Mowry in hunt for District 24 House seat

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O. Warren Mowry of Greenville announced his candidacy Monday just in time for the noon filing deadline.

A former assistant solicitor for Pickens and Greenville counties, Mowry, 48, is an instructor and head of the criminal justice department at Greenville Technical College. He served as Greenville County Republican Party chairman from 1999 until 2001.

A graduate of Washington and Lee University and the University of South Carolina School of Law, Mowry, who described himself as a lifelong Republican, was a state delegate to the 2000 Republican National Convention.

Vowing he would "never cast a vote to raise taxes," Mowry said the theme of his campaign is finding new and creative ways to provide necessary services, such as public-private partnerships. He also said he would work to ensure that law enforcement personnel get the training and support they need, and to inspire students to learn "whether through charter schools, parental choice or other means."

"I have devoted my life to public services for nearly a quarter century, and I can make a positive difference in the state House," he said.

Also running in the primary are Bruce W. Bannister, Greenville County Schools Trustee William Herlong and Tom J. Ervin, who served in the state House of Representatives as a Democrat from 1981 until 1984. They all are lawyers.

Greenville City Councilwoman Michelle Shain, a Democrat, also has declared her candidacy for the seat vacated by Wilkins, who spent nearly 25 years in the House, the last 11 sessions as speaker.

The special election will be held Oct. 4.