Tiffin native announces state rep run

TIFFIN — Eric Watson, Tiffin native and entrepreneur known for founding Watson's Hat Shop, has announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for Ohio's 88th House District, launching a primary challenge against incumbent Rep. Gary Click. Watson, who returned to Seneca County in 2022 after a decade in Arizona, is running on an "America First" platform focused on election integrity, privacy rights and a proposal to abolish property taxes. "I believe our country is at a crossroads as a nation," Watson said in his campaign announcement. "I will defend Christian values, protect all human life, ban digital ID, be an advocate for election integrity, end property taxes, protect the 2nd Amendment and support legislation for transparency." While Watson and Click both identify as conservatives, Watson told The Advertiser-Tribune that a primary challenge is necessary because he believes current leadership has prioritized corporate interests over constituents. He specifically criticized Click's co-sponsorship of Digital ID legislation (Bill No. 78), arguing it threatens personal privacy. "Digital ID opens the door to biometric data collection, surveillance, security vulnerabilities, and election integrity risks," Watson told The A-T. "As state representative, I will never support any bill that jeopardizes your freedoms!" Watson's platform also includes a call to remove electronic voting systems in favor of an all-paper ballot system with watermark encryption. He cited his attendance at a 2020 Presidential Election Integrity Hearing as a pivotal moment in shaping his views. "We the People should be able to see where every tax dollar is going," Watson's announcement stated, emphasizing a need for greater financial accountability in Columbus. A central pillar of Watson's campaign is the "unchecked" expansion of AI data centers in Ohio. He expressed concern regarding the environmental impact of these facilities on local farmland and waterways, specifically citing wastewater discharge and electricity costs. "Ohioans have made it clear that they are not happy with AI Data Centers being built in their backyards or right near their rural communities," Watson told The Advertiser-Tribune. "I would argue that our state representation is not fighting to protect our civil rights." Regarding taxation, Watson is proposing a plan to abolish property taxes entirely. He told The A-T that he would offset the lost revenue through a combination of measures, including tax revenue transparency legislation, investigating fraud and a slight increase in sales tax — excluding food. He also proposed a "school tax incentive program" allowing residents to receive tax deductions for voluntary contributions to local schools. "Ohio doesn't have a money problem; it has a spending problem," Watson told The A-T. "This is why I fully support 'Abolish Property Tax,' while my opponent has not." Watson's roots in the district run deep. His family has been part of the Seneca County community since settling on Honey Creek in 1832. A 2001 graduate of Calvert High School, Watson holds degrees in International Studies and Aviation Technology. In 2012, he founded Watson's Hat Shop in Cave Creek, Arizona, a business that gained congressional recognition for entrepreneurship and has crafted custom hats for the movie industry and political leaders, including President Donald Trump. Watson and his wife, Emily, moved back to Ohio in 2022. "We purchased our first Ohio house without walking into it. It was a leap of faith," Watson told The A-T regarding the move. Despite his time away, Watson pushes back against the idea that he is an outsider. He emphasized his recent engagement with local economic leaders, noting a roundtable discussion with The Seneca County Collaborative. "I had the pleasure of sitting down with The Seneca County Collaborative at a recent round table discussion to hear what issues, concerns, or great things they have done," Watson told The A-T in an email, adding that he sees a need to support tradesmen, including pipefitters, electricians and machinists, to revitalize local industry. Watson has received the public endorsement of former Lt. Col. Marcell Strbich, a candidate for Ohio Secretary of State. Because Ohio utilizes a partisan primary system, Watson and Democratic candidate Aaron Jones, who announced his campaign earlier this week, will not appear on the same ballot this spring. The May 5 Primary Election is used to determine each party's individual nominee. As both Watson and Click are running as Republicans, they will face one another on the Republican primary ballot. On the Democratic side, Jones is currently the only candidate to announce; if no other Democrat files by the February deadline, Jones will run unopposed in May. The winner of the Republican primary and the winner of the Democratic nomination will then advance to the Nov. 3 General Election to compete for the House seat. "I will always be an advocate for the Truth," Watson said in his announcement. "As an Ohio State Representative, I will fight to protect farmland, waterways, and communities."