Missouri Representative, 141st District: Ann Elwell, Democrat

Ann Elwell, Democrat

Elwell is communications manager with the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce and was elected to three terms on the Nixa School Board.

What is your plan to get the state budget back in line?

"The House of Representatives and Senate have to look at the budget from a structural point of view. They really need to address how we do budgeting more than going in and cutting programs or simply line-item taking away programs.

"Having ear-marked funds sometimes causes problems, too, because it hamstrings legislators from putting it where they determine where it is best needed.

Elwell said that of the state's $19 billion budget, only $7 billion has flexibility for use.

How would you recommend funding the state's transportation needs?

"I'm wondering if there's a way of having those transportation decisions made more locally than having them dictated from Jefferson City. If people knew our district engineers with MoDOT were making some of the decisions, then perhaps they would have more confidence in the way their dollars were being spent."

What is your plan to stimulate the Missouri economy?

"One of the areas we could address is training of employees and keeping those top-notch employees in our area. Looking at the life-sciences areas and how southwest Missouri might tap into that potential market, and be able to develop things where we're putting higher education institutions together with health care institutions, which are two big economic engines here in Springfield. Bring those together and finding new ways of creating new jobs and keeping our college graduates here."

How will you address the rising cost of health insurance and its impact on small businesses?

"I would like to explore the idea of ways to bring small businesses together under an umbrella so that they could get more affordable rates. It's an issue that has to be addressed because it will only get worse as the population ages."

by Brent Lawrence

SBJ Reporter