January 27, 2003
Atlanta Business Chronicle

New business for Bowers

After 130 years of Democratic control in Georgia, the small inner circle of
Republican power players is just starting to widen.

Now, three men who started out in the middle are trying to take advantage
of their suddenly powerful political connections.
Former Georgia Attorney General Mike Bowers is starting a government
relations and lobbying firm with partners Bruce Bowers, his son; and
John Watson.

All three have strong ties to the state's new governor.
Watson was Gov. Sonny Perdue's political consultant during his
campaign, Mike Bowers was Perdue's attorney, and Bruce Bowers
served on the governor's transition team.

Now, they have a simple objective, Mike Bowers said: to make money.

The firm, Watson Bowers LLP, was scheduled to launch on Jan. 23, from
the same Buckhead building as Mike Bowers' law firm, Meadows, Ichter
& Bowers P.C.

Watson Bowers will offer a traditional lobbying component to clients, as
well as government relations assistance, such as grassroots
mobilization, media relations and crisis management.

The company's leaders plan to deal on their clients' behalf with Georgia's
state government as well as Georgia's congressional delegation and the
governors of other Southeastern states.

"It's still a new day — and at the infancy in this process, I believe a
number of folks are still trying to determine the direction, the tenor and the
tone of this new governor," Watson said.

How big Watson Bowers gets, and exactly what it specializes in, will
depend on what clients it draws, Mike Bowers said. It's starting off with
the three partners and two administrative employees.

Both Bowers will continue to work for the law firm as well, and they expect
many of the new company's clients to also use the law firm's services,
though Meadows, Ichter & Bowers is a separate entity, they said.

Watson was Mike Bowers' campaign manager when he ran for governor
in 1998.

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