Fowler squeaks out close win in Republican 151st House race

Dennis Fowler just squeezed by his opponent in the primary -- and at the last minute, too.

Fowler beat Bob Thrower by only 0.2 percent in the Republican primary contest for the 151st House District, which covers most of Stoddard County and a small part of Scott County. With such a small margin, Thrower could request a recount, since he lost by less than 1 percent. Calls to Thrower late Tuesday weren't returned.

Until Scott County election totals came in, Thrower looked to have the race. But just that small bit of the district -- an area that covers Chaffee and Oran -- turned it around.

Ryan Wm. Holder

Fowler, of Advance, Mo., current superintendent of the Juvenile Detention Center in Stoddard County, ended up with 35.5 percent to Thrower's 35.3 percent.

Voters "probably wanted to make sure they were voting for someone closer to them," Fowler said.

Thrower, a longtime military man and former small-business owner, lives in Dexter, Mo.

"I had some friends [in Scott County] who were working very hard for me," Fowler said.

According to Fowler, he'll face another friend when he tries to best the winner of the 151st District Democratic primary for the House seat in the Nov. 6 general election.

Ryan William Holder, also of Advance, beat Gary Gaines of Dexter in that race.

Holder called his win "encouraging" and said although more Republicans voted in the district race than Democrats, that he expects November's contest will even up.

Holder is a field representative for the Laborers International Unit Local 1104 who also ran for but lost a 2004 primary bid for the 159th District seat, which has since mostly been redistricted into the 151st.

Fowler said he will count on many years in law enforcement in the area, 38 in all, to carry him in November.

He said he is pleased Holder won.

Holder is looking forward to an Advance-based race, he said, and will attempt to keep his friendship with Fowler in good shape through the contest, he said.

"We were friends when it started and we'll be friends when it's over," he said.

eragan@semissourian.com

388-3627

Pertinent address:

Advance, MO

Dexter, MO