Jennie
Elfving
Kokkola
"Trust in the Future"
I am a native of Kokkola by birth and by habit, and I would gladly continue working for the best of our municipality over the next four years. Currently, I serve as a substitute in the City Council, a member of the Swedish section of the Education Board, and a board member of KPEDU. In addition, I hold other positions of trust within Folkhälsan and the Finnish Cultural Foundation.
I hold a PhD in Business Administration and work as the Vice Rector of Centria University of Applied Sciences. I am particularly passionate about issues related to education, business development, and well-being.
I live with my family in Rödsö and enjoy spending time outdoors—whether skiing, running, or perhaps even on horseback. That’s why it feels natural for me to highlight sustainable development and the importance of ecological solutions. I also value the cultural offerings in our city and believe that we have untapped potential that we haven’t always managed to fully utilize.
Important political topics
The best schools
One of the cornerstones of our society is a good and equal education system. A well-functioning primary school provides children and young people with the skills they need to succeed in life and lays a solid foundation for lifelong learning.
Vocational education is necessary to ensure that our region has a sufficient workforce, and higher education is needed to strengthen our expertise. We must safeguard a seamless educational path in our municipality, from preschool to higher education.
Economy & Business
The business sector, combined with a well-functioning municipal economy, is the engine of our society. Kokkola has a diverse business landscape and is, in many ways, an attractive option for companies looking to establish new operations. We currently have growth momentum that we must seize.
We should continue working to enable businesses to create new jobs and growth in the region. We need to balance the municipal economy and carefully consider how we spend the resources we have.
Thriving citizens
Promoting health and well-being through preventive measures is always better and more cost-effective than trying to address problems later on. The municipality has an important responsibility to engage residents, strengthen community cohesion, and promote well-being.
We need a community where all groups—regardless of age, ethnic background, or economic status—feel that they can make a difference and that their needs are heard. We should create opportunities for meaningful and accessible recreational activities, forums where residents can engage with political decision-makers, and good integration opportunities for those who move here from other countries for various reasons.
Candidate's answers in election machine
1 / 14
The municipality’s current policy on maintaining private roads meets the residents’ needs.
2 / 14
The Swedish language has a natural role and a strong position in the municipality.
3 / 14
The municipality should continue to actively work to attract new businesses and more workforce.
4 / 14
Early childhood education should be free for everyone.
5 / 14
Schools should prioritize traditional textbooks over digital learning materials.
6 / 14
One of the municipality’s most important tasks is to invest in sports facilities and opportunities for exercise and recreation.
7 / 14
It is important to provide all residents with equal opportunities for cultural activities.
8 / 14
The municipality should introduce or improve opportunities for residents to influence how municipal funds are used through participatory budgeting.
9 / 14
The municipality should invest in public transportation.
10 / 14
It should be possible to be a resident in more than one municipality, for example, through digital municipal citizenship.
11 / 14
The municipality should better facilitate the expansion of renewable energy, such as solar and wind power.
12 / 14
The municipality should mix more housing types in planning than is currently the case.
13 / 14
The municipality should introduce anonymous recruitment.
14 / 14