Randy Bowser, of Distant, hopes to fill the judge vacancy left by the retirement of Samuel Goldstrohm (submitted photo)
by Jonathan Weaver
A Distant man hopes to fill the District 4 judge vacancy during the upcoming election.
Randy Bowser, 59, will seek the Democratic and Republican nominations to fill the office formerly held by Samuel Goldstrohm in the May primary.
“I believe in the judiciary system in our country. I have always been fascinated by the law – actually while I was in college, I thought about going to become a lawyer,” Bowser said. “I love history, the different aspects of our country, the Constitution and how it’s set up.”
Raised by the late-Kenneth “Red” and Jean Bowser in the New Bethlehem area, Bowser earned his Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a Professional Nursing degree from Shadyside Hospital School of Nursing and is currently the Emergency Department Manager at ACMH Hospital in East Franklin Township.
Bowser has performed his civic duty when called upon as a juror.
During the winter of 2015, he successfully completed the Certification Class for the Magisterial District Judge in Harrisburg.
As a Magisterial District Judge, Bowser promises to be fair and impartial to all the members of the community who have reason to interact with the court.
“I will have a lot of knowledge that will help me with the people in Armstrong County. We have a significant drug problem – I’m well-aware of the situations that are involved in that,” Bowser said.
Local residents might also know Bowser as a vocal soloist, having sung throughout the area in many churches and with choirs and orchestras. Currently, he is the Director of Music at The Clarion First United Methodist Church.
Bowser currently is the Emergency Department Manager at Armstrong County Memorial Hospital, 6 1/ 2years and he has worked in various area hospitals over his 29 year nursing career.
He has been active with several organizations in the Clarion and New Bethlehem areas during the past thirty years. He has volunteered with the Redbank Valley Volunteer Ambulance Company and Clarion Hospital EMS – actually starting his medical career as an Emergency Medical Technician before becoming a paramedic and a registered nurse.
Bowser volunteered and was Board Vice-President of the SAFE (Stop Abuse for Everyone) Organization in Clarion – an organization similar to HAVIN (Helping All Victims in Need) locally -, volunteered with the New Bethlehem Lion’s Club, and helped with the United Valley Soccer Association.
Bowser has coached youth baseball, basketball, and soccer in the New Bethlehem area and was junior high soccer coach at Redbank Valley for five seasons.
Bowser lives in the Distant area with his wife Sandy – who is also a licensed practical nurse -, and their two children: Jordonna (who is a graduate student at the University of Pittsburgh, hoping to become a physician) and Nathaniel (who also works in the Emergency Department at ACMH).