Tommy Sowers Files for Candidacy for U.S. House of Representatives in Missouri's 8th District

Rolla, MO

Today Rolla native and former U.S. Army Special Forces officer Tommy Sowers filed a statement of candidacy to represent Missouri's 8th District in the United States House of Representatives.

Citing the growing challenges the District faces in the wake of an economic crisis that he believes could and should have been avoided, Sowers said, "Folks know we can do better. As I've talked with people here at home, one thing has come through loud and clear: enough is enough. Over the past few years people here at home have been working as hard as they always have, but falling farther and farther behind. It's time that we change the direction of our District and make results happen. It starts with a change of leadership. But sending the same people back to Washington won't produce a different result here at home. If people believe as I do that we can do better for the people of southeast Missouri, then I'd appreciate their vote.

"We need a leader who will fight for our home, a district of small towns, small businesses and hardworking families. My campaign will offer new ideas and practical, accountable leadership. It's well past time we rotated the crops. The stakes are high and I look forward to a tough fight. That's what the voters here deserve."

A fourth-generation Missourian, Tommy returned home after an 11-year career in the United States Army that included a peacekeeping tour in Kosovo, graduate studies at the London School of Economics representing Missouri's Rotarians as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar, two tours of duty in Iraq as a Green Beret, and his most recent assignment as an Assistant Professor of American Politics at West Point. He is now teaching at the Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla.

Missouri's 8th District comprises the southeastern corner of Missouri and contains Bollinger, Butler, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Dent, Douglas, Dunklin, Howell, Iron, Madison, Mississippi, New Madrid, Oregon, Ozark, Pemiscot, Perry, Phelps, Reynolds, Ripley, Scott, Shannon, St. Francois, Stoddard, Texas, Washington, Wayne, and Wright Counties and portions of Taney County.

To learn more about Tommy visit www.sowersforcongress.com.