Ozarks Values '08: Heather Jenkins

Residence: Nixa

Occupation: Business Owner

Politics: Voted for Gore & Kerry, Blunt over McCaskill but McCaskill over Talent

Business owner Heather Jenkins is sour on the political environment. She doesn't believe any person can really run without swallowing some of their ethics and true beliefs. "For anyone to make it to win the presidency, they have to bargain and make deals," Jenkins says.

Jenkins is not a fan of President Bush. But her reasons involve more style than substance. "He's a horrible speaker," says Jenkins. So for 2008, this Nixa shoe store owner is looking for a candidate who is articulate. "When I listen to Bush, I think, what is he going to say to embarrass me now? I think the main job of our president should be the spokesperson of our country," Jenkins says. "Gore may have been boring, but at least he wasn't embarrassing," she adds.

But even though Jenkins voted for Al Gore and John Kerry over Bush, she says she really wasn't passionate about either Democrat. "I didn't vote for Kerry, I voted against Bush. Isn't that a horrible place to be as a citizen?"

The other characteristic Jenkins looks for in her candidates is business experience. She voted for Matt Blunt over Claire McCaskill for Governor in 2004 because of how well she believed Blunt's Secretary of State office was run. "As a business owner, I dealt with the Secretary of State office a lot. And under his leadership, that office was run well. Friendly, quick and efficient. I thought, if he can run that, he can run the state," Jenkins says.

Heading towards '08, Jenkins says her vote is completely up for grabs. She wants someone with a clear voice who also has an efficient record running something. She doesn't know where she'll end up, but she does offer a parting prediction: "I definitely think the country will elect a Democrat this time around, I'm just not sure if I'll be voting for the Democrat," Jenkins says.