Mayor Tom Watson is officially running for re-election in 2020. After announcing last year he would not participate in the mayoral election, Watson’s perspective changed in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, his mother’s death, and his ongoing desire to see Owensboro succeed.
“Early on, when people were asking me if I was going to run or not, I said, ‘It’s way too early since we don’t have a primary,’” Watson said. “I said, ‘A lot of things could happen between January and June — we just don’t know.’ It’s kind of prophetic.”
As the coronavirus and its effects made their way into the area — shuttering businesses and increasing unemployment numbers across the City — COVID-19 prompted Watson to dig deeper into his initial decision not to run.
“[My wife] Barbara and I sat down and prayed about it,” he said. “There’s no telling what you can accomplish if no one gets the credit, and I want people to see the value of Owensboro.”
And in February, Watson said his 91-year-old mother was in the hospital when she told him, “Thomas, I believe you ought to run. You really seem to like it, and you’re pretty good at it.”
His mother died three days later, and Watson said he hung onto her words for a long time afterward. He also continued to receive calls from people in Frankfort, Washington, D.C., and other states imploring him to run for re-election.
“I believe it’s better not to change the captain of the ship in the middle of a storm,” he said.
Watson, who previously served as mayor from 2005-2008 before being elected to a second term in 2016, said he wants to complete a number of important programs that need a strong push from someone who knows the City of Owensboro and the right people who can help bring them to fruition.
Many of Watson’s allies work in local, state and federal government, and have played major roles in securing federal and state funding for Owensboro’s development.
Watson said those relationships took 30 years to build, and believes they’ll be extremely important in helping bring to life his High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program — created to combat methamphetamine use in the area — as well as a number of other City-wide projects that he’s been working on for years.
Watson said he also wants to continue supporting first responders, law enforcement and the fire department.
As for career highlights, Watson said he’s very proud of the City’s general fund balance. The 2020 fiscal year was projected to see a $3 million deficit in the general fund balance, but the balance finished $2.4 million in the positive.
Watson also continued to assist the City’s many social programs. Most recently, he transferred $150,000 from the general and economic development funds to the newly announced rental assistance and small business assistance programs for those affected by COVID-19.
“That’s a group largely left out of the CARES Act, and providing them with three months of rental assistance — that’s a pretty good deal that can keep them going,” he said.
Watson also played a major hand in creating the On to College program, which gives high school students access to college classes at Owensboro Community & Technical College at a much lower cost. Last year, Watson hosted a commencement ceremony for 24 local students who’d earned their high school diploma and associate’s degree simultaneously.
Watson said he put some thought into when he would announce his candidacy, and he decided the Friday before Mother’s Day would serve as a sentimental nod toward his own mother.
“I’m just excited about the position the City is in, even though we’re in the middle of a war with this virus,” he said. “I don’t think I’m doing anything special. I think I’m just doing what I’m supposed to be doing.”
