Susan Shumway
DemocraticQ1 In their 2024–2025 report, the Missouri Office of Rural Health reported that 42% of counties in MO do not have a hospital. What policies, if any, do you plan to implement to address access to health care, primarily in rural areas?
“I have worked in Healthcare for over 33 years and it is a priority for me to look for the obstacles that are in the way of ALL people receiving good/effective healthcare. This includes empowering Nurse Practioners to provide care per their training and certification. This means finding additional funding where health care services can be expanded back into the rural areas that need them desperately. It means working with healthcare organizations and medical schools to create innovative ways to recruit doctors back to Missouri.”
Q2 The Missouri Department of Agriculture has reported that Agriculture and related industries have contributed 93.7 billion dollars in economic output and 456,618 jobs to Missouri in 2021. Would you continue to develop and support agtech business in Missouri as well as the education and scientific training for Missourians to contribute to this industry? Why or why not?
“I would absolutely support and encourage agtech business. Scientific training will help sustain the agricultural community and industry, and investing in our higher education could lead to more students boosting the state economy.”
Q3 America has a growing AI industry, supporting cutting-edge innovation but raising issues of resource use, privacy, and economics. In your opinion, what are the costs and benefits of new data center construction in Missouri and how would your policies accomplish a balance between them?
“Missouri has too much new data center construction with little to no regulation. I would propose a moratorium on any new data center construction until regulation can be put into place. Regulations I would propose would include requiring data centers to generate their own electricity, eliminate tax subsidies, and insuring the data centers would not interfere with the water going to supply farms.”
Q4 If elected, in what capacities would you refer to scientists when you are deciding how to vote on a policy?
“After I examine the history of a bill, I would require input by Acadamia to assist in determining how I would vote on policy.”
Q5 What are your opinions on the current state of science literacy, and how could K-12 education standards be adapted to improve the public understanding of and relationship building in science?
“I remember the scientific method being drilled into my brain in school and I have adapted it in a variety of ways in my personal and professional life. I believe it could be a formula that could allow some of the trust to be rebuilt in this country.”