Candidate Profile -- Michael R. Winder
For State Representative 156th District
Oct 29, 2008 - 15:05:59 CDT
I am the Democratic Candidate of our State District. I am 33 years old, I am married to Angela (Mills). We have two children Jessica (5 years old) and Michael (20 months). We live in Marquand. I have been an ironworker for 9 years, currently working for MC Industrial at the Holcim Concrete Plant in Ste. Genevieve. Angela works as the secretary at Marquand-Zion High School. We are members of Marquand Methodist Church. My parents are Richard and Sharon Winder who live in Glen Allen.
My parents raised me to be a hard worker and, in doing so, instilled strong moral values in me. My dad worked as a police officer for 34 years. I started working as a youngster by mowing lawns, working the hay fields or landscaping.
After graduation from Woodland High School, I choose to serve my country and joined the U.S Army. My first duty station was in Germany. I received an Honorable Discharge and returned to Marquand and worked at various places like ARI, a sawmill and on dairy farms. Following those jobs, I worked for Morris-Shea out of Alabama and Penzel Construction Company as a laborer on the Proctor an Gamble Plant which was under construction. I really enjoy construction work and decided to go through a three year apprenticeship program for the ironworkers. I have been employed at Hocim for three years.
What experience do you have which will help you as State Representative?
My diverse work background will be very beneficial to my understanding of the issues facing our district. I know my work ethic will greatly benefit me in the decisions facing our district. I will seek advice as needed in order to make good decisions for us and our area. The one promise I can make is this; “I will work for our District and not for the special interest groups that are currently running Jefferson City.” I will practice what is inscribed on the State Capital “Let the Welfare of the People be the Supreme Law.”
In what order would you prioritize the top three or four issues facing our district?
I believe there are several issues that are important to our district. Jobs are definitely one of the most important issues. If we can find a way to promote jobs in our district we will far better off. With rising fuel costs, people may not continue to drive an hour or more back and forth to work. We have to work with our current businesses to find ways for them to expand and to bring new businesses to our area. I believe the people in our district are some of the hardest working in the state.
Health care is another issue that is hurting our citizens. For those of us that are fortunate to have health insurance, it is costing us a fortune. It is time the greatest country in the world along with the greatest state start providing accessible health care for our citizens.
Education is another issue our district must address. Although our public education system is very good; We can make it better. We need to raise teacher's salaries, so we can continue to have quality teachers in our schools. The new funding formula needs some work in that regard.
Our rural schools need the same benefits as the wealthier schools receive. Our children's education is one of the most important issues for our district. We need to ensure that our kids are given the best education there is. Our teachers need to teach the children and not just teach to a test; which unfortunately is what a lot of schools are doing. Public education provides every child an equal chance to succeed. Our teachers and administrators of our schools should be proud for the job they do because they are some of the true hero's in our district.
Our infrastructure is also very important. Without improvements to our roads and bridges, it will be difficult to promote new business. The improvements to Highway 72 and Highway 67 provides great opportunity to Madison and Wayne Counties. It is time we stop talking about repairing Highway 34 in Bollinger County and finally make the needed improvements. Highway 51 is also in need of repair. How many people does our district have to lose before we stop talking and start doing. Not only would rebuilding our infrastructure help bring in new businesses to our district it will also provide quality jobs during the construction of these projects.
The state must do something to help with health care. The first thing is to re-instate the benefits cut under the current administration. Our state has the money to do this without raising taxes. We owe it to our senior citizens and to the young children to restore the cuts. It would cost approximately $210 million. The state has a $600 million surplus. The state has lost $1.4 billion dollars in federal matching funds since the cuts to health care were implemented. In doing so, Missouri is, in effect, sending our federal tax dollars to other states for their health care programs. I think we should all be wondering why health insurance costs are up so much and continue to sky rocket as insurance companies make record profits. It sounds just like the same thing oil companies are enjoying at our expense. People in Missouri need relief! After all we are paying our state representative's insurance. Let me to present one idea; Allow all Missourians and businesses (if interested) to buy into our legislators health plan. This would allow our citizens to afford cheaper insurance. It is unfortunate that some business can not afford to provide health care for their employees. I don’t believe they do not want to provide the benefit, but they simply can not afford to. It is time we fix the problem.
We have to sit down and work across the aisle to create a plan to help Missourians with these issues. With your help, support and vote on November 4, I’ll be the voice of our district in Jefferson City.
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http://www.dailyjournalonline.com/articles/2008/10/29/fredericktown/doc4908b68e2cbc7019911805.txt
My parents raised me to be a hard worker and, in doing so, instilled strong moral values in me. My dad worked as a police officer for 34 years. I started working as a youngster by mowing lawns, working the hay fields or landscaping.
After graduation from Woodland High School, I choose to serve my country and joined the U.S Army. My first duty station was in Germany. I received an Honorable Discharge and returned to Marquand and worked at various places like ARI, a sawmill and on dairy farms. Following those jobs, I worked for Morris-Shea out of Alabama and Penzel Construction Company as a laborer on the Proctor an Gamble Plant which was under construction. I really enjoy construction work and decided to go through a three year apprenticeship program for the ironworkers. I have been employed at Hocim for three years.
What experience do you have which will help you as State Representative?
My diverse work background will be very beneficial to my understanding of the issues facing our district. I know my work ethic will greatly benefit me in the decisions facing our district. I will seek advice as needed in order to make good decisions for us and our area. The one promise I can make is this; “I will work for our District and not for the special interest groups that are currently running Jefferson City.” I will practice what is inscribed on the State Capital “Let the Welfare of the People be the Supreme Law.”
In what order would you prioritize the top three or four issues facing our district?
I believe there are several issues that are important to our district. Jobs are definitely one of the most important issues. If we can find a way to promote jobs in our district we will far better off. With rising fuel costs, people may not continue to drive an hour or more back and forth to work. We have to work with our current businesses to find ways for them to expand and to bring new businesses to our area. I believe the people in our district are some of the hardest working in the state.
Health care is another issue that is hurting our citizens. For those of us that are fortunate to have health insurance, it is costing us a fortune. It is time the greatest country in the world along with the greatest state start providing accessible health care for our citizens.
Education is another issue our district must address. Although our public education system is very good; We can make it better. We need to raise teacher's salaries, so we can continue to have quality teachers in our schools. The new funding formula needs some work in that regard.
Our rural schools need the same benefits as the wealthier schools receive. Our children's education is one of the most important issues for our district. We need to ensure that our kids are given the best education there is. Our teachers need to teach the children and not just teach to a test; which unfortunately is what a lot of schools are doing. Public education provides every child an equal chance to succeed. Our teachers and administrators of our schools should be proud for the job they do because they are some of the true hero's in our district.
Our infrastructure is also very important. Without improvements to our roads and bridges, it will be difficult to promote new business. The improvements to Highway 72 and Highway 67 provides great opportunity to Madison and Wayne Counties. It is time we stop talking about repairing Highway 34 in Bollinger County and finally make the needed improvements. Highway 51 is also in need of repair. How many people does our district have to lose before we stop talking and start doing. Not only would rebuilding our infrastructure help bring in new businesses to our district it will also provide quality jobs during the construction of these projects.
The state must do something to help with health care. The first thing is to re-instate the benefits cut under the current administration. Our state has the money to do this without raising taxes. We owe it to our senior citizens and to the young children to restore the cuts. It would cost approximately $210 million. The state has a $600 million surplus. The state has lost $1.4 billion dollars in federal matching funds since the cuts to health care were implemented. In doing so, Missouri is, in effect, sending our federal tax dollars to other states for their health care programs. I think we should all be wondering why health insurance costs are up so much and continue to sky rocket as insurance companies make record profits. It sounds just like the same thing oil companies are enjoying at our expense. People in Missouri need relief! After all we are paying our state representative's insurance. Let me to present one idea; Allow all Missourians and businesses (if interested) to buy into our legislators health plan. This would allow our citizens to afford cheaper insurance. It is unfortunate that some business can not afford to provide health care for their employees. I don’t believe they do not want to provide the benefit, but they simply can not afford to. It is time we fix the problem.
We have to sit down and work across the aisle to create a plan to help Missourians with these issues. With your help, support and vote on November 4, I’ll be the voice of our district in Jefferson City.