Hello, I’m Jon Bowerbank, and I’m a Democratic candidate for Lt. Governor of Virginia. Who’s Jon Bowerbank, you might ask? Well, I’m the owner of an energy services company that employs approximately 220 people, mainly in southwestern Virginia. I have both a business and technical background that has served me well when I worked as an operational manager for a Fortune 10 company in numerous states. I’m a member of the Russell County Board of Supervisors. I’m a husband and father of three children. And I’m active in giving back to my community.

My family moved to America from England when I was 11 years old. Like millions of others in our nation’s history, my family was looking for greater opportunity and a better life. And like millions of others, we found that life here in America. A lot of it was the result of hard work. My father believed that if you thought you were done working, you simply hadn’t looked hard enough. Today, that work ethic is instilled in me and has served me well. I am grateful for it, because it has allowed me to achieve my own American dream - right here in Virginia.

Besides my father, I learned some of the most important lessons from the many educators and athletic coaches that I have encountered in high school and university. Keep doing it until you get it right. Never, never, quit. Treat everyone the same. Be disciplined. Learn just as much - if not more - from the hard times as from the good times. And most of all, that you can accomplish great things if you set your mind to it.

As Lt. Governor, I hope to emulate some of my mentors. Unlike many career politicians, I certainly won’t be spending all my time in Richmond. Frankly, I haven’t become a successful businessman by sitting behind a desk, but by getting out there, seeing and doing things for myself. That’s why, as Lt. Governor, you’ll find me traveling all over the Commonwealth, meeting with people, hearing what they have to say, and working on causes I’m passionate about. Causes like clean energy, upgrading Virginia’s infrastructure, and encouraging folks that with enough hard work — they can accomplish whatever they set their mind to do and achieve the American dream like I’ve done.

I’m running for Lt. Governor because I believe that I can translate the success I’ve achieved in business and in Russell County to a bigger playing field, to the Commonwealth of Virginia. I believe that my background and my personality give me the ability to relate to folks from all over this diverse and fascinating state. I firmly believe that we have a lot more that unites us than divides us. For starters, we all want to provide our children with opportunities for the future. We also want to instill in them a strong work ethic, the same work ethic my father instilled in me.

Politically, I’m a progressive pragmatist who believes in helping others not as fortunate as I am. I strongly believe that leaders have a responsibility to take care of their people. I don’t pretend to have all the answers, which is why I look forward to working with smart people to find the answers. I’ve moved around a lot in my life, and I can definitively say that Virginia is a microcosm of this great country as a whole. As Lt. Governor of Virginia, I will look to find solutions that work for everyone. I will look to empower and enfranchise people, not to divide them. I will be a consensus builder. And I will continue in the great tradition of Mark Warner, getting things done that really matter for the people of Virginia.

Thank you.