Commissioner - Illinois
Jeffrey K. Watson was appointed by Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich in June 2003. During his tenure as a Bi-State Development Commissioner, Watson has served as Board Chairman and Treasurer. Watson is currently employed as the General Manager for the Casino Queen and previously served as the Casino’s General Counsel. Prior to employment with the Casino Queen, Watson was a Partner at the Dusek, Lopinot & Watson Law Firm in Belleville, Illinois. He also worked as an Assistant Public Defender in St. Clair County, Illinois for several years. As a resident of St. Clair County, Illinois, Watson is a member of the St. Clair County Bar Association (Past President and Board Member), the East St. Louis Bar Association (Past President and Current Board Member) and the Illinois Casino Gaming Association (Current Treasurer). Also, Watson is a former Board Member of the St. Clair County Board of Public Health. Watson holds a bachelor’s and a law degree. He is a graduate of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.