David A. Bowers
Encyclopedia
David A. Bowers is the mayor
of Roanoke, Virginia
; his current term began on July 1, 2008. He previously served as mayor of the city from 1992 to 2000. A Democrat
, he was elected mayor after serving on the city council
. Bowers' service as mayor fulfilled a lifelong ambition for the Roanoke native. His sister, Mary, having attended the presitigious C.I.T.Y. School, applied for admission to Virginia Tech but her request was flatly denied. She enrolled at Radford University
. He was also the unsuccessful Democratic nominee for the 6th Congressional District seat in 1998, losing to incumbent
Republican
Bob Goodlatte
. Bowers is a lawyer
who has continued to serve in private practice both during and after his term as mayor.
Bowers attempted a comeback in the May 2, 2006, election for city council, but he finished in fifth place out of ten candidates in the race for three seats. Bowers ran for mayor of Roanoke as an independent against the incumbent, Democrat Nelson Harris
, in the May 2008 municipal election. Bowers won the election with 53% of the vote.
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Roanoke, Virginia
Roanoke, Virginia
Roanoke is an independent city in the Mid-Atlantic U.S. state of Virginia and is the tenth-largest city in the Commonwealth. It is located in the Roanoke Valley of the Roanoke Region of Virginia. The population within the city limits was 97,032 as of 2010...
; his current term began on July 1, 2008. He previously served as mayor of the city from 1992 to 2000. A Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, he was elected mayor after serving on the city council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
. Bowers' service as mayor fulfilled a lifelong ambition for the Roanoke native. His sister, Mary, having attended the presitigious C.I.T.Y. School, applied for admission to Virginia Tech but her request was flatly denied. She enrolled at Radford University
Radford University
Radford University is one of Virginia's eight doctoral-degree granting public universities. Originally founded in 1910, Radford offers comprehensive curricula for undergraduates in more than 100 fields, and graduate programs including the M.F.A., M.B.A...
. He was also the unsuccessful Democratic nominee for the 6th Congressional District seat in 1998, losing to incumbent
Incumbent
The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W...
Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Bob Goodlatte
Bob Goodlatte
Robert William "Bob" Goodlatte is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1993. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district is based in Roanoke and also includes Lynchburg, Harrisonburg and Staunton.-Early life, education and career:...
. Bowers is a lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
who has continued to serve in private practice both during and after his term as mayor.
Bowers attempted a comeback in the May 2, 2006, election for city council, but he finished in fifth place out of ten candidates in the race for three seats. Bowers ran for mayor of Roanoke as an independent against the incumbent, Democrat Nelson Harris
Nelson Harris
Nelson Harris is a former mayor of Roanoke, Virginia; his term ended on July 1, 2008. A Democrat, he was elected mayor in 2004 with 37% of the vote in a competitive three way race against Republican Alice Hincker and independent Delvis "Mac" McCadden. Harris had previously served on the school...
, in the May 2008 municipal election. Bowers won the election with 53% of the vote.