T.C. "Tom" Bowen, III

My Ties to Mathews

I moved to Mathews County in 2001, with my wife, Marti, and my daughter, Kathryn. Marti was born in Mathews and grew up in Mathews and Gloucester.  Marti’s mother’s family (Hudgins) and father’s family (Lewis) have lived in Mathews County for more than 200 years. We moved here to help care for Marti’s mother, who was in declining health. 

 

Marti was a teacher at Mathews High School and retired after 16 years. My daughter graduated from Mathews High School. 

 

After moving to Mathews, I established my law practice here with offices in Mathews, Gloucester, and Newport News. I represented individuals and many businesses, including the developer who built the Town Center in Mathews. 

I have been the elected Commonwealth’s Attorney for Mathews County for the past 12 years. 

 

Why I Am Running

Mathews County is a beautiful and unique rural community, but it is facing a declining population and a decrease of students in the school system. It is critical that these issues, and others, be successfully addressed. Our supervisors have spent much of the last 2 years failing to address the important issues of our county and the real concerns of our citizens. Our local government should be focused on economic development, strong public schools, promotion of tourism, promotion of recreational activities for families, and public safety. Supervisors need to develop a business-friendly environment and work with local businesses to find solutions to problems. Supervisors should be respectful of all citizens and should act with integrity and dignity.

 

Mathews County has much to offer, and I want to see it thrive.

 

What Makes Me a Good Candidate

I began my career after graduating from Hampden-Sydney College in 1973. I started as a management trainee at First and Merchants National Bank (now Bank of America) in Richmond, Virginia.  I worked with the bank for several years as an operations analyst.  It was my job to evaluate problems within the bank and to make recommendations to senior management.  After a few years as an analyst, I was promoted to assistant manager of the bank’s Time Deposit Department.  After several years, I decided to go to law school and attended T.C. Williams School of Law at the University of Richmond. After I earned my law degree, I practiced law with my father and brother in Tazewell, Virginia. During my 19 years there, I had a general law practice and served as the attorney for the Tazewell County Public Service Authority for several years and was the elected Commonwealth’s Attorney for eight years. 

 

As an attorney, I feel my training and experience would bring certain strengths to the Board of Supervisors. I believe in analyzing a problem before taking any action. As an operations analyst, I was tasked with analyzing a problem and then finding a solution. Making recommendations and discussing them is a key part of the process. 

I believe tourism is very important to our community and should be promoted.  The money spent in stores, restaurants and places of lodging is a boost to our economy, increases local employment, and can help lower the tax burden on our citizens.  Tourists do not have children in our schools and do not require significant county expenditures.  To the contrary, they are a source of income for our community.  

 

I am a law and order guy.  As a prosecutor for 20 years, it was my privilege to fight for truth and justice every day, and to protect crime victims and their rights.  I am a strong believer in public safety and I support all first responders.

 

My Community Involvement 

I have been a member of Kingston Parish Episcopal Church for more than 20 years. I have been a Rotarian for 40 years and past president of a Rotary Club. While in Mathews, I have been active in many civic activities including Boy Scouts, Meals on Wheels, and helping high school students prepare for Mock Trial competitions.

 

What the Candidate Team Can Do for Mathews

In recent months, the reputation of Mathews County and its elected supervisors has suffered.  During that time, many citizens encouraged me to seek election to the Mathews County Board of Supervisors, but it is difficult for one person to be effective and create change.  I agreed to become a candidate and run as a member of a team with Janice Hudgins Phillips and Timothy P. Doss.  We have agreed to work together, as a team, to address the issues our county is facing.  

 

I am honored to have been selected by Mathews Citizens for the Common Good to be part of this team. I believe the team brings a comprehensive skill set to the Board that will be critical and instrumental in addressing our problems and future growth.