The House Republican Caucus unites around the new leadership team and committed to implementing common sense policies.
For Immediate Release For more information contact:
November 16, 2004 Jason Fortin 287-1445 (office)
AUGUSTA, MAINE – Republican members of the 122nd Maine House of Representatives held a caucus today and selected a new leadership team. Rep. David Bowles (Sanford), will replace term-limited Rep. Joe Bruno (Raymond), as House Republican Leader. Filling the vacancy as Assistant House Republican created when Rep. Bowles decided to run for House Republican Leader will be Rep. Josh Tardy (Newport).
The Republican members of the House of Representatives left the caucus united and energized to work towards common sense solutions for tax reform, lowering health insurance costs, creating more government accountability, and balancing the state budget without raising taxes and fees.
“I am honored to have been chosen to lead my colleagues in what is sure to be a challenging Legislative Session,” said Rep. Bowles, House Republican Leader. “I am committed to working with members of my caucus, the Governor, the members of the Democratic Caucus, as well as the Green and un-enrolled Representatives to lower the tax burden Mainers face through spending reforms and balancing the state budget without raising taxes or fees.”
“The Republican Caucus is energized and ready for a productive session,” said Rep. Tardy, Assistant House Republican Leader. “The Republican House members are united and enthusiastic about implementing common sense solutions that will lower the Maine tax burden and create more accountability in state government.”
Leadership Biographies:
David Bowles is the State Representative for House District 142, part of Sanford. He was born and raised in the Finger Lakes area of Western New York. In 1964, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps and spent 1965 and 1966 serving a tour of duty in Vietnam.
Rep. Bowles moved to Maine in 1968. Over the following 10 years, he worked in accounting management positions for several Fortune 500 companies. It was in 1978 that he purchased “Sports Stop,” a retail sporting goods business in Sanford.
Politics have always been a hobby for Rep. Bowles — he cites Winston Churchill, George Washington and Ronald Reagan as his heroes. His ambition led to his successful run for State Representative in 1998, when he was elected to the 119th Maine Legislature.
Rep. Bowles served on the Joint Standing Committee on Business & Economic Development in his first term and later served on the Taxation Committee following his re-election to the 120th Maine State Legislature.
Currently serving in his fourth term, Rep. Bowles was the Assistant Floor Leader for the House Republican Caucus and, as such, was a member of the Legislative Council and Budget sub-committee, where he displayed the focus and determination for great political achievement in the future.
Rep. Bowles resides in Sanford with his wife Linda. They have has one son, Jeremy, and three grandchildren.
Joshua Tardy is serving his second term in the Maine Legislature representing District 25, which includes Corinth, Charleston, Exeter, Newport and Stetson. During the 121st Legislature he served as a member of the Joint Standing Committee on Taxation and also served on the Apportionment Commission, the group charged with reconfiguring the House and Senate districts in Maine following the decennial census.
Rep. Tardy, an attorney, received his law degree from the University of Maine. He is active in many state and local organizations including the Masons, Elks, Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine and the Maine State and Penobscot County Bar Associations. Rep. Tardy has recently been appointed to the Domestic Law Advisory Committee and the Justice Action Group, two groups dedicated to promoting efficiency and accountability to the judicial system in Maine.
Rep. Tardy is the current Commissioner of Maine Girls AAU Basketball and has served as chairman of the MSAD 48 school board.
Rep. Tardy and his wife, Mary Ellen, reside in his hometown of Newport.
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