Prior to his entry into politics, Rowe was the manager of the Barrie Raceway.
He is the grandson of former Lieutenant Governor of Ontario William Earl Rowe.
[1] Rowe was elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1985 provincial election, defeating Liberal Party candidate Ross Whiteside by 534 votes in Simcoe Centre.
[2] The Progressive Conservatives won a tenuous minority government in this election, and were soon defeated in the legislature by a motion of non-confidence.
He was defeated in the 1987 provincial election, losing to Liberal Bruce Owen by 2,492 votes.