Stowe Speaks on Commission Candidacy

The second person to announce his candidacy for the Stephens County Commission special election coming up in March said he thinks he can help make a change in StephensCounty if elected.

Ralph Stowe spoke with AM 630 WNEG on Thursday.

A lifelong resident, Stowe is retired after a career in law enforcement and private security.  He had 14 years of law enforcement experience and two years of fire department experience, certified in both.

Stowe said he feels that experience would be a benefit if elected.

“I am very familiar with the public safety aspect of everything and also been involved in government so I know how (it) reacts,” said Stowe.

Stowe went on to say that there are a number of different things he wants to focus on if he is elected to serve out the unexpired term of the late Harold Andrews.

“If we do not get land use in, we cannot get business in,” said Stowe.  “The infrastructure of our city and county right now are not up to par, so I want to get in there and help with that.  I look at the situation we have in law enforcement facilities, public safety, we need to keep it up to par or we could run into problems there.”

Stowe qualified to run as a Republican.

He will face fellow Republican candidate Michelle Grafton in the March 18 special election.

Whoever wins that special election will serve the remainder of the unexpired term of the late Harold Andrews on the Stephens County Commission, which runs through December 31.

Andrews passed away last October.

Last year, Stephens County Probate Judge Glenda Ernest appointed J.B. Hudgins to serve in Andrews’ seat until the special election was held.

Andrews’ seat will also be on the ballot in this year’s general election for a full, four-year term starting January 1, 2015.

Stowe and Grafton both said they also plan to run for the full, four-year term later this year.