LEWISBURG — Republican David Rowe has announced his candidacy for state Representative in the 85th District. Rowe is a successful small business owner, local Republican leader and East Buffalo Township supervisor.

“I am running to fight for the hardworking people of Snyder and Union counties,” Rowe said. “We need stronger economic growth and more family-sustaining jobs, lower taxes, a robust farming community and less burdensome regulation on small businesses and local municipalities. I will stand up for our conservative values against the liberal Harrisburg lobbyists and insiders who push for bigger, more intrusive and more expensive government.”

House Speaker Mike Turzai announced a special election will be held Aug. 20 to fill the seat vacated by Fred Keller, who was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives last week. Prior to the special election, Republicans will have a conference of 17 delegates — nine from Union County and eight from Snyder County — to nominate a candidate sometime in June.

Rowe said he is both a solid social and fiscal conservative, stating he is “100 percent pro-life,” an NRA member and “fully committed to defending our Second Amendment rights.” He also believes in smaller government and low taxes. Rowe said he will protect “traditional family values and religious liberty.”

“As a local business owner and employer, I know the business community is constantly challenged with ever-increasing government regulations and taxes,” Rowe said. “That’s why as an East Buffalo Township supervisor, I have never voted to raise taxes or expand government regulations. I am ready to take this same conservative, common sense approach to Harrisburg.”

For the past nine years, Rowe has been the owner and operator of LBG Fitness Inc. (CrossFit Lewisburg) and employs six local residents. He attended National Sun Yat-Sen University in Taiwan and participated in its Mandarin Chinese Immersion Study after two years of Christian missionary work as an educator in Southeast Asia. Rowe attends the New Hope Lutheran Brethren Church in East Buffalo Township and is a leader of its music ministry.

Rowe serves as vice chairman of the East Buffalo Board of Supervisors, secretary of the Union County Republican Committee, is a member of the Capital Campaign Council of Evangelical Community Hospital, a director of the Central Susquehanna Fire and Emergency Services board and a commissioner of the Buffalo Valley Regional Police Department. Rowe has financially supported the Expectations Womens’ Center (a pro-life pregnancy aid center in the Lewisburg area), the Buffalo Valley Recreation Authority, the Union County Library and local youth sports clubs.