City Attorney Brian Bower swore when he graduated high school that he would never come back to Charleston or be a lawyer.

“They are probably the best words I ever ate,” Bower said.

Bower is currently the city attorney for the city of Charleston as well as a partner at the Brainard Law Offices.

Bower said he prosecutes around 1,000 cases a year, the most common offenses being alcohol-related.

Bower said when half the population of the city falls within the 18 to 22 age range, these offenses are more likely to occur.

Bower, who has been a city attorney since 1989, is in charge of legal matters for the city of Charleston.

“I am responsible for general legal representation of the city,” Bower said.

Bower said the types of cases he sees vary from alcohol, cannabis related offenses, property maintenance and licensing issues.

Bower also said he works with the different departments of the city including the Charleston Police Department, Charleston Fire Department and Charleston Public Works.

Bower said he received his undergraduate degree from Northwestern University in communications. After graduation he received a job where he worked as an insurance underwriter for $5 an hour.

Three days before classes started, Bower was accepted into law school at Northern Illinois University, where he ultimately received his law degree.

Bower said he typically starts his workday by 7 a.m., but his day is balanced between his partnership at Brainard Law Offices and his city attorney duties. Bower said in the evenings he usually attends meetings, such as city council meetings.

At night, Bower volunteers as a swim coach at Charleston High School. He became swim coach after learning the program would be cut if the school could not find a replacement for free.

Bower said during the swimming season he practices with the Charleston High School swim team from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Friday at Eastern’s Lantz Arena.

Bower said his youngest son, Evan, attends Charleston High School and is currently planning on attending Eastern to become a teacher.

Bower’s middle son, Michael, attends Eastern as a junior athletic training major and member of the Eastern swim team.

“It’s all about contributing to the community and spending time with your family,” Bower said.

Bower said he has three sons and has been married to his wife Mary for 26 years.

“We have fun together,” Bower said.

Bower said the key to a 26-year-long marriage is a good sense of humor, tolerance, patience and understanding.

Bower said he also enjoys running and has ran around 35 marathons in the past, but hasn’t been able to run in any marathons in the past couple of years because of his schedule.

Bower is also currently running as a republican candidate for States Attorney of Coles County.

Kathryn Richter can be reached at 581-2812 or kjrichter@yahoo.com.