Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Russell Co. supervisor feels ready to run for state position
A businessman who won his first elected seat in November aims to be lieutenant governor.
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roanoke.com/politics
RICHMOND -- Businessman Jon Bowerbank never held an elected office before winning a seat on the Russell County Board of Supervisors last year. But he already has his eyes on a bigger prize -- the office of lieutenant governor.
Bowerbank has filed with the state Board of Elections as a 2009 candidate for lieutenant governor, the first Democrat to officially enter the race. The incumbent lieutenant governor, Republican Bill Bolling, will run for re-election.
Bowerbank acknowledged that a statewide campaign is "a heck of leap" for a freshman county supervisor. But, with his business experience, he said he wants to "try my kind of approach of taking care of folks on a large scale."
Bowerbank, 48, is the founder, president and chief executive of EMATS Inc., which designs, builds and operates infrastructure for energy and utility industries, with a focus on natural gas extraction. The business has 225 employees.
Bowerbank moved to Russell County in 1994 and has been active in philanthropic efforts to help schools in the region.
Bowerbank already has been traveling the state to introduce himself to Democratic activists and lay the groundwork for a statewide campaign. He said Monday that he had put 2,500 miles on his car in the past week alone.
Democrats could have nominating contests for at least two statewide offices next year. State Sen. Creigh Deeds of Bath County and Del. Brian Moran of Alexandria are seeking the party's nomination for governor. State Secretary of Finance Jody Wagner said Monday that she is considering a run for lieutenant governor, but remains focused on her job in Gov. Tim Kaine's administration.
Republicans already appear settled on their candidates for governor and lieutenant governor. Bolling's decision to seek re-election left Attorney General Bob McDonnell as the clear favorite for the GOP gubernatorial nomination, and the two Republicans already have agreed to campaign as a ticket.
Bowerbank said Bolling's decision to seek re-election furthered his own interest in seeking the office. Bowerbank ran for an at-large seat on the Russell County board as an independent and defeated an incumbent Republican and a Democratic challenger. But he aligned himself with the board's Democratic majority after taking office.
Last year, Bowerbank formed a nonprofit corporation to raise money for multipurpose playing fields at Honaker High School and Richlands High School. He said he easily could have won election to a district-level seat on the board of supervisors based on community reaction to the Honaker field. But he chose instead to test himself by running countywide.
"I learned how the business of politics works," Bowerbank said. "I found this was very invigorating."
