Candidate questionnaire: Michael Wulfers

NAME: Michael Wulfers

AGE: 60

PLACE OF BIRTH: Cape Girardeau

SPOUSE, CHILDREN'S NAMES:

Mary Wulfers

Matt Wulfers

EDUCATION:

Notre Dame High School

Southeast Missouri State, BS in Chemistry

University of Missouri-Columbia, MD

Wake Forest University, Residency in Family Medicine

OCCUPATION:

Physician

EMPLOYER:

St. Francis Medical Center

BUSINESSES OWNED, ALL OR PART:

None

PUBLIC OFFICES HELD OR SOUGHT; GIVE DATES:

Board member Cape County Health Dept since 1989.

Currently, chairman of the board of the Cape County Health Dept.

WHAT'S THE BIGGEST NEED YOU HOPE TO ADDRESS IF ELECTED?

A well funded and vibrant health department is vital for the overall health of a community. The health department is responsible for assessing the communities public health needs and helping to implement the actions needed to address any public health concerns.

In some cases, such as restaurant inspections, septic system inspections, the WIC program, and the HIV treatment clinic, our health department actually performs the public health function. Other important public health functions, such as home nursing care, are better left to private entities.

The principle which has guided me during my years on the board, and which will continue to direct my actions, is that, whenever possible, programs should be financed and administered by the private sector. Government agencies, such as the health department, should step in only when the private sector is unable or unwilling to provide the needed service.

WHY ARE YOU THE BEST CANDIDATE?

I believe that it is important that the public health department board have at least one member who is a practicing physician. I have learned a great deal about public health in my 23 years of service on the board. I'm committed to using that experience to help our county health department maintain the standard of excellence set by our long time, just retired director, Charlotte Craig RN.