Bill Bowlin, a candidate for U.S. Senate, made a brief stop inBrookhaven Wednesday on a multi-city tour to promote hiscampaign.

Bowlin will face Erik Fleming, of Clinton, James O’Keefe, ofBiloxi, and Catherine M. Starr, of Hattiesburg, in the DemocraticPrimary June 6.

The winner of the primary will advance to face incumbent Sen.Trent Lott, R-Pascagoula, and Libertarian Harold M. Taylor, ofNesbit, in the general election on Nov. 7.

Bowlin, of Hickory Flat, a small town of about 700 peoplebetween Tupelo and Memphis on Highway 78, is a veteran of local andregional politics but is making his debut in statewide politicswith his latest campaign.

A farm equipment salesman for 17 years, Bowlin made unsuccessfulbids as a candidate for Congress in the First District in 1990 and1994. He was elected as an alderman in Hickory Flat in 1997 andserved one term.

“That was a really good experience and it showed me how you needto work with people to get things done,” he said. “There’s a lot ofgive and take in Congress. And then there are times, when yourposition is strong, that you need to not waver from it. You have toknow when to do that.”

Bowlin said he would like to serve as a uniter and not adivider, making the timing of this campaign ideal for him.

“We come into the campaign looking at a situation we think willdevelop in the Senate this year,” he said. “I believe the Democratswill achieve a majority in the Senate in 2007. Because of that,it’s very important Mississippi sends a Democrat this year. Asenator in the majority has a lot more power than a senator in theminority, even if he’s been there for 34 years.”

Bowlin said he is not intimidated by Lott’s long tenure in theoffice and subtly criticized the senator’s knowledge of theissues.

“I’m wondering why a senator who has been there 34 years wouldcome home and speak about issues as if he only got there two weeksago. He gives us ammunition every week,” he said.

The Democrat said the nation’s peace and security will be thetop issue during the next term, and a change in foreign policy isneeded.

“We have to treat people everywhere fairly and not like we’rethe big gun on the street,” he said.

The top state issue, according to the Mississippi EconomicCouncil member, should be a focus on jobs and the economy.

He used the furniture industry in northeast Mississippi as anexample. Many companies are downsizing and moving many jobsoverseas, where wages and benefits are cheaper.

Other regions have their own difficulties, he said.

Bowlin, who is married with four children, is a graduate ofHickory Flat High School and the University of Mississippi, wherehe obtained a bachelor’s degree in banking and finance. Last year,at the age of 50, he completed his master’s degree at Tulane inmanagement and marketing.