Watson was first elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives in special election in January 2006 to replace Chris Newton , who resigned as part of Operation Tennessee Waltz . He was re-elected four times . He was an at-large representative at the 2008 Republican National Convention . In 2010 , he received the Legislator of the Year by the County Officials Association of Tennessee . In November 2011 , Speaker Beth Harwell appointed him to the Tennessee Criminal Justice Coordinating Council . On October 5 , 2013 , he announced his intentions to run for sheriff of Bradley County . He was elected in 2014 , defeating incumbent Jim Ruth , and resigned from the Tennessee House the following August , upon taking office . In 2018 , he ran for reelection , and lost to challenger Steve Lawson by 1,175 votes . He was succeeded by Lawson in September 2018
2008 Republican National Convention
2008 Republican National Convention
Eric Watson (politician)