Georgia Assembly: Senator Sam Watson

Ballotpedia: Sam Watson

Sam is from Moultrie, Georgia and attended Colquitt County High School. He received an Associate's degree from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and a Bachelor's degree in Agriculture Education from the University of Georgia. He is President of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, a member of the UGA Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity Alumni Board, and a member of the
Georgia Agribusiness Council. Sam is married and has four daughters. The Watson family are active members of the Moultrie First Baptist Church, where Sam serves as a Deacon.

Sam is the Managing Partner of Chill C Farms, a business he helped to create in 2007. 

Sam Watson is State Senator for District 11. He was elected in a special election in 2023 and has served one term. He previously served as representative for House District 172 from 2013 to 2023.

Candidate website

The candidate's website says, "In the State Senate, Sam will continue to modernize tax policies, improve incentives and remove outdated codes that create financial roadblocks for our local economies... He will continue to educate our legislators on the workforce challenges that rural Georgia faces and the regulations that are stifling our ability to thrive..."

Said he "will continue to modernize tax policies, improve incentives and remove outdated codes that create financial roadblocks for our local economies."

- Said he "will continue to modernize tax policies, improve incentives and remove outdated codes that create financial roadblocks for our local economies."

Economy

Thomasville Times-Enterprise: Sam Watson announces bid for State Senate in newly vacant GA-11

Believes that regulations made by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are decreasing growth opportunities for businesses.

Is proud of the relief that the State of Georgia provided to farmers after Hurricane Michael, and identified this issue as "close to his heart".

- Believes that regulations made by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are decreasing growth opportunities for businesses.
- Is proud of the relief that the State of Georgia provided to farmers after Hurricane Michael, and identified this issue as "close to his heart".

Energy & the Environment

Supports ensuring rural Georgians have healthcare access, champions the Rural Hospital Tax Credit to sustain local hospitals, and has facilitated the redirection of funds to District 11 hospitals, pledging ongoing advocacy for the program.

Supports the Rural Hospital Tax Credit, which aims to keep rural hospitals open.

The candidate's website says, "In the State Senate, Sam will continue to fight for the support our local healthcare systems need to better serve our rural communities."

Said he "will continue to fight for the support our local healthcare systems need to better serve our rural communities."

The candidate's website says, "Sam has also worked to secure state funding for the expansion of Graduate Medical Education opportunities to combat physician shortages."

Supports funding the expansion of Graduate Medical Education to combat the shortage of physicians in Georgia.

- Supports the Rural Hospital Tax Credit, which aims to keep rural hospitals open.
- Said he "will continue to fight for the support our local healthcare systems need to better serve our rural communities."
- Supports funding the expansion of Graduate Medical Education to combat the shortage of physicians in Georgia.

Healthcare

Voting & Elections

As of July 25, 2024, Sam Watson’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Public Safety

Supports strong education, influenced by family educators, for future job preparation and maintaining community ties; advocates for local control and parental choice in K-12 to address diverse family needs.

In relation to school choice, Sam said that "local control and parent choices must be protected in order to meet the needs of every family."

- In relation to school choice, Sam said that "local control and parent choices must be protected in order to meet the needs of every family."

Education

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Sam Watson

- Your state senator represents the interests of your district in the Georgia State Senate.
- Your state senator can author, sponsor, and vote on bills that may become state laws after going through the legislative process. 
- State Senators are involved in approving some appointments by the Governor.
- The State Senate, along with the State House of Representatives, makes up our state lawmaking body: the Georgia General Assembly.
- There are 56 Georgia senators, each representing a single district.
- State Senators are elected to two-year terms. They are paid a yearly salary of $17,342.