Prior to his ’98 gubernatorial election, Owens worked for a manufacturer of industrial belts and hoses, did business consulting for Deloitte & Touche and lobbied for an oil trade association. He also was a state treasurer who had been in the state house for 12 years. Owens’ gubernatorial campaign promised lower taxes and a repeal of the state’s personal property tax. He opposed abortion except in extreme cases: rape, incest or endangerment of a mother’s life. His top gubernatorial priorities have been a tax cut, limiting civil lawsuits and legislation to issue report cards for schools.