Newsroom

Magazine tabs Kirk Watson as legislative rookie of the year

Thursday, June 14, 2007
by W. Gardner Selby
Austin American-Statesman

Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, was among the Central Texas legislators singled out by Texas Monthly magazine in its annual assessment, released Thursday, of the best and worst lawmakers during the legislative session that ended last month. Bryan Republican Steve Ogden, a senator whose district reaches into Williamson County, fell among the magazine's best legislators. His Senate colleague Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay, made the worst list.Watson, a former Austin mayor, was named rookie of the year in the July issue. A Web link to the article will be open to the public until midmorning Friday at www.texasmonthly.com/bestworst2007.===(To see a photo that ran with this story, click here.)Freshman Sen. Kirk Watson 'instantly earned respect for his intelligence and diplomacy,' Texas Monthly said.===BESTRep. Rafael Anchía, D-DallasSen. John Carona, R-DallasRep. Byron Cook, R-CorsicanaSen. Bob Deuell, R-GreenvilleRep. Scott Hochberg, D-HoustonRep. Lois Kolkhorst, R-BrenhamRep. Jerry Madden, R-RichardsonSen. Steve Ogden, R-BryanRep. Sylvester Turner, D-HoustonSen. Tommy Williams, R-The WoodlandsWORSTRep. Lon Burnam, D-Fort WorthRep. Warren Chisum, R-PampaHouse Speaker Tom Craddick, R-MidlandLt. Gov. David DewhurstSen. Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe BayRep. Charlie Howard, R-Sugar LandSen. Eddie Lucio Jr., D-BrownsvilleSen. Dan Patrick, R-HoustonGov. Rick PerryRep. Debbie Riddle, R-Tomball