Tuesday, January 29, 2013
The former state representative from East Greenwich was arrested on April 22, 2011.
Charges filed in Connecticut against former state representative Bob Watson of East Greenwich have been dropped, according to his lawyer in New Haven. "The state decided it couldn’t prove the DUI beyond a reasonable doubt," said attorney Charles E. Tiernan III Tuesday. "The prosecutor used his descretion and decided to drop the charges." News of the dropped charges was first reported by the Providence Journal Monday. Watson was arrested in East Haven on April 22, 2011, for driving while intoxicated and possessing marijuana. Tiernan had argued the urine test obtained after Watson's arrest was inadmissible because it had been taken more than two hours after Watson had stopped driving. In addition, he said the results were not given to …
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
The former state representative for East Greenwich is facing charges of drunk driving and possession of marijuana from an incident in April 2011.
Former state Rep. Bob Watson of East Greenwich will proceed to trial on drunken driving and possession of marijuana charges stemming from an April 2011 stop at a sobriety checkpoint in East Haven, Conn., the Providence Journal reported Wednesday. Watson failed to reach a plea agreement with prosecutors Tuesday in his final conference before trial. He is expected to go on trial in January in Superior Court in New Haven, according to his lawyer, Jack O’Donnell. Watson was pulled over during a routine sobriety check point set up on Friday evening, April 22, 2011, in East Haven. According to the police report, Watson had slurred speech and appeared to be intoxicated. He failed a field sobriety test and police found a small bag of marijuana …
Saturday, June 30, 2012
What to love and loathe about living in East Greenwich this week.
RAVE: Downtown EG is getting an extreme makeover as several Main Street and Harbor District restaurants have new owners who are giving their establishments new! improved! looks. So that’s all well and good and let’s all hope they make a success of it. After all, there’s no denying that opening a new restaurant whether it’s your first or fortieth entails risk, usually lots of it. I read somewhere that that of the half million or so restaurants in the U.S., around 10 to 15 percent are forced to close each year and most of these failures are restaurants that have been open fewer than 3 years. Here’s to wishing them full tables and full customers. But our town still suffers from vacant building syndrome. There’s the old Bostitch factory (I …
Monday, June 25, 2012
EG’s soon-to-be former state representative Bob Watson talks about his years in the General Assembly and his plans for the future.
Representative Bob Watson looks good, looks healthy. It’s been six months since he entered rehab, a milestone he was happy to note. “Recovery isn’t counted in days and weeks,” he said during an interview at Felicia’s, “it’s counted in months and years.” How long it will take Watson to recover from 20 years in the General Assembly is harder to say. “I’m going to focus on myself and my law practice,” he said, noting he’d spent nearly his entire professional career in the General Assembly. “When I came out of law school, I immediately ran for state Senate.” The seat in 1988 was open and Watson won. He paints an unrecognizable picture of himself as an first term elected official. “As a state senator I was wide-eyed. The learning curve was a …
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Sasse said Thursday the run is something he's "thinking about."
East Greenwich resident Gary Sasse confirmed Thursday he is considering running for the state representative District 30 seat now held by Bob Watson. Watson announced last week he would not run for re-election. When asked if he was thinking about running, Sasse said, "Yes, it's something I'm thinking about." This would be Sasse's first run for public office, but not his first time in the public eye. He was director of the state Department of Administration and the Department of Revenue for several years under Gov. Donald Carcieri. Before that, he ran the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council for nearly 30 years. Currently, Sasse is the director of the Bryant Institute for Public Leadership at Bryant University. He also has a consulting …
Thursday, June 7, 2012
He plans to run as a Republican, which would force a primary if Bob Watson decides to run for re-election.
Insurance agent Bob Bolton said Wednesday he plans to run as a Republican for the House District 30 seat now held by fellow Republican Bob Watson, which will prompt a primary if Watson seeks re-election. “I think we need strong, viable Republican representation at the State House,” said Bolton. “I’m the sort of person who can work with both sides of the aisle, not just be an island by myself, for the betterment of the Town of East Greenwich and the State of Rhode Island.” Bolton, who has served on the Zoning Board for eight years, ran for the same seat two years ago, as an independent. Before that, he ran as a Republican in a primary against Watson and lost. He was a registered Democrat at one time. He doesn’t see a conflict in running …
Friday, May 18, 2012
The Republican was the only state legislator to vote against the deal to give Curt Schilling's now-faltering video game company a $75 million guaranteed loan in 2010.
East Greenwich state representative Bob Watson, who's had nothing but bad press in recent months, suddenly looks like the smartest guy in the room, having cast the only "no" vote in 2010 on the deal to give Curt Schillings' 38 Studios video game company at $75 million guaranteed loan. The company missed a $1 million loan payment earlier this month. The issue has claimed one political victim so far — Economic Development Commission head Keith Stokes resigned on Wednesday. Watson, a guest on NPRI's Political Roundtable Friday morning, recalled saying the deal was "too loose, too fast, and a scandal waiting to happen." He continued, "Back on April 13, 2010, I warned our house colleagues that thier vote that day could set in motion things …
Friday, February 17, 2012
An South Kingstown Police internal memo sent to a reporter by mistake says officer who stopped Rep. Bob Watson Jan. 21 is being disciplined.
Monday, February 6, 2012
The East Greenwich state representative, who was arrested Jan. 21 for drug possession, was not asked to complete a field sobriety test despite smelling of alcohol and drinking openly at the scene.
The South Kingstown Police Department has decided not to charge state Rep. Bob Watson (R-30) of East Greenwich with driving while intoxicated, saying in a press release: “The evidence presented significant legal issues that would have made a successful prosecution unlikely.” “It is very difficult,” said South Kingstown prosecutor Terrance Simpson Monday. “On a DUI case, there are certain things that need to be done immediately afterwards, at the scene and at the station.” Those things — a field sobriety test, a preliminary alcohol screening test and a breathalyzer — were not done by police the night of Saturday, Jan. 21. They cannot be replicated hours later with any accurancy, Simpson said. SK police responded to a call from a plow …
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Five things you need to know about East Greenwich today, Feb. 2.
Bob Watson in court: Bob Watson's arraignment on a marijuana possession charge takes place this morning in South Kingstown at 9 a.m. Schools Budget Workshop: The School Committee will hear about the special ed and technology budgets tonight at 7 in the library at Cole Middle School. EG Sports: EGHS is the site for a tri-school wrestling match today starting at 6, between EG, Central Falls and Exeter/West Greenwich. The Competitive Cheerleading squad competes at nearby West Warwick High School tonight at 7:30. Also, the Cole Boys Basketball team plays in round two of the playoffs this afternoon against Gallagher Middle School in Smithfield. Go Lancers! Once Upon A Mattress: The East Greenwich High School Drama Club’s production of “Once …
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Martha Reynolds
3:49 pm on Saturday, June 30, 2012
Good piece, Lisa, and well stated on all points. more ›