ROCKINGHAM – Dr. Rick Watkins, a longtime educator and current assistant professor in the Graduate School of Education at Wingate University, filed papers with the Board of Elections on Wednesday to run for the Richmond County Board of Commissioners.
“I am a life-long resident of Richmond County and spent twenty-seven years working in the local school district. It is my hope to represent all the citizens of Richmond County, make a positive difference in our future and faithfully serve my home county as a commissioner,” Watkins said. During his tenure in Richmond County the 59-year-old Hamlet resident received the Governor’s Award for service to the people of North Carolina, Richmond County and District 8 NCAE Assistant Principal of the Year Award, The Richmond County Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Educators Award, Richmond County Schools and Wachovia local Principal of the Year on two occasions, 1994 and 2003. The W.L. Haltiwanger Award for Commitment to Children and the Richmond County Daily Journal’s Reader’s Choice Award for Best Principal. Prior to leaving Hamlet Junior High School, Watkins was named as South-Central Region semi-finalist in the North Carolina Principal of the Year competition. In 2016, Dr. Watkins was named as Graduate Education Faculty Member of the Year at Wingate University.
Watkins is a past member of the Board of Directors of the Richmond County Chamber of Commerce and the Scotland County Chamber of Commerce. He served as an executive committee member of “Richmond 2010” and as a member of the Hamlet All America City Committee. He is a Past President of the Richmond County Athletic Booster Club and has served as President of the Richmond County Association of Principals and Assistant Principals. He is a member of the North Carolina Association of School Administrators Division for Professors of Educational Leadership and currently serves as a member of the Teacher Education Committee at Wingate University.
Rick Watkins and his family are members of Saint Paul Lutheran Church in Hamlet, where he serves as council president. He is married to the former Cindy Haltiwanger, a pre-school teacher and they have two children, Lindsay and husband Scott Kelly residing in Pinehurst and David along with fiancé Emily residing in both Greenville and Asheboro.
“I look forward to discussing the issues that are most important to the residents of our county as we work together to build a brighter future,” he said. Watkins can be reached at rww106@gmail.com.
