* Rep. Watson is safely back in the states…
Representative Jim Watson is back from Iraq. Watson tells supporters in an e-mail today that he returned to the US last weekend. The Jacksonville Republican is currently in California at Camp Pendleton, where he says he’ll go through standard demobilization and release from active duty.
Watson enlisted in the Marine Reserves in May 2007 and was called to active duty in January of this year. He served in Fallujah over the course of his deployment from February to earlier this month, as part of the Marine Expeditionary Force dealing with government and tribal structures. His deployment could last no more than nine months as a sitting legislator.
Watson says he’s unsure at this point of the exact date of his return to Illinois. The 97th District Representative thanks those who’ve supported him through the process, and says he looks forward to returning to the House floor. Watson is unopposed in his bid for re-election this fall.
Welcome home, Jim.