Meet Frank Watson
Biography || State Legislative Maps
Senator Watson was first elected to the State Senate in 1982, having served the four previous years in the Illinois House of Representatives. Since that time, he rose to leadership positions serving as Assistant Majority Leader from 1993 to 2002 and now as Leader of the Senate Republican Caucus.
As the Senator works for the people of Illinois some of his accomplishments include; sponsoring a model welfare reform program that has successfully helped people move from the welfare rolls to the employment rolls. Championed economic development issues that helped bring new businesses to Illinois and helped other businesses expand. Sponsored school reform measures that improve the quality of public education in Illinois. Led the way for more funding for public education, making education Illinois' top budget priority. Sponsored college tuition programs to help make higher education more affordable. Sponsored legislation to improve rural health care, transportation and promote Illinois coal. Passed legislation to help clean up contaminated industrial sites. Led the fight to reduce state mandates on local government.
Senator Watson is a former supervisor and trustee of Bond County, Central Township. He holds membership with the Greenville Jaycees, the Greenville, O'Fallon, Salem, Decatur, Mt. Zion, Sullivan, and Centralia Chambers of Commerce, and the Illinois Retail Association.
Graduating from Purdue University, Senator Watson is a registered pharmacist and the past owner of Watson's Drug Store. Senator and his wife Susan live in Greenville, and they have two children.
