Profile: Wayne Wallingford

Name: Wayne Wallingford

Date of Birth: July 11, 1946

Place of Birth: Geneva, Ill.

Spouse's name: Suzy Wallingford

Children's names, ages: Daughter, London Davis, 28; Son, Brandon Scott Wallingford, 36

Occupation: Chief People Officer

Employer: McDonald's of Southeast Missouri

Businesses owned, all or in part: None

Public offices held (elective or appointive): Cape Girardeau Airport Advisory Board

Past political campaigns including year and office sought: 158th District, special election, 2007

Question 1: Do you support a tax increase for transportation programs? If so, what taxes would be most fair — an increase in the per-gallon fuel tax, a sales tax on fuel, a general sales tax increase or an income tax increase? If not, does the state need to spend more on transportation and where would the money come from?

Answer: Missourians do not need to have their taxes increased. We must not add to the already serious economic threat of record fuel prices by raising any fuel-related tax. It is a mistake to automatically consider taxes as the first option to solving transportation needs.

The most crucial revenue source, especially for ongoing maintenance and measured growth, is to guard the beneficial business climate which has returned to Missouri over the past four years. Without raising taxes, state revenue coffers have grown as businesses have prospered, increasing their profits from which the state received additional tax dollars.

Missouri's transportation infrastructure has two ongoing, expensive priorities: constant maintenance and steady, measured growth. A business-oriented legislature must make transportation infrastructure needs a priority as they go through the budget process.

Roads are easy to take for granted. The legislature needs to support both the maintenance and expansion of the transportation infrastructure and find innovative ways that will fund our transportation needs. All alternatives have to be reviewed with scrutiny while developing plans that will improve the quality of our infrastructure system. We need to invest in new technologies that increase the durability and longevity of our existing infrastructure. Also, we have to develop a vision for the future that ensures we are investing in an infrastructure that improves the quality of our infrastructure system while meeting the needs of Missourians. Then we need to prioritize those needs to be meet budgetary guidelines. Those guidelines should be based on functionality and necessity.

The legislature needs to have in place tough standards that ensure the citizens of Missouri are getting the quality they deserve. This can be accomplished by combining practical ideas with common sense. The real challenge is to be on the leading edge of research and development. We need to show the taxpayers that the legislature is a good steward with their tax dollars and that their tax dollars are yielding important results.

Question 2: Over the past few years, the state has greatly expanded the availability of tax credits for economic development projects. A recent audit questioned the effectiveness of the program to subsidize low-income housing with tax credits. Do you believe tax credits are effective economic development tools? Do you support continued expansion of the tax-credit based development programs? Explain.

Answer: Some very attractive and successful housing has been built through this program such as Fort Hope on South Pacific Street. Tax credits have been effective in addressing the problems of urban blight and substandard housing. The use of private equity in the development of affordable housing aimed at low-income residents is basically a good system that raises capital for development of low income housing.

However, Missouri's Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) is both costly and inefficient. A cost-benefit analysis performed by the State Auditor revealed that for every $1 in LIHTC authorized and used, only about $0.35 went toward the development of housing. In an audit report issued by Susan Montee, Missouri State Auditor, it was determined that Missouri was one of three states with a per capita rate exceeding $20 while other states have per capita rates of $4 or less. As a result, LIHTCs issued and redeemed are significantly exceeding the projections the Missouri Housing Development Commission provide the General Assembly. This has resulted in allowable project cost limits used during the project evaluation to exceed the cost limits recommended by the National Council of State Housing Agencies.

Missouri's tax credits for low-income housing have grown too costly. Other states have found more efficient ways to administer the tax credit approach to subsidize public housing. The low income population will continue to need housing in the future; however, the legislature will need to deal with a potential low-income housing tax credit liability estimated to be as high as $2.3 billion by 2020. The current program needs to be improved. A detailed examination needs to take place to find alternative ways of providing housing aid and then recommendations made for a plan that puts adequate controls in place.

3. Should the limits on donations to political campaigns be eliminated? Should any restrictions be placed on the ability of local political party committees to donate funds or on the ability of an individual to fund multiple political action committees to get around donation limits?

Answer: Donation limits to political campaigns are a restriction of freedom of speech. The key to fair elections is not campaign limits but rather full disclosure laws. Incumbents can raise money more easily because their fundraising capability remains intact during their term of office, which provides them a significant advantage. Removing campaign limits provides challengers the strength to mount a viable challenge.

Question 4: What makes you the best candidate for the position?

Answer: My career as an Air Force Lieutenant Colonel taught me to be courageous and to make hard and occasionally unpopular decisions under extreme pressure. Aside from my combat experience, where I received numerous decorations, my experience in intelligence taught me the whole spectrum of response — on the one hand being open to cooperation and negotiation and on the other hand being prepared to stand firm when America's freedom and liberty are threatened. It also gave me the ability to intelligently analyze and make smart decisions from a practical perspective in times of uncertainty and put together a plan that positions you for the future.

Also, my extensive business background gives me credibility earned by running a business. Nothing is more important than real world experience. I understand business and know what it takes to start and successfully operate businesses that provide jobs for the people living in the community. While serving in the legislature I will be making decisions similar to the decisions I make every day about risk, returns and the probability of various outcomes. My leadership experience in field management for corporate, franchised and licensed operations in a 16-state region expanded my business talents. In this position, I worked closely with company businesses and small business owners to help them boost sales, expand their training program and improve operational performance so their businesses operated more effectively and efficiently. I am a strong advocate for small business, which is the backbone of Missouri's economy. That is why I am a member of both the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce and the National Federation of Independent Business. I was also a participant in the Governor's Business/Education Summit and serve on the Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) committee. In addition, I belong to the Society of Human Resource Management and an active member of the SE Missouri Human Resource Association.

Both my experience in health care and education give me an insight into two areas that are of significant importance to voters. I worked in two hospitals before entering the United States Air Force and received my master's degree in Health Care Administration. My wife is also a registered nurse and has been licensed in eight different states as well as the United Kingdom. Our discussions about her experiences in the health care field provided me with insight into many of the deficiencies and their associated frustrations that plague both health care providers and users. My experience at Southeast Missouri State University as professor working in the higher education system has given me a strong background on the issues affecting our higher education system. Also, my experiences working with teachers in the elementary schools in Project Charlie has given me the opportunity to work in the school system and carry on a dialogue with the teachers who actively participate in the school system on a daily basis.

In addition, I have a strong record of public service. I have devoted my time to serving the Cape Girardeau community on various United Way committees, working with the Community Caring Council, serving as president of the board of directors for Project Charlie, being an active member of service organizations like the Noon Optimist Club, serving on the Seniors And Lawmen Together (SALT) Committee and the treasurer of the Lewis & Clark Trail Heritage Foundation, George Drouillard Chapter. I am also a member of VFW Post 3838 and was elected the 1st Vice Commander of American Legion Post 63 where I am also the District Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee and the District Chairman of the Homeless Veterans Committee. My wife and I are active with our church family at Cape Bible Chapel.

Finally my resume shows that I know what works in the real world environment because I have not spent my life in politics. I have 40 years experience in high-level leadership roles. I fulfill the definition of leadership by being a voracious learner, relentlessly probing the people around me for ideas and insight. I am also a voracious relationship builder, getting to know everyone in the business or organization I'm involved with. I have an insatiable hunger for new ideas and better ways to do things that will be invaluable when meeting the challenges ahead. I am not a professional politician, but rather have the desire to be a dedicated statesman, serving the people of the 158th District, providing leadership, common sense and wisdom to the legislative process.