Senator Michael Watson was born on December 22, 1977 in Pascagoula.  He grew up as the son of a shipyard worker and bank teller.  His father later entered the ministry and still serves as a pastor.  He graduated from Pascagoula High School and went on to earn a BBA and a JD (law degree) from the University of Mississippi.

During the summer of 1999, he served as an intern for then U.S. Senate Majority Leader, Trent Lott.  That experience strengthened his desire to one day serve the people of Mississippi as an elected official.   

Senator Watson is a member of the Pascagoula Rotary Club and also works hard to support the local affiliates of the American Heart Association and American Cancer Society.

Senator Watson drafted and helped guide SB 2988 into law during his freshman year in the MS Senate.  This is Mississippi's first law dealing with the growing illegal immigration issue. His second session brought many challenges.  One of his main goals was to pass a bill improving MS's Charter School legislation.  The bill was narrowly defeated in the House of Representatives. 

Senator Watson had a rather eventful year following his second session.  In September, he married his beautiful wife, Lauren.  Lauren was born in Pascagoula as well.  She moved away at a young age, only to return to the Coast several years later.  The two met each other at church camp and stayed in touch through the years.

During his third session, Senator Watson hoped to capitalize on the momentum behind the Charter School movement in Mississippi.  After drafting SB 2664 last year, which revamped our Charter School legislation, he made the bill even better.  Unfortunately, the bill did not pass as drafted, but a bill that may have cracked the Charter School door was passed and signed into law by the Governor.  He also worked on legislation to consolidate Mississippi's 152 school districts in an effort to save money in our tough economy.  He hoped to use some of that money on teacher pay raises, classroom supplies and a much needed tax cut of some type, but the bill was not even passed out of the Education committee.  He also filed a bill to decrease the size of the legislature from 174 members to 100.  The would cut the House from 122 members to 70 and the Senate from 52 members to 30. This bill did not make it out of the Elections Committee, but a complimentary version did.  It was soundly defeated on the Senate floor.

One of Senator Watson's biggest accomplishments during his third session was the passage of SB 2389.  The Senator worked closely with Dr. Franklin in the Governor's office on this bill that allows for an alternate-track high school diploma.  Though we all wish everyone could go to college, that is not a realistic approach.  SB 2389 allows for high school students to choose an alternate-track diploma that will allow them to substitute vocational training classes for some of their other required classes.  This will help those who have no interest in going to college be better prepared to enter the work force following graduation.  By preparing to enter the working world in high school, more students will have a chance to make a successful transition into a rewarding career of his/her choice instead.

Following his third session, on August 12, Michael and Lauren welcomed their first child, Gracie Pierce.  Senator Watson took on a new perspective of life, to say the least.

During his fourth session, Senator Watson braced for a tough budget year, which also included redistricting and just happened to be an election year.  Senator Watson continued his fight to reform our education system by fine tuning the Charter School legislation (which again passed the Senate, but failed to come out of the House), and by co-authoring a bill to expand the alternate-track diploma program. 

Finding a solution to the insurance crisis on the Coast continued to be one of his top priorities during his fourth session.  As a result, he shepherded HB 1199 (drafted by Representative DeLano), a bill creating an council that will establish an industry-wide windstorm mitigation standard, through the Senate Insurance Committee and on the Senate floor.  HB 1199 will lead to lower insurance premiums once the standards are created.   

 Senator Watson also drafted and got passed into law, SB 2615, which strengthens the penalties for those injuring an unborn child.  

Senator Watson is proud of his accomplishments during his first terming and believes his hard work, dedication and efforts to stay involved in the community lead to his re-election without opposition.

Over the next four years, Senator Watson plans to continue his education reform efforts, keep taxes low while providing a friendly business climate, and fighting for lower insurance rates in South Mississippi.    

Outside of the legislature, Senator Watson works for Orion Engineering in Pascagoula, where he serves as in house counsel and as the Director of Business Development.  Michael, Lauren and Gracie Pierce are members of First Presbyterian in Pascagoula.

Please feel free to email Senator Watson with any comments or suggestions at mwatson@senate.ms.gov.  Several of the bills he has filed over the past three years have come from suggestions he received while visiting with the great folks of District 51.