Candidate questionnaire: Stephen Daume

Candidate Name: Stephen Daume

Party: Republican

Age: 41

Place of birth: Cape Girardeau

Spouse: Dr. Shelly Daume

Children: Danielle, Joshua

Occupation: Farmer, rancher

Education: B.S. Agriculture, University of Missouri, Emphasis Science and Business

Employer: Self

Businesses owned, all or part: Partnership with father.

Previous offices held/sought: Ran for District 1 Cape Girardeau County Commissioner, 2008

Question 1: Do you support the county changing to a charter form of government? Why or why not?

Answer: Supporting Charter Government would involve knowing what the Charter, which has not been written, looks like. Therefore it is impossible to answer the question. Like all business changes it will cost money to make the move. The question is would charter be more efficient and or more cost effective.

Question 2: What are the major challenges facing Cape Girardeau County?

Answer: I believe the major challenge facing Cape County will be recruiting new industry and creating jobs despite toughening clean air standards that are being considered by the EPA. I believe we need to focus on recruiting industries that enhance and add value to the natural resources we have in S.E. Missouri. These industries could include biofuel and clean energy generation facilities as well industry that add value to food products.

Question 3: Cape Girardeau County has escaped the worst impacts of the recession, With revenue about stable. How would you help make sure the county budget is fiscally stable in 2011?

Answer: We need to continue to look at the budget to eliminate unnecessary expenditures. However, the most important thing we can do is recruit new industry and create jobs. I believe the future of our country and our county depend on industry that produce things society needs to be prosperous. Three things society must have are water, food and energy. We need to focus on industry that preserves and enhances the value of our natural resources.

Question 4: What changes would you make in the way commission meetings are conducted or the way the county operates?

Answer: County commission meetings should be conducted in a professional manner and should be as open and transparent as possible. I believe webcasts of the meetings should be made available online. I also believe we should investigate the possibility of allowing public comment via video-internet connections. I think we could incorporate student communications classes to keep costs down and provide practical experience for our local high school students.

Closing remarks: Our prosperity exists because we have industry that produce things people need, even in times of recession which helps make us recessionproof. If elected, I will focus on improving the quality of life in Cape County by working to improve infrastructure. Infrastructure directly impacts our ability to recruit industry. In addition, I will work tirelessly to recruit industry to Cape County that enhances our environment and our ability to sustain prosperity in the future.