorDB.nsf/23b0c13df27a5ef585256fc7004febb2/1b375ba0e3169c9a85256aa0007199a6?OpenDocument |archivedate=2009-01-15 }}
- {{cite web | title = Senator John C. Watkins | url = http://www.senatorjohnwatkins.com}} (Constituent/campaign website)
- {{cite web | title = Past member lookup; John Watkins | publisher = Virginia House of Delegates | url = http://dela.state.va.us/dela/Membios.nsf/HSearch/?SearchView&Query=%5BFullName%5D+Contains+john%20and%20watkins+&SearchMax=&SearchOrder=4}}
External links
- {{cite web | title = John C Watkins | publisher = Virginia Public Access Project | url = http://www.vpap.org/candidates/profile/home/5702 |accessdate = 2008-11-02}}
- {{cite web|title=Election Results |publisher=Virginia State Board of Elections |url=http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/cms/Election_Information/Election_Results/Index.html |accessdate=2008-11-02 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100617084700/http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/cms/Election_Information/Election_Results/Index.html |archivedate=2010-06-17 }}
- {{cite web | title = Senator John Watkins (R-Midlothian) | work = Richmond Sunlight | url = http://www.richmondsunlight.com/legislator/jcwatkins/}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Watkins, John}}
Category:Republican Party Virginia state senators
Category:Republican Party members of the Virginia House of Delegates
Category:People from Petersburg, Virginia
Category:People from Midlothian, Virginia
Category:21st-century members of the Virginia General Assembly
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