Candidate questionnaire: Travis Elfrink

Candidate Name: Travis Elfrink

Party: Republican

Age: 25

Place of birth: Cape Girardeau

Spouse: No answer

Children: No answer

Occupation: Mathematics tutor

Education: Graduated in 2003 from Woodland High School

Graduated in 2008 from Southeast Missouri State with a B.S. in Applied Mathematics and a minor in Business Administration

Employer: Students struggling with math.

Businesses owned, all or part: None

Previous offices held/sought: None

Question 1: What do you see as Bollinger County's biggest challenge and greatest needs?

Answer: Balancing the budget and working together with area cities to bring in some industry to Bollinger County.

Question 2: What do you see as the county commission's role in economic development in Bollinger County?

Answer: As county commissioner I feel we need to work hard on balancing the budget and maintaining that once achieved. Also we need some industry in our county. If we could offer some job opportunities to our residents, then maybe they would spend more in Bollinger County instead of traveling outside to do so.

Question 3: What can the county as a whole do to ensure improvement of highways in Bollinger County, especially Highway 34 and Highway 51?

Answer: The residents of the county could inform the commissioners when they feel that there is a need to fix areas on highways and roads, especially highways 34 & 51 so that they are aware of the problems in need. I know in recent months there has been a lot of awareness brought to these problems. If we work together, I feel that all they can do is improve.

Question 4: Given the current economy, what do you see happening to the Bollinger County budget? Cutbacks? Status Quo? Increasing revenue?

Answer: With the current economy it is going to be a struggle to improve. If elected I plan on pursuing grants, new industry and try to help businesses already in the county to grow. It will not happen overnight but we can recover. Hopefully cutbacks that have been made will be all that needs to be made. If not, we will have to work together to see where more could be made without compromising the county.

Closing remarks: I know I am young and inexperienced with a disability but people who know me know that I have not let any of these circumstances impede my ability to accomplish my goals in life. If elected I promise a hard work ethic, to treat everyone with courtesy, dignity and respect, and be open minded in all situations.