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New page: {{Infobox Biography | subject_name =Susan Watson | image_name =SusanWatson.jpg | image_size =180px | image_caption = | date_of_birth = | place_of_birth = | date_of_death = | p...
{{Infobox Biography
| subject_name =Susan Watson
| image_name =SusanWatson.jpg
| image_size =180px
| image_caption =
| date_of_birth =
| place_of_birth =
| date_of_death =
| place_of_death =
| occupation =[[ACLU]] regional director
| religion =Jewish
| spouse =Gregory Watson
| parents =
| children =Sarah, Seth, Sybil
| signature =
| signaturesize =
}}
'''Susan Watson''' is a community activist who is known for her conflicts with [[Escambia County School Board]] members [[Vanette Webb]] and [[Hal Mason]] and who currently serves as director of the [[ACLU of Florida Northwest Region]]. She is married to [[Gregory Watson]] and has three children.
A registered nurse for eleven years, Watson has also served as computer network administrator for the [[WUWF]] radio station. In [[1997]] she organized a group called [[Citizens for Community Values]] to oppose [[Escambia County School Board]] member [[Vanette Webb]], a conservative Christian whom she accused of having an "obstructionist agenda."<ref name="spotlight">"Advocate doesn't relish the spotlight." ''Pensacola News Journal'', May 24, 1999.</ref> Starting on [[March 31]], [[1998]], Watson made a series of public records requests, which state law says must be provided within a "reasonable time."<ref>[http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?app_mode=display_statute&url=ch0119/ch0119.htm Florida Statutes Chapter 119]</ref> She accused Webb of stonewalling her requests for months, and on [[December 8]] Webb was indicted for violating Florida's open records law, a first degree misdemeanor, and convicted on [[May 14]], [[1999]]. She was removed from office for five months, although a judge later overturned the conviction, saying the state had failed to identify any specific public record that had been withheld.<ref>"Judge throws out Webb verdict." ''Pensacola News Journal'', October 23, 1999.</ref>
Watson and her family were plaintiffs in the ACLU's ''Holmes v. Bush'' lawsuit challenging Governor [[Wikipedia:Jeb Bush]]'s voucher program.<ref>[http://www.aclufl.org/legislature_courts/legal_department/briefs_complaints/school_vouchers_complaint.cfm Holmes v. Bush complaint]</ref> She began volunteering in 2000 as chair of the recently-restarted [[ACLU of Florida Panhandle Chapter]] and a member of the State Board of Directors. She became regional director in June [[2005]] and oversees the daily operations of the ACLU.
==References==
{{refbegin}}
*[http://www.aclufl.org/about/staff.cfm ACLU of Florida staff biographies]
{{refend}}
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Civil rights activists|Watson, Susan]]
| subject_name =Susan Watson
| image_name =SusanWatson.jpg
| image_size =180px
| image_caption =
| date_of_birth =
| place_of_birth =
| date_of_death =
| place_of_death =
| occupation =[[ACLU]] regional director
| religion =Jewish
| spouse =Gregory Watson
| parents =
| children =Sarah, Seth, Sybil
| signature =
| signaturesize =
}}
'''Susan Watson''' is a community activist who is known for her conflicts with [[Escambia County School Board]] members [[Vanette Webb]] and [[Hal Mason]] and who currently serves as director of the [[ACLU of Florida Northwest Region]]. She is married to [[Gregory Watson]] and has three children.
A registered nurse for eleven years, Watson has also served as computer network administrator for the [[WUWF]] radio station. In [[1997]] she organized a group called [[Citizens for Community Values]] to oppose [[Escambia County School Board]] member [[Vanette Webb]], a conservative Christian whom she accused of having an "obstructionist agenda."<ref name="spotlight">"Advocate doesn't relish the spotlight." ''Pensacola News Journal'', May 24, 1999.</ref> Starting on [[March 31]], [[1998]], Watson made a series of public records requests, which state law says must be provided within a "reasonable time."<ref>[http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?app_mode=display_statute&url=ch0119/ch0119.htm Florida Statutes Chapter 119]</ref> She accused Webb of stonewalling her requests for months, and on [[December 8]] Webb was indicted for violating Florida's open records law, a first degree misdemeanor, and convicted on [[May 14]], [[1999]]. She was removed from office for five months, although a judge later overturned the conviction, saying the state had failed to identify any specific public record that had been withheld.<ref>"Judge throws out Webb verdict." ''Pensacola News Journal'', October 23, 1999.</ref>
Watson and her family were plaintiffs in the ACLU's ''Holmes v. Bush'' lawsuit challenging Governor [[Wikipedia:Jeb Bush]]'s voucher program.<ref>[http://www.aclufl.org/legislature_courts/legal_department/briefs_complaints/school_vouchers_complaint.cfm Holmes v. Bush complaint]</ref> She began volunteering in 2000 as chair of the recently-restarted [[ACLU of Florida Panhandle Chapter]] and a member of the State Board of Directors. She became regional director in June [[2005]] and oversees the daily operations of the ACLU.
==References==
{{refbegin}}
*[http://www.aclufl.org/about/staff.cfm ACLU of Florida staff biographies]
{{refend}}
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Civil rights activists|Watson, Susan]]
