Council Member Jim Bowman was first elected to the Ontario City Council in April 1986 for a two-year term. He ran for elective office again in November 1990 for a four-year term and was re-elected for another four years in 1994. Two of those years he served as Mayor pro Tem. Mr. Bowman did not seek re-election in 1998, choosing to devote this time to his career with the Ontario Fire Department. After retiring from the Ontario Fire Department he served one year for the City of Upland as Fire Chief (retired). When this temporary assignment was completed, Mr. Bowman could again serve the City of Ontario in elective office and was elected in November 2006 for four years.
Council Member Bowman has represented Ontario on many regional boards. He is a former Member of the Board of Directors of the Ontario Convention Center as well as a member of the California-Nevada Super Speed Train Commission, the San Bernardino County Economic and Development Commission, and the San Bernardino County Emergency Medical Care Commission. He currently serves on the Chino Basin Desalter Authority, the Inland Empire Utilities Agency Regional Policy Committee and as Secretary of Ontario International Airport Authority.
Council Member Bowman has been a resident of the City of Ontario for 68 years and has four children. He is one of four family generations to graduate from Chaffey High School. Council Member Bowman majored in Fire Science at Chaffey College and Protection/Administration at Cal State University. He currently holds a California State Teaching Credential in Fire Science and College Curriculum. Mr. Bowman was named Chaffey College Alumni of the Year and was inducted to the Chaffey College Hall of Fame in 1998.
Dedicated to the safety of the Ontario community, Council Member Bowman is best known for his 36-year career in Fire Service. As one of the original paramedic coordinators in the county, he pioneered Public Safety/Fire Department Paramedic programs in the early 70’s. He served the last 16 years of his career with the Ontario Fire Department and retired as Fire Chief.