Charles Bowles

Charles E. Bowles (March 24, 1884 – July 30, 1957) was an American politician from Michigan, and served as Mayor of Detroit in 1930.

Life and career Charles Bowles was born on March 24, 1884, in Yale, Michigan, the son of Alfred and Mary Lutz Bowles. He married Ruth Davis in 1915; the couple had one daughter, Helen Ruth Bowles. He was openly supported by the Ku Klux Klan. He ran third in the primary election behind John W. Smith and Joseph A. Martin, eliminating him from the ballot in the general election. However, Bowles continued his campaign as a write-in candidate, and nearly won, losing only after 15,000 ballots were disqualified. After his mayoral run, he obtained a position as judge on the recorder's court. Multiple people campaigned for Bowles's recall, including radio commentator Jerry Buckley. Bowles ran in the mayoral election a month later, but lost to Frank Murphy.

Later in his career he unsuccessfully ran for both the Michigan State House and U.S. House, as well as Detroit mayor.

Charles Bowles died on July 30, 1957, and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery.