November 19, 2003
The Atlanta Journal Constitution

Watson Named Perdue’s Chief of Staff

         ATLANTA, GA – Governor Sonny Perdue today tapped veteran
political operative and legislative and public affairs expert John Watson
as his new Chief of Staff.  He will replace Eric Tanenblatt effective January
1, 2004.

John K. Watson has been active in politics, government, and business at
the local, state and federal levels for more than fourteen years.  He
served as General Consultant to Governor Perdue’s highly-effective
campaign for Governor and as Vice Chairman of Governor Perdue’s
transition.   He then helped form a public affairs firm -- Watson, Massey &
Bowers LLC where he serves as President and Managing Principal.  The
company’s partners include former Georgia Attorney General Michael J.
Bowers, Bruce E. Bowers, and former Georgia Secretary of State Lewis A.
Massey.

“I am extremely pleased to have John rejoining my team,” said Governor
Sonny Perdue.  “His sage counsel and his passion for making Georgia
an even better place to live will be most welcome as we continue to move
our state forward.”

A native Virginian and a 1991 graduate of Wake Forest University with a
degree in Political Science, Watson began his political career as staff
assistant to the Fairfax County, Virginia, Board of Supervisors.

In 1993, Watson relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, serving as former
Congressman Bob Barr’s Finance Director in his first election to Georgia’
s Seventh Congressional District.  Following Barr’s 1994 election,
Watson was appointed District Representative, where he managed four
district offices in the greater metropolitan Atlanta area.

In 1995, Watson became Finance Director for the Georgia Republican
Party, achieving unprecedented fundraising objectives.  In 1997, Watson
joined Mike Bowers, Georgia’s Attorney General for 16 years, as
Campaign Manager for the Mike Bowers for Governor Campaign.

Following the 1998 election cycle, Watson entered the business sector to
serve as Vice President of Business Development for Construction
Systems, Inc., where he launched a successful commercial construction
division.


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