Farmington man files as Democratic candidate for 8th District seat

A Farmington, Missouri, man has filed as a Democratic candidate for the 8th District congressional seat.

Dave Cowell, general manager for a retail company, filed late last week for the seat now held by Republican congressman Jason Smith.

Cowell, who previously operated a concert-booking business and went by the name Dave Starr, said today that he wants to "take our country back" from the corporations who "buy almost every office."

This is Cowell's first run for public office. He said he wants to "bring our community together." Cowell declined to criticize Smith. "I do not want to run a negative campaign."

He said he wants to encourage more "green energy" jobs in Missouri through development of wind-turbine and solar industries. "We have plenty of areas that would be great for our district to create tons and tons of jobs," he said. Environmentally friendly energy is a "growing industry across our country and across our planet."

Cowell said he also favors increasing the federal minimum wage and working to raise Missouri's minimum wage.

The Farmington Democrat said he understands that voters have not elected a Democrat to the 8th District seat for decades. But Cowell said this election year "benefits the outsider."

Cowell, who plans to marry later this year, said he is just gearing up for the election campaign.

He is currently the only Democrat who has filed for the congressional seat. The filing deadline is Tuesday.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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