Candidate questionnaire: Wayne Wallingford

NAME: Wayne Wallingford

AGE: 66

PLACE OF BIRTH: Geneva, IL

SPOUSE'S, CHILDREN'S NAMES:

Wife: Suzy; Children: London Jolliff and Brandon Scott Wallingford

EDUCATION:

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, University of Nebraska, Omaha; Master of Arts in Management Supervision with a specialization in Health Care Administration, Central Michigan University

OCCUPATION: Chief People Officer

EMPLOYER:

McDonald's of Southeast Missouri

BUSINESSES OWNED, ALL OR PART:

None

PUBLIC OFFICES HELD OR SOUGHT; GIVE DATES:

State Representative, District 158 -- 2011-Present (elected 2010)

State Senate, District 27 -- seeking office presently

WEBSITE:

http://www.waynewallingford.com

SHOULD THE MISSOURI LEGISLATURE TAKE STEPS TO REFORM THE TAX CREDIT SYSTEM?

Yes, tax credit reform is needed. Our state has over 60 tax credit programs, and significant questions have been raised about the effectiveness of many of these programs including a recent report from the State Auditor that one of the biggest programs, the Quality Jobs program, has significantly underperformed expectations. We need to take a comprehensive look at tax credits, shut down the programs that aren't working, and reinforce the programs that are working.

IMPLEMENTATION OF A STATEWIDE VOTER ID SYSTEM HAS BEEN A CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE SPLIT ALONG PARTY LINES. DO YOU SUPPORT EFFORTS TO CREATE A STATEWIDE VOTER ID SYSTEM?

I do support a voter ID requirement. This is a common sense way to avoid voter fraud and ensure our elections are truly fair.

IN TOUGH BUDGET TIMES, HOW SHOULD THE STATE APPROACH HIGHER EDUCATION FUNDING?

Education (including higher education) should be our number one funding priority after state debts, as required by the Missouri Constitution. It is important that our state is able to properly prepare young Missourians to compete for good jobs, and our education infrastructure is key to accomplishing this goal. We should not sacrifice our colleges and universities to expand bloated social welfare programs, and if I am elected I will make education funding a priority.

CLOSING REMARKS:

If elected, I will work to represent the people of southeast Missouri and be a true leader on the conservative issues most important to our district. I will not stand for politics as usual. If I tell you where I stand on a bill, that is what I believe -- I will not say one thing here and do another in Jefferson City.