One Senate District 10 and two House District 10B candidates addressed election year issues during a two-hour Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism candidate forum Oct. 8.
District 10 and 10B represents the cities of Foley, Gilman, Rice and Royalton as well as Benton County townships Alberta, Gilmanton, Glendorado, Graham, Granite Ledge, Langola, Mayhew Lake, St. George and Watab.
Purva Watten, Little Falls chamber president and CEO, moderated the area forum, which was held inside the basement board room at the Morrison County Government Center in Little Falls.
Senate candidate Tara Killen (DFL) and House 10B candidates Isaac Schultz (R) and Jeff Larson (DFL) participated in the forum. Republican incumbent Sen. Nathan Wesenberg did not attend the Oct. 8 event.
Wesenberg was contacted by the Benton County Herald and asked why he did not participate. Wesenberg did not respond to call, text or email messages to his campaign address.
Legislative priorities
Candidates were asked to name one specific issue they would make a priority during their first year of their term in office if elected or re-elected and how they would move it forward.
“I think the main thing facing people in this district today is affordability; and the cornerstone of that problem is healthcare,” Larson said. “Families across District 10B are paying between $15,000 and $20,000 a year for healthcare between premiums, co-pays and deductibles.”
Schultz said the most important issue to people across District 10B is holding government accountable so that life can be more affordable for Minnesotans. Schultz said every single dollar that flows from state government to a fraudster is being taken from a vulnerable person.
“My No. 1 issue is affordability,” Killen said. “That’s what I heard going door knocking and being in parades and in talking to people. I come with an open door and open phone policy.”
Unfunded mandates
Candidates were asked about state mandates creating additional costs for cities and counties.
Schultz said he will work to ensure legislative policies that are passed in St. Paul are not unfunded mandates that become burdens to local units of government. He mentioned the DFL trifecta’s passage of paid family medical leave and earned sick and safe time as examples.
“We need to stop pointing fingers; we need to stop being so partisan,” Killen said. “We need to have people in office that actually look at the rural community as the rural community. We are not the cities. There’s no doubt about that. Mandates do happen.”
Larson said he would work as a legislator to figure out a better balance and create more equity between rural school funding and urban and suburban funding. He said unfunded mandates are terrifying to the superintendents and school districts he has talked with in House District 10B.
Economic development
Candidates were asked how they would support economic growth, attract new businesses, help existing businesses grow and create good-paying jobs in their role as a state legislator.
“We are interconnected,” Killen said. “If we don’t have people with jobs, we’re not going to attract people. We need to keep the budget balanced and listen to what people need most.”
Larson said a great deal needs to be done to incentivize new business start-ups in rural Minnesota. He said regulation and red tape make it difficult for people to start new businesses.
“I don’t think any one of us want to create a Minnesota that is on an island by comparison to the rest of the Midwest,” Schultz said. “We have tremendous natural resources. We need to invite investment into our state so that we can become a leader in agriculture productivity.”
Bonding bill support
Candidates were asked if they would support state bonding to support rural Minnesota projects.
Schultz said bonding represents a form of state debt that must be paid back with interest. He questioned paying more for a project by using bonding as opposed to paying cash. He said funds from the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment should be used to improve infrastructure.
“I think part of the reason why we’ve had such trouble with bonding bills is it becomes a battle of parties versus ‘Let’s get the job done,’” Larson said. “The bonding bill should be a way to improve our communities all across the state. It’s a job and economic development creator.”
Killen said she would want to see documentation involved with the bonding process to learn more about specific projects and their impacts on citizens and communities. Killen said she would support a bonding bill for definite needs but would need to see specific numbers first.
Reasons for running
Candidates were asked why they were running for office and which issues they supported.
“I’m a bold conservative, and I want conservative solutions to the challenges that face us today,” Schultz said. “We need structural reform to both MinnesotaCare and welfare benefits. Our state does far too much for people who are here illegally or we have invited here.”
Killen said her three priorities are democracy, balance and representation. She said she would make decisions after carefully listening to constituents representing both sides of an issue.
“We have a crisis on our hands with healthcare, and people are kind of ignoring it,” Larson said. “We need to address the funding inequities between our urban and suburban schools and rural districts. That’s going to impact and improve our lives, and it’s going to improve the kids that are coming through our school systems, and it’s going to make our communities stronger.”
Closing remarks
Candidates were also asked to provide closing remarks about their candidacies and voter appeal.
Larson said the issues facing voters are significant. He called out Gov. Tim Walz regarding fraud and alleged Minnesota Department of Human Services mismanagement. Larson said he would hold people accountable on both sides of the aisle and stand up to his party when needed.
“We need representation that’s going work across the aisle to listen to all people, no matter what party they work for; and I’m that person,” Killen said. “We have to have the hard conversations, and that’s what I want to do. We should work together; we should voice our opinions.”
Schultz said the state is currently at a breaking point. He wants to be a leader that helps make Minnesota government something voters can trust. Schultz said elected officials and candidates need to fight to improve the lives of people in Minnesota rather than be worried about growing state government programs. He said state employees need to be held accountable for fraud.
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