NASHVILLE — Rep. Eric Watson, R-Cleveland, announced today he will seek re-election to the House in 2010 and will not be a candidate in the 9th Senatorial District seat.

“I am honored by the citizens’ encouragement and offers of support that has been given to me as a candidate to serve in the 9th Senatorial District,” he said in a news release. “I am announcing that I am seeking re-election to the Tennessee House of Representatives and to serve the citizens of the 22nd House District.”

Rep. Watson said that, since he first was elected in 2006, “we have made many steps forward for the 22nd District.”

But he said he believes “my work here is not complete.” He is chairman of the House Criminal Practice and Procedure Subcommittee in the Judiciary Committee, vice chairman of the House Elections Subcommittee, and a member of the State & Local Government Committee and the Task Force on Immigration and Citizenship.

A number of Southeast Tennessee Republicans have been looking at running for the 9th Senatorial District after Sen. Dewayne Bunch, R-Cleveland, began telling lawmakers he would not seek re-election.

Rep. Mike Bell, R-Riceville, already has declared he is running. Rep. Kevin Brooks, R-Cleveland, is weighing a race as is former Sen. Lou Patten, R-Cleveland.