Profile: Larry VanGennip, incumbent 1st District Bollinger County Commissioner (R)

Date of birth: March 23, 1943

Place of birth: Cape Girardeau

Spouse: Anna

Children's names, ages: (all grown) Alan VanGennip, Roger VanGennip, Marsha West

Occupation: Incumbent, semiretired farmer, retired from Missouri Department of Transportation (26 years). Farmed while working with the highway department.

Employer: Bollinger County

Businesses owned, all or in part: 0

Public offices held (elective or appointive): Bollinger County Commissioner, District 1

Past political campaigns including year and office sought: 2002 Bollinger County Commissioner, District 1; 2004 Bollinger County Commissioner, District 1; 2008 Bollinger County Commissioner, District 1

1. What strategies/improvements would you work to put in place to better equip Bollinger County for disasters like we've experienced this year (flooding, ice storms, tornadoes, etc.)?

Answer: I've been involved in that for eight years. We have a good system with volunteer managers and an emergency management group. I think we could help the private citizens and store owners to be more prepared, to take care of themselves and to be prepared to help their neighbors. Most of the people in Bollinger County are self-sufficient.

2. What do you think the county could do to better equip individuals and businesses to respond to storm situations?

Answer: The businesses should be thinking ahead to have access to sandbags and homeowners should be prepared for a week without being able to go to the grocery store with water and other needs. Things can happen at any time of the year, and we need to be prepared.

3. What experience/ideas do you have to help Bollinger County grow economically?

Answer: I think we have the skills and labor force available if big business came to town. As private citizens we can take pride in our homes and businesses and make it a nice place to attract tourism. We have good educational facilities, good law enforcement. Bollinger County is a safe place to live, and we continue to improve our county.

4. What makes you the best candidate for the job?

Answer: I've had 7 1/2 years experience in the office I'm seeking and even though it's ever-changing, I've learned to keep up with the operations and responsibilities. I've spent my lifetime serving people, and the public. I enjoy working with people, especially the people of Bollinger County.