By MIKE McCOY
Statesman Staff Writer
Democrat Gary L. Gaines of Dexter has filed for State Representative in District 151, which includes all of Stoddard County and a small portion of Scott County. Gaines is the only Democrat to have filed as of Friday. Two Rupublicans, Bob Thrower of Dexter and Dennis Fowler of Advance, also filed for the position.
Gaines recently retired from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources as director of the Southeast Regional Office at Poplar Bluff. He worked in the private sector for 16 years as a member of a small engineering firm. Gaines has previously served on the Dexer School Board for 12 years. He is an Army veteran. He has an engineering degree from the University at Rolla, now Missouri S&T. He and his wife, Darlene, have one son, John.
"I know my experience in government and small business will allow me to serve this area well," said Gaines. "I have ideas on how to improve our area and I want to hear from the voters."
Thrower is a 20-year Army veteran and retired from active service in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He is a former co-owner of the Dexter Queen and was also an employee of the Federal Government assigned to the Department of Defense. He is the father of two children, a member of the VFW Lodge 2659, the Dexter Elks, and the NRA.
Fowler is currently Superintendent of the Juvenile Detention Center in Stoddard County. He has been in law enforcement for the last 38 years. He is a graduate of Puxico High School, and graduated from Southeast Missouri State University. He spent three years in the US Navy. He has been married to his wife, Ava, for 42 years and has two children.