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Okay.

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All right. Well, good afternoon and welcome. It's great. It's a real privilege to be able to host the candidate forum.

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With me is serve views. There's a candidate for a company commissioner.

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Sir, do you want to introduce yourself and let us know what your, uh, what your campaign is all about?

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Sure. Thanks for the chamber for setting this up and for having me. And thank you, Mike, for doing this.

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I am Sarah Flampeuse. I am running for Carleton County Commissioner District 1.

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Just a little bit about me is I have was born and raised in this community. I am an 98 graduate.

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After graduation, I chose to stay in the community and get married, raise a family.

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Just it wanted to be living in the community, but I also wanted to be a part of the community involved in the community.

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So that is why I kind of started getting involved with different types of fundraisers for the school's PTA

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Then I jumped into Park's Commission sitting on the cookie education foundation and school board

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My career my working career. I've been in the fire service for 23 years and

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Up until three years ago. I had a little bit of a second win career, but I still wanted to make sure that I had a career

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where I was still serving the community and some sort of capacity.

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23 years in the fire service, I enjoyed what I was doing,

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but then had an opportunity to get a job as an executive director

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for United Way in this county.

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And I thought that was another great opportunity to serve the community.

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So that is a little bit about me.

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I have two kids that go to school in Kokeh and my husband also works

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for the Kokeh area fire district.

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And it's awesome.

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And so what made you decided to run for County Board?

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So for running for County Commissioner, a couple of things is Dick Brenner, who had been

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in a position for 32 plus years, had announced that he was not going to run for another

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term, that made me consider running for County Commissioner.

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And then I had a few people in the community that reached out to me and asked me if I

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would consider running.

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That would be a good candidate.

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I really enjoyed, enjoy working for the school board or for the school district of the school board member.

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I really wanted to finish that term, but with thick stepping down, this was an opportunity where I could come in and run for county commissioner.

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And continue to do the work in advocating for the community and community members just at a county level.

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one of these issues, chamber of commerce,

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community review, but as a presidential taxpayer,

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the property taxes are a big issue.

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One of the things we've seen called county as we have taxes

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increasing are comfortable with for taxes, property taxes are,

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and if so, why, if not, why not?

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That's your plan for the property taxes.

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Yeah, that's a good question, Mike.

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And I, one of the things I've had those conversations

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when I've been out dark knocking or the community and talking is one of the reasons why I chose to run

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too is because of the taxes in Carlton County. They are getting high. People are feeling the pinch in the

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pressure, especially with cost of inflation. Costs of goods are going off, but wages aren't getting

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catching up to that. So people are really starting to feel the pinch, especially our baby boomers and

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people that are on the fixed income.

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Me wanting to run to help solve that problem in that issue.

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And one of the big things is the economic growth,

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the economic development.

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There just hasn't been a lot of growth in the growth

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in the current economy area.

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And I really wanted to get involved and figure out

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how we can tackle that issue and solve it.

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One of the things that I, and good at doing and enjoy doing

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is connecting the right people, getting stakeholders

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at the right table to have those conversations.

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So running for county commissioner coming in,

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trying to, you know, see the growth in the community, maybe help take that taxes go down for

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different people, kind of spread it out a little bit, that is the goal and that's one of

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the reasons why I chose to run was on the taxes, the economic development piece, excuse me.

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Absolutely, you, as a school board member, have you had some experience with this issue and

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and sort of the school, like we've got access to violence

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or having a square of that sort of a different job.

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But I mean, if every thought through,

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you kind of have those skills my translates to being a part of the cardboard.

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Yeah, when I started on the school board,

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that was the one big piece that we really talk about

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is what our budget is, what our taxes are,

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what we want to set our lobby at.

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You know, we always want to make sure

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that we're providing good quality service,

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but we also want to be financially

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and physically responsible, stretch that dollar,

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as much as we can.

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We have the Colgate School Board right now.

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We're looking at decreasing a 1.3% with the Levy.

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And a big part of that is being mindful of your budget,

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planning ahead.

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And I took a lot of those skills and those ideas,

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because we didn't do it all in the year or two.

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This took a lot of planning and thinking about the money

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and the reserve what we need it for future growth.

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And learning that from a lot of the board members

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that have been on the school board for many years,

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They taught me a lot of things that I can learn and take to the Common Commissioner of all.

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Next subject is Child Care.

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Programming as a child care crisis.

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And there's a lot of communities do.

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And with this specific lack of danger, spots available.

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Do you think the county plays a role in that?

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And so do you have thoughts on the training I do to help address this?

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Sure.

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Yeah, it's, again, like you said, Mike, it's not just a county issue.

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It's an issue in a lot of different areas with child care.

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We're seeing a lot of families now, both parents are in an out-of-the-work force, whether they need to or choose to.

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More kids are going to childcare, but there's not a lot of availability there.

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With the county and with my work with the United Way, we have been working closely with the county and helping solve those issues.

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One of the things is obviously bringing more childcare.

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There will be out there having more people open up their childcare sites, offering assistance with that for the county,

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But then also making it a little bit easier for people that have child care centers open to make it easier for them to continue with licensing

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But also if they want to have another another center and stuff open

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And then also making that child care affordable is another big piece to for a lot of parents and people that are just trying to make ends meet

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So one of the things that the county is doing is they are being able to reach out to different people to start opening up child care areas

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There's been a few that have been open up in the last year, but there's still not enough and we need to do a little bit more work and the county, I think is doing a great job. We just need to continue before I'm not.

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I do a review of that set. I am used to animate for a county commissioner.

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And I'm sure I want to make sure I don't know what the song is like, but I'm sure that not that might continue up so I might just come out to move it.

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I have to do this every so long.

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Okay, well, I do have a good mom and I do have a good mom voice is what I here and sometimes I don't know if I can hear it.

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Yeah, so I don't want to the park.

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I'll clean my room.

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Yes.

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No, thank you for that.

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I just want to make sure that listeners and viewers can hear what your answers are.

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So we just talked about child care and another issue is housing and both the city and the county have conducted housing studies with

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indicating a need for more affordable housing in all sectors, and so are you thoughts, how are you

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thoughts on that and if you think the county can play role in addressing the housing prices

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or at least the problem?

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Yeah, so housing again in our county is nothing that's different than a lot of other areas, but it is

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the top-top issue with the United Way as a director. I get a lot of data and information that

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sent to us and when people are calling looking for assistance in the area, housing is the number one.

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So therefore I feel like it should be the number one priority for the county as well.

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And recently with the study coming out, the county I know has created a committee in a group that

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is going and working together to help solve this issue.

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And it's not just an issue for affordable housing for Section 8, but it's for housing across

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the board.

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You're looking at our baby boomers that maybe you're looking to try to downsize into something smaller

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More affordable. There's just not that option. You're looking for people that just, you know, maybe graduating or starting out living in the area that want to rent

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There's just not even rentals that are in the area that are available

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So we do have a lot of work that I think the county needs to start working on

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But I think they're on the right track right now by getting the right people on the committee and moving forward and

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And again, like I said, making it the top priority because housing is the biggest need right now.

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I understood your last two answers really lean into a lot of intergovernmental coordination, not just the county, not just the city, the state, maybe even the feds.

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Where are some thoughts on that?

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I'm going to experience what you bring to working together across different levels of government to deliver for your constituents.

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Yeah, with as a county commissioner level, it is also I feel like their responsibility in the role is to reach out to other, you know, representatives that are covering our area down the legislative level and making sure that our voices are heard to.

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We're in the rural area, we want to make sure some of this money down at the legislative level for housing is getting pushed up into the greater Minnesota area.

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So it is important to have those communications and relationships with our local representatives.

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Right now, just with my role as United Way and Director, I already do a lot of that.

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Working with Smith and Klobuchar's Office on Congressional Directed Spending and other types of things,

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different initiatives for United Way.

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I know how important it is to have make sure that you have that communication in those relationships.

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And that is a big piece for Carlton County to make sure that they're having someone down there that making sure our voice is heard up here in the Franklin County area.

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Very good. Thank you for that. Another big expense and one of the biggest jobs the county has is a ministering criminal justice system.

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What do you suppose that can be done or where do thoughts on criminal justice systems are a state of it in Carlton County right now and how can we make it as efficient and effective as possible?

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So, right now, I'm sure a lot of people have known that there is a new justice center that was built, and if you haven't had a chance to tour and look at the facility, I encourage you to.

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I, when they had the Ribbon Cutting ceremony here last month, before wishing people a tour of the justice center.

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before it fully opens go into it but for the county to having to create the new

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Justice Center which was pretty much a requirement by the Department of Justice

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that they had to come up with a new facility because the one that was at the time

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not working it wasn't safe. They've done a great job on collaborating putting that

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together and not only with the Justice Center having both of the jail and you know our

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attorneys and stuff but also what the county has looked at this as an opportunity to create

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some new programs in curriculum for a lot of people that are in the jail that are looking to get

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out to their 201 need to give them the tools and opportunity to you know get out of jail and have

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have something set up so they don't end up right back where they're at. I think taking the proactive

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approach on making sure that we're continuing to move forward and helping people, not

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setting up the failure but setting up for success. And I applaud the county for doing

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that and I want to continue to, you know, I'm put in this position to help support that.

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Wonderful.

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Related, obviously, it was the issue of crime. Do you think crime is currently a problem

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in quote and county and if so why and if not why not.

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I think we do have crime in the area with the 23 years in the fire service.

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I've seen a lot of that first hand with anywhere from just different types of calls and

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stuff that we go on.

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But a lot of this crime that we have to is also related to the mental health crisis that we

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have in the area too, but really having the right law enforcement on the streets helping

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making sure a community safe is really important, taking that, you know, reactive approach

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making sure we're there.

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But looking on the proactive side to a wider we have in these crime in the area, mental

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health is tied to a lot of that.

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Let's start focusing on that as well.

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I'm here with Sir, my views, the candidates I'll give you a chance to get a drink of water

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with a candidate for County Commissioner.

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We've got a few questions left, and an opportunity to kind of get a closing statement, but

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everybody know why they should support you.

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So we've talked about taxes, we've talked about housing,

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we've talked about child care, we've talked about crime,

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another seven floors naturally is a drug,

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and a substance abuse issue in the county.

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And if so, what is that play and any or all of the above,

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and what are your thoughts on that as a candidate?

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Yeah, there's definitely an awful food issue in this area,

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and it's not just again, in curled in county,

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it's an a lot of different other areas.

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And that is once again tied to a lot of mental health that we're handling and dealing with at this time.

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I think the county is working hard to help solve a lot of these issues.

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They've taken a lot of different approaches with working with first responders,

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making sure that they're able to help with people that with the drug overdoses,

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but then also having different programs in place.

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For example, Carlton County Human Services United Way.

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I have collaborated and worked with them on our drug take-back events where we're trying

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to get that out of the cabinets and into safe areas where they can then again be disposed

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in the correct way.

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But with just that alone in these drug take-back events, we have taken hundreds of pounds

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of a lot of these medications and stuff off of the streets.

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But then also having different programs in place to help people that may be, you know, addicted

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and maybe looking to seek some help in services there.

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In the county has done that, a good job with that, but again, I think we could work a little

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bit more, again continue with the drug take-back event, and then...

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Really tackling that mental health issue that we have in the area, too.

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You mentioned it, I mean, in this another issue that's not unique to Carlton.

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No. I mean, is this another opportunity to work regionally, or statewide, or tribal community,

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with the states, and other governmental bodies to tackle this together?

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Is it something you're counting as uniquely positioned?

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So it's really, it is this connecting in people and collaborating for the right people.

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You know, you have the county, you have the city of Koke, you have found a lack that can collaborate and work together.

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But also, it's not just an issue in this area, it's in many other areas, so having those conversations again with the state legislators.

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But then also looking at, you know, what are other counties that are having this issue doing, and if it's working, let's try that maybe mirror look at what they're doing and what's not working.

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You know, we don't want to recreate the wheel all the time with this.

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Other people are having these issues.

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Let's see what's working, what's not working, and just help with that mental health

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issues.

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Very good.

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These questions all lead into each other.

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It's almost like we're programming this.

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Yeah.

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Related.

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Right.

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A lot of the last few answers have to do with health and human services,

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which is, I don't know where it sits in terms of the county budget.

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I assume it's the top or at least next.

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It's the biggest department, so obviously it's a big chunk of the budget.

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Absolutely.

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And how do you see is HHS, is that adequately funded or are there different funding streams?

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Do we have enough to tackle these issues or is there a way to prioritize what we have?

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Or what are your thoughts on the budget for health and human services?

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I think right now, where public health and human services, I think a lot of the departments

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are doing a great job. Very fortunate to have a lot of dedicated employees here. I think

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one of the things that public health human services, each department can maybe collaborate

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and work a little bit together. But as far as, you know, with the budget is and staffing,

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you have to dig a lot deeper into that that I don't have the access to at this time. But

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from what I see in the people that I've worked with with United Way and then also with the

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thing about Carlton County Public Health Human Services does is, if there's a pilot program

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out there, or if there's a new program with funding from different sources, not just taxpayers,

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the county is very good on grabbing onto that and seeing if it would work well in our community.

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And I applaud them for always doing that and looking at that firsthand and trying to, again, maximize,

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you know, the taxpayer's dollar, but also making sure that we're offering great quality

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service in the area and with a lot of the work that they do with the pilot programs

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or if they're bringing in new initiatives, they're partnering with a lot of different

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organizations. For example, United Way, we have partnered with Public Health Human Services

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Initiative Department on a three-year grant to help solve some of the homeless youth issues

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that we're having in the area. And the county is really good at doing that.

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Finding different nonprofits organizations and collaborating and working together,

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We all know that we have to work together to solve these problems.

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They're too big for us to solve on our own.

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I meant to that and thank you for that answer.

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A couple of other items and then we'll get to close.

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You talked a bit about economic development already.

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We had a separate question on that.

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It as relates to taxes, but more broadly speaking,

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are there elements to economic development that the county is uniquely positioned to bring?

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Not just for tax-based concerns, but for general economic concerns.

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You know, I think right now with the Justice Center, which took up a lot of time and energy for the county to get to where they're at.

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And now that is finished and done, maybe some more of the focus can be more on economic development in itself to see some growth in the area.

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I know Bemidji has done it. Cook is doing it up north, is a lot of it is driven towards housing.

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if you bring housing here, people have a place to live to stay and then that's going to bring

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jobs in businesses in the area.

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With, you know, Bemidji doing that over the last couple of decades,

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we've seen success with that. I was just that Bemidji here a few years ago and I haven't been

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there in a long time since I was a kid. Paul and Babe are still there, but boy that community has

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really grown. And then just looking up north in Cook County, you know, they have private

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investors building a lot of different housing and stuff up there too.

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Really, if you're seeing what's working there and it's successful, then why don't we try

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and bring it here as well with that, then that will bring businesses in the area as well,

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more jobs that are local, economic development, the housing is important too, because if you

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look at just our bigger businesses, Sappy, for example, USG, they employ a lot of people,

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but if you don't have enough people living in the area, how are you going to employ more people?

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staff, for example, has 20 plus jobs opening right now, and they can't seem to keep filling them.

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It's kind of your development.

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And if you don't have a lot of growth with housing, how are you going to get more people?

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There's only so many people in the area in the population.

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So that impacts just the whole area in the whole community.

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It's all kind of interweb, like you said.

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And economic development is a big beast to kind of talk about,

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but it's tied to so many different important things in the community.

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You know, all of these other programs flow from healthy job based on tax base, and all the other things, so thank you for that.

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Cotton County, and okay, no longer has an animal shelter, and there is a need for that, and the county, do you think that comes on the list of things to focus on, and should you be elected, or is that something that maybe is being handled otherwise?

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I think if we look at the history and back what happened before when the county in the city

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who was more involved, that shelter there was in a lot of success fair.

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So a lot of success there, many different reasons, funding, mismanagement of that.

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But right now where it's sitting is there's a nonprofit that is doing a great job in the great

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work that is offering that service.

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I think with the county, why get involved if something's working, let's let it continue

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work.

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One other issue that came up was I've heard about it for years but certainly in the

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COVID and post COVID era is efficient access to broadband. I think that's related to again a lot of

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the issues here. There's certainly areas in the county and even in the city limits without adequate

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access to broadband as an employer might define it or certainly as a consumer. Is that an area

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that you thought about as far as being a county board member or is there another way to tackle that?

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So there's, I think there's two folds with that,

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the whole broadband piece, too, is you have with broadband,

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just generally Minnesota, I think 20% of our population

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does not have internet high-speed internet access.

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But so there are people that don't have internet access,

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so we need to help and make sure that they get that.

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But the other piece is having that high-speed internet

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is available and have access to that

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is for our businesses so they can continue

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to offer the services that they do.

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So it is important and I think with this the city of Kokey and Fondalak and with the county

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I think they're working great together to try to move forward with that broadband

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But that definitely should be one of the things in the front of things to focus on

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I'm a broad question. What do you think makes it good to county commissioner?

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I assume you'll say all the skills. I'm gonna say all the great things

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Someone that you know has great leadership skills

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Also, someone that really understands our community, and someone that not only is going to make decisions for themselves, but also for their community and what is in the best interest.

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Understanding what the needs and wants are in the community is really important to know.

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And people from all different avenues and walks of life, you need to have that before you make all your decisions, I think, as a county commissioner.

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Thank you. This will be the last opportunity for you, at least in this format, to make your pitch

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to voters. Why should voters vote for you for County Board?

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I think with my, you know, history of involvement with the community, for the years of starting

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at the year of 18 when I joined the volunteer fire department, I always wanted to serve the

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community in some capacity. And my record kind of shows that for all the years I've been

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here. I have great leadership skills from that I learned from the fire service, very committed

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to the community and like I said earlier, I don't want to just live in this community,

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I want to be a part of this community and I want to encourage other people to do that

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too. I think I would be a great county commissioner because I have the ability to go and see

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different people in the community and talk to them and have that conversation. So I can

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come and bring that to the table at the county level and make sure their voices are heard

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as well when we're making decisions.

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Thank you so much for taking the time today.

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On behalf of the viewers, it's awesome to get a chance to know a little bit more about you

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and about what you would bring to the county board if you were elected.

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So thank you very much, Sarah.

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Thank you.

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All right.

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We'll be taking a short break while we bring in another candidate, so we'll be back for

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some of you.

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Absolutely.

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Yeah.

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If you're ready, then we'll just get going.

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There's no official queue, but just wanted to say welcome, Caleb Dunlap.

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My name is Mike Franklin.

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I'll be interviewing you today or having a conversation about your candidacy for County

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Commissioner.

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Could you please just tell the viewers a little bit about you, why are you seeking the office?

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And yeah, go from there.

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Well, thank you again for having me today and for facilitating this.

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So for everyone that's viewing Caleb Dunlap, I was born and raised in Clocay, I'm a member

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of the Fondalac band of Lake Superior Chippewa, and I just a bit about why I wanted

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to, why I applied for this position, because Dick Brenner himself, after 32 years announced

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in early May that he was not running for this position, and I saw a door that was open and

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an opportunity for new leadership, and again, there are a number of things that really

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mattered to me. First and foremost is county politics. You know, again, there's so much that

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through into the county that kind of, I tell people it's like an hour glass and it comes

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into, you know, things come into the county and they trickle down into where our commissioners

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stand and then they go out into the rest of the county. And so there's this pivotal point of where

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our county commissioners are at, you know, in those decision-making processes and the process

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overall of governance, and it excited me.

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Again, being from this area, being from the tribal community,

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it's a huge asset to have a federally recognized tribe in your backyard, we'll say.

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And in district one, it's this huge array of from downtown cloquet

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through the tribal nation and into our outer townships.

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And so that array really excited me to represent all.

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Again, getting people involved in county politics.

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And really, there's some big shoes to fill,

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where Dick Brenner has been a part of the commissioners

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for the last 32 years.

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And then also, there has never been a native person

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that served as a Carlton County commissioner.

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And that's a big part.

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You know, my slogan is Connecting our County.

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and a big part of that is our tribal community that's in the area and so having that representation

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within the County Commissioner Board was something that again we haven't seen and something

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that I felt that other leaders in my life have said when a door is open you stand up and you walk through it.

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And I guess that was crazy enough to walk through it.

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I'll pause there, but I just want to open up with that.

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No, it's a big deal, and thank you for running.

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I mean, you're kind of no matter what happens in the election, it's a really big deal to stand up and walk through that door and offer yourself for public service.

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So, thank you.

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We have the people.

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Great.

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Well, let's get into some issues here, and then I've got eight or nine questions about the working of the county and how you would approach these issues and then we'll close with an opportunity to kind of.

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to tell everybody why they should vote for you, but first is property taxes, property taxes in

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Carlton County have an increasing. Are you, where are you at on the tax issue? Are you comfortable

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with where they're at? Are they too low? Are they too high? And kind of give me a mindset about

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your position on taxes. I mean again, one of the things that I have pushed myself to do in this campaign

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is to door knock. It's not comfortable to door knock, but I have gotten so much information

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from our residents and the topic is property taxes, and our residents are asking for a

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leader that can say no when, which essentially is pausing. I know is not forever, but it is

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say, how are we spending, how are we using tax revenue on behalf of our residents, and

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many of them are looking to it as they feel, and this has been mentioned multiple times

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that their tax revenue is looked at as monopoly money, and it's just being used with, you

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know, or it's being put back on the taxpayer continuously. And so when it comes to taxes,

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I'm someone that really wants to look at creative ways of taxation and of spending and finding

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ways to plan ahead and to say, okay, there are certain infrastructure that we need across the

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county or there are certain new implementations to say are existing programming or new

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and that's the end.

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Can we work backwards from that? So that we're not making decisions overnight and that we're not necessarily putting that the funding to the taxpayer.

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And so I honestly will be one that will look at our tax base and say, with where it is right now, how can we maintain it and how can we look at creative ways to decrease it?

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So yeah, it's very soon. Yeah, and it's it's hard in local government. Yeah, because you and then we almost should have had it to do over

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I was structured the questions differently because it's you set your budget and you kind of work backwards from that

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Then you set your levy based on what you've agreed to spend it on and all the rest of my questions have to do

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things were gonna spend it on as taxpayers, but it is it's that it's that it's that balance

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So you're you're one that will look first at holding the line on taxes before and finding creative

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ways underneath that to continue the programming rather than, you know, the reverse.

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Yeah, I mean, again, there are things like looking at how can we implement a sliding scale

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tax, where we look to, you know, it's based on household income, which ultimately provides

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relief for lower income as well as our individuals on fixed incomes. And so, which

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And again, as I knocked door to door, these are the residents that are really elevating

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that to me around like, hey, I'm an aging citizen, and I have a fixed income, and so individuals

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who have lived and worked in the county, and they are retired, they may have gotten rid

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of their host payment years ago, but now their taxes are increasing so high that it's not

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so same as paying another host payment, and so now they're having to make decisions about

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do we stay in Carlton County or do we move away?

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Which then causes more problems.

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Again, when you have to make decisions about I'm going to move down the road, down the highway,

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Ultimately, that changes everyone's landscape, and so I think of my mother's 72 years old,

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if she was to have to move down 35 towards, you know, Moose Lake or Willow River or anything,

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what happens then is it changes who her provider is, where she gets her pharmaceuticals,

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you know, it changes what faith community that a person might be in, and what social groups,

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And so, you know, there's this trickle down effect.

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Yeah, and so we have to be creative about that.

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Tax issues, your hourglass, yeah, absolutely.

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One strategy or the factor in taxes is business growth

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and economic development.

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How do you see that as a candidate, as a citizen,

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how do you see the interplay between economic development

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and taxation, but also just on its own?

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I mean, economic development is huge.

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I mean, again, I often will ask people

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when I'm door knocking.

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What are the things that people think of

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when they think of cloquet and or Carlton County?

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And this isn't to say one thing or another,

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but they'll think people remember Gordies.

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And so if that's the one thing

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people remember about our area, we have to do better. Because there are so many different

429
00:33:47,360 --> 00:33:54,720
businesses that already exist, so much industry that already exists, and so that tells me

430
00:33:54,720 --> 00:34:03,340
that we have to elevate what we already have, and we have to incentivize others to come into this area.

431
00:34:04,220 --> 00:34:10,460
Again, through door knocking, I've found that many of our neighbors in the county, they are working

432
00:34:10,460 --> 00:34:15,760
outside of Carlton County but they live here because it's cheaper because of our

433
00:34:15,760 --> 00:34:21,560
schools here because of their vicinity to families but often when you work

434
00:34:21,560 --> 00:34:26,060
summer that's where you spend your money that's where you might go to dinner after

435
00:34:26,060 --> 00:34:31,080
work that's where you might get your groceries anyway back home and so how do we

436
00:34:31,080 --> 00:34:37,280
increase the economic development within our county area so that people stay here

437
00:34:37,280 --> 00:34:42,660
and spend their money, and that they're able to spend their money here rather than going elsewhere.

438
00:34:43,520 --> 00:34:49,800
And so I think when with economic development, it's so crucial for a thriving county.

439
00:34:51,320 --> 00:35:02,380
And there are, there are different programs around like tax incentive finances, it's

440
00:35:03,780 --> 00:35:24,560
And so what that does is it looks at an area and it divides it into different districts and it looks at how can we make improvements in those areas with different funding based on taxation and incentives to improve those and elevate those areas.

441
00:35:24,560 --> 00:35:31,400
And so I am a major fan of economic developments.

442
00:35:32,920 --> 00:35:39,340
And again, it's not just how to, I mean, a lot of people will share, like, they want

443
00:35:39,340 --> 00:35:49,360
an extra restaurant, they want an extra, you know, anything to keep them able to spend

444
00:35:49,360 --> 00:35:50,120
their money here.

445
00:35:50,120 --> 00:35:53,440
I also look at things that are like incubator programs,

446
00:35:53,940 --> 00:35:59,880
like having a site in an area, or areas across the county,

447
00:36:00,080 --> 00:36:07,980
where we can provide spaces for small businesses to be incubated,

448
00:36:08,140 --> 00:36:10,680
and have people be able to come there,

449
00:36:11,140 --> 00:36:13,200
and start that economic growth.

450
00:36:13,640 --> 00:36:16,680
For folks that might not have the ability to go downtown,

451
00:36:17,660 --> 00:36:19,240
and purchase something and rent something.

452
00:36:19,240 --> 00:36:24,320
because there is that risk there. So I'll pause there. But yeah, that's great. Appreciate that.

453
00:36:26,800 --> 00:36:29,940
So onto some specific issues that the county is facing.

454
00:36:30,760 --> 00:36:35,280
One of the top issues that we hear about, and I'm sure you hear about it as you

455
00:36:35,280 --> 00:36:36,580
Dorna August child care.

456
00:36:37,060 --> 00:36:42,100
And it's been described to me as a child care crisis and a lack of daycare spots in the county.

457
00:36:43,100 --> 00:36:46,920
What kind of role might the county play in that? And what are your thoughts on that as a candidate?

458
00:36:46,920 --> 00:37:00,480
I mean, I look at things in a sense of like, just as much as we're looking at our aging population, we have to look at that beginning of life population. They're not voters.

459
00:37:01,280 --> 00:37:14,900
So even more, we have to look to it. We could ask more questions about that, but you know, we have to look for our population that doesn't have a voice and that's our children and our youth.

460
00:37:14,900 --> 00:37:25,500
And so, again, when it comes to a lack of, we'll say, child care infrastructure, I believe

461
00:37:25,500 --> 00:37:34,800
the county has the ability to work across governance and other partners, whether it be foundations

462
00:37:34,800 --> 00:37:44,860
and our local tribal community to look at creative ways to increase child care outside of

463
00:37:44,860 --> 00:37:51,580
maybe a traditional child care center. It could be looking to our employers that have an

464
00:37:51,580 --> 00:38:00,580
X amount of employees and saying, how can we incentivize you to increase or to have on-site

465
00:38:00,580 --> 00:38:08,700
child care for your employees. We can look at things such as even mobile child care units.

466
00:38:09,160 --> 00:38:18,900
Again, it sounds maybe untraditional, but these days we have to meet people where they are at.

467
00:38:19,880 --> 00:38:25,720
And if that means that there's a neighborhood that needs child care, how do we, you know,

468
00:38:25,720 --> 00:38:30,000
bring something like a mobile child care unit there.

469
00:38:30,840 --> 00:38:40,140
You know, I think that there's the ability to work with community grants again to provide child care co-ops.

470
00:38:41,300 --> 00:38:46,680
And it could be someone, you know, it also increases like who's doing child care as well.

471
00:38:46,860 --> 00:38:48,680
You know, we have a lot of aging population.

472
00:38:49,060 --> 00:38:53,660
You know, I think of my own mother who has supported child care throughout her days.

473
00:38:53,660 --> 00:38:59,760
but being able to open our home and say, okay, I can serve four kids or, you know,

474
00:38:59,860 --> 00:39:08,080
ex-kids. And the county can do their part in saying, how can we help license you and provide those start-up?

475
00:39:08,340 --> 00:39:14,960
We'll say for child care. And I think that would help to alleviate the crisis that you're referring to.

476
00:39:15,460 --> 00:39:16,480
Thank you for that.

477
00:39:16,480 --> 00:39:22,940
Yeah, it's not all doom and gloom, but they're crisis that's been described as housing.

478
00:39:24,040 --> 00:39:31,720
And not just working class, but affordable housing and housing across the spectrum is

479
00:39:31,720 --> 00:39:35,060
another potential crisis or certain issue.

480
00:39:35,540 --> 00:39:38,600
And the city and county have both done housing studies.

481
00:39:39,300 --> 00:39:43,880
What are your thoughts on what those studies indicate and what role as a county board member

482
00:39:43,880 --> 00:39:48,500
and as Tony board, would you see in addressing the need for housing?

483
00:39:49,340 --> 00:40:04,640
So I'm not familiar with the studies that have been done up to date, but so my prior part of my career has been spent in supporting the unhoused for native populations in Seattle.

484
00:40:04,640 --> 00:40:20,700
And so, working with our most at risk that are living on the streets, or there's also what we refer to as over housed, where you might have a dwelling that is for two to three people, but there might be eight people.

485
00:40:21,640 --> 00:40:29,040
And this is something that I honestly believe is more than likely in Minnesota because of our below zero weather.

486
00:40:29,040 --> 00:40:38,200
And so housing is something that's near-endured to me, it really is, and so as a county commissioner,

487
00:40:39,120 --> 00:40:45,900
I have a huge responsibility to ensure that we're looking at creative housing opportunities.

488
00:40:47,340 --> 00:40:52,860
And partnering, again, partnering with our city, partnering with our local tribal community,

489
00:40:52,860 --> 00:41:01,500
And looking at creative solutions, there's inclusionary zoning, which looks to ensure a percentage

490
00:41:01,500 --> 00:41:08,940
of new development is for affordable housing, for mixed income housing, and it provides

491
00:41:08,940 --> 00:41:12,700
that opportunity for low to moderate income.

492
00:41:13,620 --> 00:41:20,900
Again, as I've door knock across our county district, I've come to find people who, again,

493
00:41:20,900 --> 00:41:28,300
making choices or not even able to make choices based on our age and population who they

494
00:41:28,300 --> 00:41:29,820
might have a four-bedroom house.

495
00:41:30,440 --> 00:41:36,680
And so, but they're not able to get into something that's maybe a two-bedroom lower

496
00:41:36,680 --> 00:41:40,320
maintenance because it's at the same price.

497
00:41:40,660 --> 00:41:49,200
And so, how do we incentivize people to come in and provide housing that meets what that study

498
00:41:49,200 --> 00:41:59,260
has shown us to say, OK, we need more to bedroom under this amount to provide the needs

499
00:41:59,260 --> 00:42:08,900
for low income, mixed income, fixed income, and whatnot, and so there's also examples

500
00:42:08,900 --> 00:42:17,300
of community land trust. There's the one roof housing organization out of Duluth who they

501
00:42:17,300 --> 00:42:21,640
We look to a choir and manage land just for affordable housing.

502
00:42:23,280 --> 00:42:29,860
And so I look to working with organizations to provide housing options.

503
00:42:31,260 --> 00:42:35,960
But overall, yes, housing is a huge responsibility of chronic commissioners.

504
00:42:37,280 --> 00:42:42,480
And it's something that it excites me to find opportunities and options for our residents

505
00:42:42,480 --> 00:42:47,280
who have lived here their whole entire lives so that they do not have to make

506
00:42:48,560 --> 00:42:55,560
have to make options to leave and or live with families sooner than they would like to.

507
00:42:56,680 --> 00:42:57,980
So yeah, I'll pause there.

508
00:42:58,220 --> 00:42:59,200
Thank you for that question.

509
00:43:00,720 --> 00:43:02,400
Let's change subjects here.

510
00:43:02,800 --> 00:43:07,920
And the criminal justice is one of the biggest jobs of the county and the biggest expenses,

511
00:43:08,040 --> 00:43:12,060
accordingly, as is the case in every county in the state.

512
00:43:12,760 --> 00:43:16,000
What can be done at the county level to make the criminal justice system and

513
00:43:16,000 --> 00:43:18,640
County as efficient and effective as possible.

514
00:43:19,460 --> 00:43:24,900
Yeah, I mean, again, one of the things that I applaud our county right now is within their

515
00:43:24,900 --> 00:43:33,300
restorative justice program. So this is something that was for youth, or started for youth,

516
00:43:33,380 --> 00:43:41,520
and now it's started to extend to the ages of 18 to 26. And so I applaud that program because

517
00:43:43,040 --> 00:43:53,060
While it also reduces has the ability to reduce crime, it also has the ability to reduce

518
00:43:53,660 --> 00:43:54,940
for lack of a better words.

519
00:43:55,400 --> 00:44:07,120
The taxation on the county, as far as it helps youth to, for us to help you find other

520
00:44:07,120 --> 00:44:17,420
options before we put them into other of our criminal justice programs that might

521
00:44:17,420 --> 00:44:24,600
harness the record for much longer. And it reduces recidivism. Sorry, that's my

522
00:44:24,600 --> 00:44:30,560
word. I don't use all the time. But in general, I mean, I think that our criminal

523
00:44:30,560 --> 00:44:41,060
justice system can create and maintain healthy relationships with our law enforcement across

524
00:44:41,060 --> 00:44:49,720
the county, across the cities that are within our county, to work to prevent and chip

525
00:44:49,720 --> 00:44:59,760
promote that community growth and I look to community police and initiatives and things

526
00:44:59,760 --> 00:44:59,940
Thanks for watching.

527
00:45:00,000 --> 00:45:08,460
And I guess help prevent people to have to move through our community, or criminal justice system.

528
00:45:09,380 --> 00:45:18,580
Thank you. Another issue, and it may be related. Here's what your thoughts on that is, drugs and substance abuse.

529
00:45:19,420 --> 00:45:26,220
Is that a problem you see in Carlton County? And if so, what are some thoughts on how we tackle that issue?

530
00:45:26,220 --> 00:45:28,560
It really, you know, easy questions.

531
00:45:28,940 --> 00:45:38,400
I mean, it absolutely is something that is something that is present in Carlton County.

532
00:45:39,570 --> 00:45:42,780
It's also present across all of rural America.

533
00:45:43,420 --> 00:45:51,300
And so we can't think that we are not a part of an epidemic that's happening when it comes

534
00:45:51,300 --> 00:45:56,620
to drugs and mental health and substance abuse.

535
00:45:58,040 --> 00:46:03,140
Again, I think that there,

536
00:46:06,420 --> 00:46:07,800
in this topic in general,

537
00:46:08,460 --> 00:46:11,220
when it comes to, we'll say drugs.

538
00:46:13,040 --> 00:46:15,980
We have a great opportunity as a county to partner

539
00:46:15,980 --> 00:46:19,740
with local law enforcement, Minnesota State Patrol,

540
00:46:19,740 --> 00:46:31,360
So because we are at a corridor of Highway 33, 210, Highway 35, we're in Highway 2, where

541
00:46:31,360 --> 00:46:34,440
drugs trafficking is going through our area.

542
00:46:34,840 --> 00:46:41,140
And so how do we work with those to stop drugs from coming in and out of our area?

543
00:46:42,060 --> 00:46:53,160
But, yeah, working closely with not only local law enforcement, but our county health

544
00:46:53,160 --> 00:47:00,560
and human services, our tribal health and human services, to look at options for substance abuse

545
00:47:00,560 --> 00:47:07,660
and how do we double down on programs that support that so that people are not going back

546
00:47:07,660 --> 00:47:15,500
to drug use and I've seen a lot of it across our county and it's very personal to me and

547
00:47:15,500 --> 00:47:22,260
I think it's important that we double down on substance abuse, in working with people who

548
00:47:22,260 --> 00:47:29,780
are active in substance abuse, I don't think people really want to be living a life with

549
00:47:29,780 --> 00:47:35,700
substance abuse, but it's how do we wrap around them to support them so there's a lot

550
00:47:35,700 --> 00:47:40,280
partnerships. Yeah, I'll do that. And again, we're here with Caleb Dunlap, his candidate

551
00:47:40,280 --> 00:47:43,880
for County Commissioner. Just a couple of questions left, and we'll give you the chance

552
00:47:43,880 --> 00:47:50,520
to close. What makes a good County Commissioner? What kind of skills do you think needs

553
00:47:50,520 --> 00:47:54,920
need to bridge the candidate or the Commissioner need to bring to the table in order to succeed

554
00:47:54,920 --> 00:48:01,280
at the job? I honestly believe someone who's very transparent, someone who is going to

555
00:48:01,280 --> 00:48:11,010
to not place the blame or pass the buck to someone else, but is really transparent about

556
00:48:11,010 --> 00:48:17,770
what's going on, what they can control, what they can advocate for, and so transparency

557
00:48:17,770 --> 00:48:25,790
is really big, budgetary skills are, you know, it's huge, like we have so much oversight over

558
00:48:25,790 --> 00:48:32,570
budgets, I was talking about that kind of, that hourglass, we're revenue funnel through what needs

559
00:48:32,570 --> 00:48:40,510
the county has and its relationship to the overall state budget and so having budgetary

560
00:48:42,110 --> 00:48:45,270
understandings is important, I believe.

561
00:48:46,870 --> 00:48:54,310
And someone who can really relate, I shouldn't even say relate, someone who can work across,

562
00:48:55,050 --> 00:48:59,630
not only because I'm one of five other commissioners, four other commissioners.

563
00:48:59,630 --> 00:49:07,190
And so one that can, if they are a dissenting voice, and they say no, that the understand

564
00:49:07,190 --> 00:49:12,830
why they're saying no, and they can essentially teach and advocate to the others about their

565
00:49:12,830 --> 00:49:13,250
decision.

566
00:49:14,730 --> 00:49:24,190
So someone who works well with others, and someone who also is aware and can work across government

567
00:49:24,190 --> 00:49:34,010
sectors and other entities like foundations and whatnot. So just someone who has a bigger vision

568
00:49:34,010 --> 00:49:40,390
to say who can we when we need to turn to say the state budget comes back and says hey we're

569
00:49:40,390 --> 00:49:47,010
providing this you have this okay what do we do now so someone who's like creative can work across

570
00:49:47,010 --> 00:49:52,870
the table you know someone who can work across government sectors and other community entities

571
00:49:53,750 --> 00:49:58,770
is someone who's transparent and someone who's committed to getting the job done.

572
00:49:59,970 --> 00:50:04,590
About a minute left, why don't you give your kind of closing argument, and why should

573
00:50:04,590 --> 00:50:05,370
people vote for you?

574
00:50:05,610 --> 00:50:06,150
Absolutely.

575
00:50:09,570 --> 00:50:18,050
Again, I find that throughout my career, I've had the opportunity to work again, like I've

576
00:50:18,050 --> 00:50:22,070
with those that are unhoused on the streets of worked in public health.

577
00:50:23,330 --> 00:50:27,550
I also spent almost a decade working with Amazon

578
00:50:27,550 --> 00:50:32,870
at their headquarters working on global economic initiatives.

579
00:50:33,590 --> 00:50:38,370
And so I want to bring that back to our communities here.

580
00:50:38,750 --> 00:50:41,730
I want to see our county thrive.

581
00:50:42,970 --> 00:50:47,310
And I honestly, you know, as a tribal member,

582
00:50:47,310 --> 00:50:53,630
a native person from this area. I always tell people that, and this goes to myself is, I'm not

583
00:50:53,630 --> 00:50:59,290
going anywhere. You know, this is my home lands, and I can't pick them up and bring them to

584
00:50:59,290 --> 00:51:05,990
Michigan or to Mexico, anywhere. This is our home lands, and I want to see it thrive, and that

585
00:51:05,990 --> 00:51:15,810
includes everyone in the area. And so I also would ask people to vote for me based on that I'm

586
00:51:15,810 --> 00:51:21,610
they're knocking on doors. It's probably the most uncomfortable thing for

587
00:51:21,610 --> 00:51:28,550
both people but I would say it's my superpower because I love that I can earn

588
00:51:28,550 --> 00:51:33,070
trust with a person at their doorway and find out what matters most to them

589
00:51:33,070 --> 00:51:38,390
within a very short amount of time and it's my responsibility to take those

590
00:51:39,090 --> 00:51:45,750
concerns and what matters and do something with it and for them.

591
00:51:47,930 --> 00:51:48,870
And so, again, I'd

592
00:51:48,870 --> 00:51:53,270
ask that people see that commitment to door-knocking and finding out what those issues

593
00:51:55,210 --> 00:52:01,690
are after the doorway and allow people to see that that's what I'll do as a commissioner

594
00:52:01,690 --> 00:52:06,050
is understand your concerns and really fight for them, honestly.

595
00:52:06,050 --> 00:52:18,890
Well, on behalf of the Cook area chamber and residents who are watching this, thank you so much for taking the time today, and we look forward to the rest of your candidacy, and I bet you're excited to the election day to come and go.

596
00:52:19,750 --> 00:52:21,030
Thank you very much.

597
00:52:21,290 --> 00:52:22,190
Good to see you.

598
00:52:23,230 --> 00:52:26,590
And we'll be taking a short break while we bring in another candidate.

599
00:52:27,230 --> 00:52:28,010
And thank you very much.

600
00:52:28,130 --> 00:52:28,630
We'll see you shortly.

601
00:52:29,350 --> 00:52:29,990
All right.

602
00:52:30,050 --> 00:52:30,910
I got here.

603
00:52:31,050 --> 00:52:31,850
Well, very good.

604
00:52:32,090 --> 00:52:32,650
Have you ready?

605
00:52:32,870 --> 00:52:33,910
All right.

606
00:52:34,550 --> 00:52:39,950
Welcome, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome back. So my name is Mike Franklin, and I'm here

607
00:52:39,950 --> 00:52:44,650
at the invitation of the Koke area Chamber to conduct interviews with candidates today,

608
00:52:45,110 --> 00:52:49,510
and I'm pleased to be joined by Pete Redosovich. Pete is a candidate for the Minnesota House.

609
00:52:51,130 --> 00:52:55,290
Like Pete, if you could, just introduce yourself and give a brief opening statement. So folks,

610
00:52:55,430 --> 00:52:59,830
know who you are. Sure. I'm Pete Redosovich. I'm an attorney. My office is Alvin Escov,

611
00:52:59,830 --> 00:53:04,610
I've been working here in Cloquet area for over the last 25 years or so as an attorney,

612
00:53:04,770 --> 00:53:09,050
I started at the Newby office, while I've been in town, I've been involved in just

613
00:53:09,050 --> 00:53:11,410
to what everything there is to be involved in in our community.

614
00:53:12,110 --> 00:53:16,670
Most notably I started a restaurant, Esco, called Esco Pizza Pais, that was about 20,

615
00:53:16,930 --> 00:53:19,990
some years ago, recently sold that place.

616
00:53:20,890 --> 00:53:24,870
I also started a newspaper a few years ago called The Pine Not News, with the Janiputers

617
00:53:24,870 --> 00:53:29,750
in Rose 2, and that newspaper is really just brought back a local news source to the

618
00:53:29,750 --> 00:53:35,090
community. I also operate at 7 on behalf of the city so the channel that you're watching this

619
00:53:35,090 --> 00:53:39,030
on is the station that I help operate a little stepping back when I'm running for office.

620
00:53:39,630 --> 00:53:43,490
The reason I'm running is I'm very involved in the community and I want to serve the good

621
00:53:43,490 --> 00:53:48,870
people of Carlton County, the rest of 11A. And I also am running because the guy who's got the

622
00:53:48,870 --> 00:53:52,970
job now just isn't really, he's not really doing a very good job. He doesn't really quite

623
00:53:52,970 --> 00:53:58,230
understand how the system works. He's been ineffective in the legislature and it's really

624
00:53:58,230 --> 00:54:05,090
in our community, most notably for the funding for the jail, which was, we had a $23 million

625
00:54:05,090 --> 00:54:13,710
funding fund for our jail construction, and he kind of blew that and ended up getting $10 million

626
00:54:13,710 --> 00:54:18,230
but only with the help of county commissioners and a representative from a different district.

627
00:54:18,670 --> 00:54:19,470
It was actually bizarre.

628
00:54:20,370 --> 00:54:24,070
And you'll hear him later today take credit for the $10 million that he got.

629
00:54:24,070 --> 00:54:29,910
When actually it was Dave Liz, the guy who got 10 million, what he should be taking credit for is losing the $23 million.

630
00:54:30,710 --> 00:54:33,370
And I can tell you that if I had been in the legislature, that would not have happened.

631
00:54:33,850 --> 00:54:35,970
But that's why I'm running. I want to serve the community.

632
00:54:36,650 --> 00:54:38,810
People who know me know that that's what I do.

633
00:54:39,190 --> 00:54:43,150
They know that I'm a Democrat, but that I'm a moderate who listens to all sides.

634
00:54:43,590 --> 00:54:52,230
And I try to find solutions rather than shut slogans and say all the things that you hear on the TV stations and all the other candidates are saying,

635
00:54:52,230 --> 00:54:55,090
I really do solve problems and that's why I'm running for the legislature.

636
00:54:55,790 --> 00:54:56,130
Very good.

637
00:54:56,310 --> 00:54:57,290
Thank you for that.

638
00:54:57,810 --> 00:55:02,310
This is the Chamber of Commerce question on business climate, you know, as a business

639
00:55:02,310 --> 00:55:06,650
person, what would you say to other businesses on the need for a competitive business climate

640
00:55:06,650 --> 00:55:11,490
in Minnesota and how can we work to improve on that competitiveness if you're in the legislature

641
00:55:11,490 --> 00:55:12,070
next year?

642
00:55:13,370 --> 00:55:19,090
We know that there's a balance between government and business and it's a delicate balance

643
00:55:19,090 --> 00:55:22,030
that it's essential to keep things moving smoothly.

644
00:55:22,910 --> 00:55:24,210
I'm a pro-business Democrat.

645
00:55:24,410 --> 00:55:27,010
I believe that businesses supply the jobs

646
00:55:27,810 --> 00:55:30,090
and the economic opportunities in our community

647
00:55:30,090 --> 00:55:31,210
that are desperate and needed,

648
00:55:31,210 --> 00:55:33,330
especially in a rural community like Carlton County.

649
00:55:34,050 --> 00:55:35,910
And so I understand that what we need to do

650
00:55:35,910 --> 00:55:38,350
is make sure that we foster our policy

651
00:55:38,350 --> 00:55:40,450
towards developing businesses

652
00:55:40,450 --> 00:55:42,610
and allowing smaller businesses to grow,

653
00:55:42,870 --> 00:55:44,490
as well as taking care of the large businesses

654
00:55:44,490 --> 00:55:45,290
in our community.

655
00:55:46,130 --> 00:55:48,510
I'm constantly pro-laver, and I'm going to tell you

656
00:55:48,510 --> 00:55:51,370
something I've noticed when I ran for the legislature two years ago.

657
00:55:51,690 --> 00:55:55,310
So I'm driving off through Carlton County, I'm going up people's driveways, I'm out

658
00:55:55,310 --> 00:55:59,730
in the middle of nowhere and you drive up the person's driveway and they're at a nice

659
00:55:59,730 --> 00:56:02,750
driveway and you pull up and they've got playground equipment and they've got a nice

660
00:56:02,750 --> 00:56:07,950
house and then you ask what they do for a living and they say, well, I work at Sapy or I work

661
00:56:07,950 --> 00:56:14,590
at USG and it dawned on me a couple of months later when my kids and I were driving through

662
00:56:14,590 --> 00:56:18,190
rural West Virginia where the conditions are horrible.

663
00:56:18,690 --> 00:56:22,970
People live in Tahrshak houses and they have terrible health problems.

664
00:56:23,870 --> 00:56:26,730
And everything looks just like it's been in the war zone.

665
00:56:27,190 --> 00:56:30,750
And my kids are saying, well, they have the same industry here in West Virginia.

666
00:56:30,950 --> 00:56:35,450
Mining in that type of thing is we haven't located wood products and the differences

667
00:56:37,230 --> 00:56:39,010
organized collective bargaining.

668
00:56:39,810 --> 00:56:46,510
And so what we know is that when we have strong, collective bargaining, organized labor, that

669
00:56:46,510 --> 00:56:52,130
they work with the businesses to provide good solid jobs that bring up our entire community.

670
00:56:53,090 --> 00:56:57,190
And the beauty of the system is that the people who own the factories are still rich.

671
00:56:57,690 --> 00:57:03,850
So we know that there's a way that people can invest and develop their businesses, even large

672
00:57:03,850 --> 00:57:04,930
businesses like Sapy.

673
00:57:04,990 --> 00:57:07,290
A few years ago, Sapy was ready to move out of town.

674
00:57:07,290 --> 00:57:12,670
And they decided they would rather stay in Koke, pay the high Minnesota taxes, pay the high

675
00:57:12,670 --> 00:57:16,490
Minnesota wages, because the workforce was so good, it was to their benefit.

676
00:57:17,630 --> 00:57:22,070
Sappy was ready to move out of town and decided they would rather invest, I don't remember

677
00:57:22,070 --> 00:57:25,210
what it was, a small fortune in the Koke community.

678
00:57:25,610 --> 00:57:27,230
And the reason is that we've got a good workforce.

679
00:57:27,310 --> 00:57:31,590
So when you grab our own Carlton County and you see the benefits of organized labor and

680
00:57:31,590 --> 00:57:36,710
collective bargaining and the benefits of the business owners have by having such a good

681
00:57:36,710 --> 00:57:40,750
all that workforce, it brings the entire community up, which is why

682
00:57:40,750 --> 00:57:43,470
Carole McCombie and 11A is such a great place to live in work.

683
00:57:44,450 --> 00:57:45,210
Thank you for that answer.

684
00:57:46,490 --> 00:57:50,470
On-to-government spending, there's been large increases in spending.

685
00:57:50,710 --> 00:57:54,010
I don't think that's a subjective statement in the past couple of years.

686
00:57:54,490 --> 00:57:59,330
In fact, our budget forecast now shows growth, spending growth, rather, outpacing revenue

687
00:57:59,330 --> 00:57:59,910
growth.

688
00:58:00,870 --> 00:58:06,110
If you were to take office in a deficit situation, how do you balance that, how do you

689
00:58:06,110 --> 00:58:08,190
where that circle from your perspective?

690
00:58:08,590 --> 00:58:09,870
Well, here's what happened.

691
00:58:10,430 --> 00:58:15,230
We had a healthy business climate, post-COVID things

692
00:58:15,230 --> 00:58:15,950
started getting better.

693
00:58:16,130 --> 00:58:18,390
We had all this projected budget surplus.

694
00:58:18,910 --> 00:58:22,630
And the legislature decided this was a good time to spend it.

695
00:58:22,710 --> 00:58:25,110
And I was opposed to the massive amount of spending

696
00:58:25,110 --> 00:58:26,950
that the rest of my caucus did.

697
00:58:27,150 --> 00:58:27,830
You'll hear ads.

698
00:58:28,010 --> 00:58:28,750
They're formula ads.

699
00:58:28,810 --> 00:58:29,370
You hear them on the rate.

700
00:58:29,610 --> 00:58:33,230
And they say, Pete Redosovich spent $730 million on an office building.

701
00:58:33,650 --> 00:58:35,590
Pete Redosovich is going to take your social security.

702
00:58:35,590 --> 00:58:40,610
the Pete Redosovich will do all these terrible things with the tax increases and they're laughable

703
00:58:40,610 --> 00:58:44,790
because had it been in the legislature when the stuff was happening, I would have advocated

704
00:58:44,790 --> 00:58:47,050
for a larger return of the budget surplus.

705
00:58:47,210 --> 00:58:51,250
When I was campaigning, I said that we should be returning the third of that money to the people

706
00:58:51,250 --> 00:58:52,890
and had it been in the legislature.

707
00:58:52,890 --> 00:58:59,890
I would have advocated and worked hard to get the Democrat trifecta to return a third of that budget surplus

708
00:58:59,890 --> 00:59:03,550
to the people in the form of tax breaks and refunds because that's where it belonged.

709
00:59:03,550 --> 00:59:08,630
And then a third of that money should have been spent on projects and investments.

710
00:59:08,970 --> 00:59:11,670
It's the same thing you would do if you got a big bonus at the end of the year.

711
00:59:11,910 --> 00:59:13,030
You put some money aside.

712
00:59:13,330 --> 00:59:14,350
You might build that new porch.

713
00:59:14,530 --> 00:59:15,190
You've always wanted.

714
00:59:15,610 --> 00:59:17,690
It replaced the refrigerator that's getting old.

715
00:59:18,370 --> 00:59:22,150
And then you, that's what you would do with such a big bonus.

716
00:59:22,150 --> 00:59:24,430
And that's what we should have done with the surplus.

717
00:59:25,270 --> 00:59:29,390
Had it been a part of that process I could have advocated more fiercely to get that accomplished.

718
00:59:30,030 --> 00:59:30,750
And I would have.

719
00:59:30,750 --> 00:59:35,010
the guy who's got the job now is going to come in next and he's going to complain about how

720
00:59:35,010 --> 00:59:39,010
the Democrats spent the money, but he wasn't the legislature and he didn't do a thing about it.

721
00:59:39,090 --> 00:59:42,710
All he's going to do is complain about how ineffective he was but blame somebody else.

722
00:59:44,070 --> 00:59:50,310
Thank you for that answer. On that tax side of the equation, Minnesota has four individual

723
00:59:50,310 --> 00:59:56,490
and contacts rates, the top rate of which 9.85% is 6 highest in the nation.

724
00:59:56,490 --> 00:59:59,890
if this tax does continue to generate.

725
01:00:00,000 --> 01:00:29,840
Owing rates is important, or something else with that. Minnesota is a high tax state, but it's also a high quality state of living. We have good education systems. We've got good transportation. We've got a high quality of living. We've got clean government. One of the beautiful things about Minnesota is that we are high taxed, but we have clean government. We don't want to trade lower taxes for dirty government. Do you want low taxes? Well, live in a place like West Virginia where you can't drive on the roads where we don't take care of the people who are sick or ill.

726
01:00:30,000 --> 01:00:36,920
we've got crooked government, we do, we do have high taxes in Minnesota, that's true, and I do

727
01:00:36,920 --> 01:00:43,900
think that we need to reduce the tax burden on Minnesotans. So, you know, you talk about the

728
01:00:43,900 --> 01:00:49,140
four tax brackets, I think the tax brackets are probably appropriate, what I do think is that

729
01:00:49,140 --> 01:00:53,820
it's smart to sort of move those numbers up a little bit. You're going to hear people say

730
01:00:53,820 --> 01:00:59,080
anecdotally that people are moving from Minnesota because of the high taxes, and that's BS,

731
01:00:59,080 --> 01:01:00,600
That's just not really happening.

732
01:01:02,680 --> 01:01:06,700
Businesses and corporations, especially the big ones in Minnesota, are reinvested in Minnesota.

733
01:01:07,020 --> 01:01:08,200
They want to stay here.

734
01:01:09,220 --> 01:01:14,220
So to me, it seems the smart thing to do is to make sure that the money that we are taxing

735
01:01:14,220 --> 01:01:17,000
our citizens is being spent efficiently and effectively.

736
01:01:17,840 --> 01:01:21,380
And when that happens, we will see growth and we will see slightly lower taxes.

737
01:01:22,260 --> 01:01:29,060
I agree, Minnesota taxes are too high, but you're not going to hear me say that we need to

738
01:01:29,060 --> 01:01:31,300
the quality of life that we really do have here in Minnesota.

739
01:01:32,080 --> 01:01:33,240
Thank you for that answer.

740
01:01:34,240 --> 01:01:34,900
Moving on.

741
01:01:35,280 --> 01:01:36,360
Education and childcare.

742
01:01:37,080 --> 01:01:41,320
Perhaps one of the biggest, if not the biggest line items in the state budget goes to

743
01:01:41,320 --> 01:01:42,160
our K12 system.

744
01:01:43,120 --> 01:01:46,940
Would you think that's an appropriate level or what thoughts might you bring to bear on

745
01:01:46,940 --> 01:01:48,320
K12 spending should you be elected?

746
01:01:48,940 --> 01:01:52,820
Well, education in Minnesota is a core government function.

747
01:01:53,060 --> 01:01:56,100
It's one of the things that the government is supposed to do, we're supposed to

748
01:01:56,100 --> 01:02:01,120
are children. In addition, we're supposed to protect them with fire and police protection.

749
01:02:01,600 --> 01:02:05,240
We're supposed to provide transportation. We're supposed to take care of those who need

750
01:02:05,240 --> 01:02:09,040
help the most through our welfare systems. We should be taking care of our youngest

751
01:02:09,040 --> 01:02:14,440
people and our oldest people in society. So the idea that we have a good strong

752
01:02:14,440 --> 01:02:19,160
public education system that's available for all is really kind of central to my campaign.

753
01:02:19,440 --> 01:02:23,400
I fully firmly, that one of the reasons Minnesota's such a great place to live

754
01:02:23,400 --> 01:02:29,200
because we're willing to invest in quality public education, and the benefits of that benefit

755
01:02:29,200 --> 01:02:33,440
more than just the students who are getting the education is benefit society as a whole.

756
01:02:33,960 --> 01:02:39,800
We know that when we spend money on education in the early years, we see a direct correlation

757
01:02:39,800 --> 01:02:44,300
between a lower number of people who are incarcerated in needing social services in their later

758
01:02:44,300 --> 01:02:49,200
years. It's an easy investment to make. It's really easy to point to the schools and say we can

759
01:02:49,200 --> 01:02:56,040
save money there, but it's a short term, last short term vision.

760
01:02:56,320 --> 01:03:00,140
I'm a long term vision kind of person, I think that when we are structuring something

761
01:03:00,140 --> 01:03:04,180
as big and powerful as the Minnesota State Government, we need to be looking towards the long

762
01:03:04,180 --> 01:03:04,400
term.

763
01:03:04,800 --> 01:03:05,960
So I value education.

764
01:03:06,020 --> 01:03:07,320
I think Minnesota is doing as well.

765
01:03:07,480 --> 01:03:10,300
It's one of the reasons our state is such a great place to live.

766
01:03:10,820 --> 01:03:16,300
One issue you might hear from superintendents, even after the historic investment in schools,

767
01:03:16,300 --> 01:03:20,920
is that along with it came a historic number of new mandates on our schools, what are your thoughts

768
01:03:20,920 --> 01:03:25,560
on that and do you agree with the premise first of all and if so, you know, kind of how

769
01:03:25,560 --> 01:03:27,900
do you square that circle with superintendents?

770
01:03:28,160 --> 01:03:32,900
Somewhat, these mandates are really a result, if that's very popular, they're a result

771
01:03:32,900 --> 01:03:35,340
of the template administration of the number of years ago.

772
01:03:35,680 --> 01:03:40,520
When Plenty and his administration was stuck with a huge, huge budget shortfall due to

773
01:03:40,520 --> 01:03:43,620
a decline in the economy, I felt bad for Tim Plenty.

774
01:03:43,620 --> 01:03:48,520
frankly, even as a Democrat, I thought plenty did a pretty decent job of trying to close that

775
01:03:48,520 --> 01:03:51,640
gap with his little pain as possible, which right off the pain as much as possible.

776
01:03:52,160 --> 01:03:54,920
But one of the tricks they use was what they call unfunded mandates.

777
01:03:55,340 --> 01:03:58,580
And you hear people whining and complaining about unfunded mandates all the time.

778
01:03:58,820 --> 01:04:01,300
Some of them are appropriate, many of them are not.

779
01:04:01,580 --> 01:04:04,700
But what it is, it's a government trick where the legislature says,

780
01:04:04,880 --> 01:04:09,620
we want, appropriately, we want better services for students with special needs.

781
01:04:09,620 --> 01:04:19,720
We want transportation projects in rural Minnesota to meet these certain designs and this is the way we wanted it to mandate if that's the way it's got to be done

782
01:04:19,720 --> 01:04:27,460
And then the tax dollars don't follow and the reason the tax dollars don't follow is because the legislature wants to pass the buck on to the counties

783
01:04:27,460 --> 01:04:36,000
So the legislature and Republicans are just as bad if not worse than Democrats at this but they say look we didn't raise the taxes and we increased the services

784
01:04:36,000 --> 01:04:38,960
Well, in the county board, it's got to go to their people and say,

785
01:04:39,100 --> 01:04:42,160
sorry, we have to raise property taxes to meet these unfunded mandates.

786
01:04:42,680 --> 01:04:44,380
So it's really just a lot of pointing fingers.

787
01:04:44,940 --> 01:04:47,820
The answer to this unfunded mandate problem is cooperation.

788
01:04:48,760 --> 01:04:53,680
The answer to this unfunded mandate problem is direct communication between representatives

789
01:04:53,680 --> 01:04:58,460
and the legislature like myself and the county boards and the cities and the other municipalities

790
01:04:58,460 --> 01:04:59,520
in our district.

791
01:04:59,980 --> 01:05:03,680
In a way that we can work those issues out before going to the legislature and forcing

792
01:05:03,680 --> 01:05:06,880
mandates on school districts, cities, townships, and counties.

793
01:05:07,640 --> 01:05:13,200
And as a representative, I think my years of practicing law on crowd and county shows that

794
01:05:13,200 --> 01:05:17,560
I will be working with all sides, whether they are Democrats or Republicans to make sure

795
01:05:17,560 --> 01:05:22,380
that we are passing an appropriate legislation that's going to work for all the people

796
01:05:22,380 --> 01:05:23,020
of the district.

797
01:05:23,460 --> 01:05:24,020
Thank you.

798
01:05:24,280 --> 01:05:29,980
We're here with Pete Redosovich, as a candidate for House and House District 11A, talking

799
01:05:29,980 --> 01:05:35,640
about education right now. One education, one follow up, education question, and then a bit

800
01:05:35,640 --> 01:05:40,680
of a transition. One of the accomplishments of the last legislature was the school meal

801
01:05:40,680 --> 01:05:46,700
and early childhood programs that was passed. Do you support those programs? And if the funding

802
01:05:46,700 --> 01:05:52,720
were to dry up from the federal government, for example, that arguably helped to underwrite

803
01:05:52,720 --> 01:05:58,260
those programs initially, where do you use... Not the school lunch programs. There's no federal

804
01:05:59,560 --> 01:06:05,560
Well, the school lunch program, it's funny because I hear Republicans whining about that all the time.

805
01:06:05,760 --> 01:06:09,500
Oh my gosh, what are we doing feeding the children out of horrible things to say?

806
01:06:09,780 --> 01:06:15,300
We send our kids to school for nearly eight hours a day and we're not going to give them lunch in the middle of it.

807
01:06:15,800 --> 01:06:16,260
That's absurd.

808
01:06:16,740 --> 01:06:22,960
No Republican, I know, ever goes to a conference outside the city and then is told at noon during their conference.

809
01:06:23,020 --> 01:06:24,260
That lunch is on your own.

810
01:06:24,500 --> 01:06:25,700
Did you bring lunch from home?

811
01:06:25,700 --> 01:06:29,220
They feed you, you go to a conference, they feed you, you go to school, we should feed them.

812
01:06:29,460 --> 01:06:32,480
It's really a fundamental thing that we feed in children.

813
01:06:32,640 --> 01:06:33,120
Do you have any kids?

814
01:06:33,420 --> 01:06:33,860
I have four.

815
01:06:33,920 --> 01:06:35,700
They get hungry all the time, I think.

816
01:06:35,820 --> 01:06:37,340
I'm going to send them to school without feeding them.

817
01:06:37,420 --> 01:06:37,940
What are you thinking?

818
01:06:38,180 --> 01:06:38,560
That's terrible.

819
01:06:39,240 --> 01:06:42,280
So it makes me laugh when that's the biggest thing Republicans can complain about.

820
01:06:42,580 --> 01:06:42,840
It's a democrat.

821
01:06:43,200 --> 01:06:43,900
They're feeding children.

822
01:06:44,300 --> 01:06:44,760
Oh, how horrible.

823
01:06:45,280 --> 01:06:46,860
So I firmly believe in the program.

824
01:06:47,220 --> 01:06:51,900
I will say that it needs to be worked on, though, because the food that kids are eating

825
01:06:51,900 --> 01:06:59,500
are done on a low-did basis and it really needs to be worked on foods really not very good

826
01:06:59,500 --> 01:07:03,800
most of the time or too much of the time I should say well let's go back to the early childhood

827
01:07:03,800 --> 01:07:11,740
issue when we get down to children who are there's there's all day kindergarten now and we

828
01:07:11,740 --> 01:07:19,920
want to see children in the school systems even earlier than that but the reason I support these

829
01:07:19,920 --> 01:07:25,240
of measures is because the key to rural economic development in places like Carleton County

830
01:07:25,240 --> 01:07:29,480
is the ability for people to have children, to families have children and both parents

831
01:07:29,480 --> 01:07:35,340
be allowed to work. What we often see is that a family will get started and they have children

832
01:07:35,340 --> 01:07:39,780
and it's typically the mother who stays home with the kids and then they decided to have a second

833
01:07:39,780 --> 01:07:45,840
child or even a third child and all of a sudden the mother is out of the workforce for 5, 6, 7, 8 years

834
01:07:45,840 --> 01:07:49,960
and they're early 20s, they're able back in the workforce until they're in their early 30s,

835
01:07:50,080 --> 01:07:54,960
that that much behind in the advancement of their careers, that's what they're planning to do.

836
01:07:55,560 --> 01:08:00,600
And we see a big disparity between women's income, the gender equity gap,

837
01:08:01,980 --> 01:08:06,560
income gap, and it's a lot of it is because it's difficult to find childcare. I personally know people

838
01:08:06,560 --> 01:08:12,480
in this community who don't work because they can't afford childcare or just doesn't make sense to

839
01:08:12,480 --> 01:08:19,140
work because child care is so expensive. So the idea that we could foster a community where

840
01:08:19,140 --> 01:08:23,900
child care is more readily readily available for people who want to go and work in the

841
01:08:23,900 --> 01:08:29,540
workforce at an earlier time. I'll tell you what my friend. I would like to have on my

842
01:08:29,540 --> 01:08:34,920
grave stone. I want to say Pete Redosovich solved the child care problem. That's what I wanted to say.

843
01:08:35,400 --> 01:08:40,000
And it's going to take long range of vision. You'll hear people who say what we need to do is

844
01:08:40,000 --> 01:08:45,080
of money at the childcare providers, and that might work for a couple of years, but then what?

845
01:08:45,160 --> 01:08:48,600
We see tax increases and the net gains don't equal the investment.

846
01:08:49,200 --> 01:08:54,940
We need to be thinking long-term what's setting up a structure where early childcare is available to

847
01:08:54,940 --> 01:08:57,560
families so that they are available to go and work and get to the workforce.

848
01:08:58,020 --> 01:09:00,480
We'll see an increase in rural economic development.

849
01:09:00,940 --> 01:09:04,780
We are going to see development in the rural communities if people are able to go to work.

850
01:09:05,320 --> 01:09:07,600
And in the long-term, we could solve that problem.

851
01:09:08,020 --> 01:09:08,660
Thank you, Pete.

852
01:09:08,660 --> 01:09:14,580
Moving on to healthcare, one of the top issues for gosh-a-generation now, one of the issues

853
01:09:14,580 --> 01:09:18,800
that was discussed at the legislature was a state or federally-run public option,

854
01:09:18,940 --> 01:09:22,860
while at the legislature, a state-run public option, various flavors of that that would be

855
01:09:22,860 --> 01:09:28,580
available to all people that would compete with the private sector or that would, in some

856
01:09:28,580 --> 01:09:33,680
versions of it, replace the private sector. What are your thoughts on one or more versions

857
01:09:33,680 --> 01:09:37,400
of what might be called a single pair or a Medicare for all type of a program?

858
01:09:37,400 --> 01:09:41,860
People who've watched my cable access TV show Harry's gang for many years or red men

859
01:09:41,860 --> 01:09:45,820
Newspaper calm, coincidentally also called Harry's gang even though my name is heat redocer

860
01:09:45,820 --> 01:09:48,080
I was on that show when I was a little bit

861
01:09:48,080 --> 01:09:54,560
With Harry with Harry grandpa newbie. Oh, very cool. We'll tell me why we were grandpa was a great guy

862
01:09:54,560 --> 01:09:59,160
I did a lot for my career here in Tom, but when if you if you if you familiar with that program

863
01:09:59,160 --> 01:10:04,180
Your failure if I view points on it. It took me a long time to come around to a single pair health care plan

864
01:10:04,180 --> 01:10:10,980
And I said for a long time that Obamacare was a good start, a poor program, but a good start.

865
01:10:11,540 --> 01:10:14,580
And we need to sort of have that wrong range of vision again.

866
01:10:15,960 --> 01:10:20,200
The Republicans are actually in favor of Obamacare.

867
01:10:20,460 --> 01:10:22,840
They're actually in favor of a single payer health plan.

868
01:10:23,260 --> 01:10:28,100
What they're angry about is that a Democrat and even a black Democrat came up with a process

869
01:10:28,100 --> 01:10:31,940
and had it named after him. That's really what they're upset about.

870
01:10:31,940 --> 01:10:41,920
So if we can figure out a way to work together and decide that we need to start working towards a solution to the health care problem in America and in Minnesota, we will come up with a solution.

871
01:10:42,300 --> 01:10:45,080
We got to pinpoint what the issues are and what the problem is.

872
01:10:45,440 --> 01:10:51,100
So I believe that again, just like child care, throwing too much of money at the problem is not going to solve the problem.

873
01:10:51,200 --> 01:10:53,580
What we need to do is that we need to have a long range vision.

874
01:10:53,980 --> 01:10:59,840
We need to have a goal that we will work towards on trying to ensure that more people are covered with health care.

875
01:10:59,840 --> 01:11:05,160
We know that after Obamacare came into place, what happened was people started living better and

876
01:11:05,160 --> 01:11:09,440
healthier lives and it was a success by that measure.

877
01:11:09,620 --> 01:11:14,040
We saw children doing better in schools because of it and we saw the reduced need for things

878
01:11:14,040 --> 01:11:18,580
like jails, juvenile dyslexia centers, and other social services programs, so it's a good

879
01:11:18,580 --> 01:11:19,120
investment.

880
01:11:19,700 --> 01:11:22,740
It just needs a lot of work, but I'll go back to child care.

881
01:11:23,180 --> 01:11:28,520
Much like I said child care is a key to rural economic development, so it's health care.

882
01:11:28,520 --> 01:11:36,380
If we can provide a more affordable health care option to people as well as childcare to people who want to work in the workforce,

883
01:11:36,900 --> 01:11:38,760
we will see rural economic development.

884
01:11:39,080 --> 01:11:41,220
We will see our small towns throughout Carlton County.

885
01:11:41,420 --> 01:11:46,260
Kindle River, Crownwell, Sturgeon Lake, Barnum.

886
01:11:46,400 --> 01:11:50,040
We will see an increase in people wanting to live and work in these areas,

887
01:11:50,300 --> 01:11:52,380
because they will be able to make a living doing it.

888
01:11:52,380 --> 01:11:56,980
And they will be able to provide adequate health care and schooling for their children.

889
01:11:56,980 --> 01:11:58,780
It's a win-win.

890
01:11:59,080 --> 01:12:01,320
And Obamacare was obviously a national program,

891
01:12:01,800 --> 01:12:03,160
but with heavy state involvement,

892
01:12:03,460 --> 01:12:05,720
you see Minnesota taking a next step,

893
01:12:06,380 --> 01:12:08,420
if you were elected, you would advocate for that.

894
01:12:08,500 --> 01:12:11,820
I would like to see a nice long-term strategy

895
01:12:11,820 --> 01:12:13,380
with a carefully laid-out plan

896
01:12:13,380 --> 01:12:15,820
that works towards a solution to the health care problem.

897
01:12:16,500 --> 01:12:17,340
Yes, absolutely.

898
01:12:17,900 --> 01:12:18,840
All right, thank you.

899
01:12:19,400 --> 01:12:22,940
The other side of the health is the human services.

900
01:12:23,360 --> 01:12:25,800
That's probably the second biggest line item

901
01:12:25,800 --> 01:12:31,660
in the state budget, what are there changes in that or it changes either to the funding

902
01:12:31,660 --> 01:12:35,980
or the programs that you'd like to see coming from the human services budget from the state?

903
01:12:36,360 --> 01:12:41,480
No, not specifically. As an attorney, I work in these systems fairly frequently and it

904
01:12:41,480 --> 01:12:47,720
is amazing to work that human services does in our community. We take care of people in so many

905
01:12:47,720 --> 01:12:51,880
different areas and so many different things, things that you don't even normally often

906
01:12:51,880 --> 01:12:55,380
think about. I'll give you a quick example. Do you know what civil commitment does when

907
01:12:55,380 --> 01:12:59,040
someone's exhibiting mental health issues so severe that they can't take care of themselves,

908
01:12:59,340 --> 01:13:01,220
they become a danger to themselves or others.

909
01:13:01,860 --> 01:13:07,940
In the Duluth area that we are in now, six to ten people a week are civilly committed.

910
01:13:08,400 --> 01:13:09,520
That's how many P is that crazy?

911
01:13:09,880 --> 01:13:14,660
I started working for the court system on these issues once in a while and I was shocked.

912
01:13:14,680 --> 01:13:19,900
I had no idea how much work that human services does in our community that we don't even

913
01:13:19,900 --> 01:13:21,140
know or think about.

914
01:13:21,140 --> 01:13:24,200
And we've got excellent service providers at these

915
01:13:24,200 --> 01:13:25,520
stuff here in Northeastern Minnesota.

916
01:13:25,860 --> 01:13:27,960
We take care of our old people.

917
01:13:28,100 --> 01:13:29,720
We take care of our young people.

918
01:13:29,980 --> 01:13:33,400
Minnesota is a great community for taking care of people

919
01:13:33,400 --> 01:13:34,340
who need it.

920
01:13:34,340 --> 01:13:35,580
And I'd like to see that continued.

921
01:13:36,280 --> 01:13:39,320
Of course, there are oftentimes projects and

922
01:13:39,320 --> 01:13:41,700
problems that come up that we need to address

923
01:13:41,700 --> 01:13:42,940
and human services.

924
01:13:43,020 --> 01:13:45,280
And if we don't, we let them slip under the rug

925
01:13:45,280 --> 01:13:47,380
they will turn into huge and larger problems.

926
01:13:47,760 --> 01:13:50,420
So it's always wise to have a legislative oversight

927
01:13:50,420 --> 01:13:54,900
of what health and human services is doing statewide, and I firmly advocate for that as well.

928
01:13:55,360 --> 01:13:56,240
Thank you for that.

929
01:13:56,500 --> 01:14:02,320
You mentioned seniors, what we have entered the silver tsunami as it was once

930
01:14:02,320 --> 01:14:09,240
called, the March Aging Population, how are we doing as a state in caring for that demographic,

931
01:14:09,240 --> 01:14:12,740
especially as they get older and there's need for services increases?

932
01:14:13,380 --> 01:14:19,680
Well, we're doing pretty good, frankly, but there's a lot of problems that we have that we need

933
01:14:19,680 --> 01:14:24,840
solve. I'll give you an example over at Interfaith in Carlton. There's an entire wing that's

934
01:14:24,840 --> 01:14:29,840
completely empty. Sunnyside. Sunnyside nursing home adjacent to the hospital here in

935
01:14:29,840 --> 01:14:34,740
Quilke, closed down. They can't find enough workers and they aren't being reimbursed properly,

936
01:14:34,880 --> 01:14:39,160
adequately enough to make them financially viable. Now, these Interfaith and the Quilke

937
01:14:39,160 --> 01:14:43,600
community, more of a hospital are both nonprofit organizations that are not out to deliver

938
01:14:44,200 --> 01:14:49,320
dividends for their stockholders. Their community owned, their nonprofit organizations. They don't

939
01:14:49,320 --> 01:14:53,140
need to make a profit, but they do need to break even and they need to be financially

940
01:14:53,140 --> 01:14:53,920
solvent.

941
01:14:54,500 --> 01:14:57,420
And when they can't provide a service like nursing home services to our citizens.

942
01:15:07,260 --> 01:15:29,480
And we need to address it soon. And I'm not just saying that because I'm rapidly approaching that age. You know, we're going to need those services. I do see that long range. We need to solve the child care and the elder care problem. And I've got a bunch of ideas on how to do it and how to work towards that goal. One is that we want to make those positions and those jobs for people who want to make a career out of them. Lots of people.

943
01:15:30,000 --> 01:15:32,760
to make a career out of helping old people and young people.

944
01:15:33,620 --> 01:15:36,920
But the wages and the benefits that come with those jobs just aren't there.

945
01:15:37,220 --> 01:15:39,400
And I think that we can solve that problem.

946
01:15:39,820 --> 01:15:47,300
If we realize that we can have better workers who want to make a career out of that type

947
01:15:47,300 --> 01:15:51,360
of work with proper benefits and wages that the state believes is a value.

948
01:15:51,500 --> 01:15:53,240
Our society puts a value on it.

949
01:15:53,360 --> 01:15:55,280
We should put a value on it and stick to it.

950
01:15:55,480 --> 01:15:55,760
Very good.

951
01:15:56,280 --> 01:15:57,180
Thank you.

952
01:15:57,180 --> 01:16:04,260
An issue that came up in my conversation with our candidates both candidates for county board is housing and the city

953
01:16:04,260 --> 01:16:10,220
the county have demonstrated a housing need across all sectors.

954
01:16:10,500 --> 01:16:17,400
Most, particularly in the workforce and working class and affordable housing sectors.

955
01:16:17,500 --> 01:16:22,700
What are your thoughts in how the state can take an approach to that problem that would help our community?

956
01:16:22,700 --> 01:16:28,800
Well, one thing that the state needs to make sure they don't do is they can't start throwing money at the problem.

957
01:16:29,380 --> 01:16:31,720
That is a huge, huge issue.

958
01:16:31,820 --> 01:16:40,360
You will see Democrats who are going to want to add house buying credits, funding, availability, and that type of thing.

959
01:16:41,280 --> 01:16:45,780
And for first-time homeowners and that type of thing to see an increase in home ownership.

960
01:16:46,560 --> 01:16:51,000
And what typically happens when that happens is the price of houses rise.

961
01:16:51,000 --> 01:16:55,140
When all of a sudden, someone's getting the $10,000 gift from the government to buy a house,

962
01:16:55,460 --> 01:16:59,440
the value of the house increases $10,000, and where does that money go?

963
01:16:59,580 --> 01:17:02,160
It goes to people who are already rich selling these houses.

964
01:17:02,640 --> 01:17:06,520
But don't have any problem with that necessarily, but evidence that those programs don't work.

965
01:17:06,960 --> 01:17:11,640
As a Democrat, I think the smart plan is, again, long-range vision in planning,

966
01:17:12,000 --> 01:17:16,080
so that we're looking down the road and thinking about what is the long-range solution to the

967
01:17:16,080 --> 01:17:20,220
housing problem. One of them is zoning. We want to be able to see more

968
01:17:20,220 --> 01:17:27,900
multi-family housing in areas that are often zone for simply one family residences.

969
01:17:28,440 --> 01:17:32,920
Another issue is that we see this constant expansion, especially in rural Minnesota communities

970
01:17:32,920 --> 01:17:34,060
that locate in Carleton.

971
01:17:34,640 --> 01:17:40,800
We see this expansion of the core city out into the areas around the city where you can get

972
01:17:40,800 --> 01:17:43,120
a little bit larger land and not so clustered together.

973
01:17:43,460 --> 01:17:46,340
What happens is that hollows out the insides of our community.

974
01:17:46,340 --> 01:17:51,340
at the same time that infrastructure, the roads, the power lines, the sewer lines, the water lines,

975
01:17:51,420 --> 01:17:55,280
all still need to be maintained, yet they're still expanding out into those rural areas,

976
01:17:55,440 --> 01:17:56,720
which is very, very expensive.

977
01:17:57,680 --> 01:18:03,060
I think it would be a good use of our money, not suggesting this, but I'm suggesting that we look at the idea

978
01:18:03,060 --> 01:18:07,960
that there's a way that it's possible that we could take two or three internal city lots,

979
01:18:08,380 --> 01:18:13,280
maybe turn it on the houses like the AEO used to do in the 70s on the iron range of those old

980
01:18:13,280 --> 01:18:17,720
and then convert those lots into a single family house,

981
01:18:17,720 --> 01:18:19,220
which a much bigger yard.

982
01:18:19,700 --> 01:18:25,160
It'll keep the core of the city closer to the center of the infrastructure.

983
01:18:25,680 --> 01:18:28,100
People who still want to live in the country still can,

984
01:18:28,380 --> 01:18:30,580
but they shouldn't expect the city services like city,

985
01:18:30,600 --> 01:18:31,980
or water, city sewer.

986
01:18:32,280 --> 01:18:33,920
As we're in these, you would get inside the city.

987
01:18:34,340 --> 01:18:37,060
And that will open up housing options for people.

988
01:18:37,840 --> 01:18:38,900
That's one idea.

989
01:18:39,480 --> 01:18:40,800
But the answer to this problem.

990
01:18:40,800 --> 01:18:49,740
The answer to the housing problem again is a long-range vision where we identify the problems and come up with a solution rather than shouting slogans about what should be done.

991
01:18:50,300 --> 01:18:52,340
I think we only have a few minutes left.

992
01:18:52,780 --> 01:18:53,960
I bet.

993
01:18:55,000 --> 01:18:58,000
And I'm happy about that because you mentioned a long-range vision.

994
01:18:58,540 --> 01:19:05,160
As a general matter, we seem to be incapable of that or far less capable of that than previous generations.

995
01:19:05,160 --> 01:19:10,260
And to me, and perhaps to you, I'm curious about what your thoughts is, is that related

996
01:19:10,260 --> 01:19:16,400
to our particularly polarized time that we are living in and how do those two work together?

997
01:19:16,520 --> 01:19:22,400
The stability to set a long-range vision and to work across the aisle with folks from various

998
01:19:22,400 --> 01:19:24,120
political tribes or parties?

999
01:19:24,600 --> 01:19:27,000
Sure, people who know me and a lot of people know this about me.

1000
01:19:27,360 --> 01:19:31,260
The concept of being a Democrat or a Republican is really sort of ancillary to the idea

1001
01:19:31,260 --> 01:19:32,940
that we're going to be serving our community.

1002
01:19:33,440 --> 01:19:46,580
I'm planning to be elected to the legislature, I'm planning to get when this race and be in the legislature in 2025, and when that happens, I'm going to have to realize that roughly half of the people in my district lean conservative.

1003
01:19:48,200 --> 01:20:00,560
We really are a diverse community in Carlton, Connie, where half the people are liberal, half the people are conservative, and the people who elect me are the ones who put me into office, but the people that I serve are everybody in the community.

1004
01:20:00,560 --> 01:20:05,600
And if I'm not aware of the issues that are seriously affecting the other half, we so to speak,

1005
01:20:05,920 --> 01:20:08,420
I'm really doing a disservice to the entire state and the legislature.

1006
01:20:08,760 --> 01:20:10,680
I knew that. And we see way too much of it.

1007
01:20:10,700 --> 01:20:14,500
We see way too many people who are, the guy who's got to job now,

1008
01:20:14,600 --> 01:20:16,480
it's only representing the Republican Party.

1009
01:20:16,600 --> 01:20:19,220
He gives no consideration to the ideas of the Democrats.

1010
01:20:19,360 --> 01:20:20,020
None whatsoever.

1011
01:20:20,660 --> 01:20:22,440
And that is part of the problem.

1012
01:20:22,540 --> 01:20:23,840
It's a big part of the problem.

1013
01:20:24,280 --> 01:20:26,000
We can run as a Democrat, like I'm doing.

1014
01:20:26,380 --> 01:20:30,100
But when I'm elected, I'm a representative who's representing the people of my district.

1015
01:20:30,100 --> 01:20:35,400
not the party leaders in St. Paul. People know that about me. That's the way I've operated,

1016
01:20:35,580 --> 01:20:37,980
we're going to be involved with the Chamber, that's what I've done with it. We've evolved

1017
01:20:37,980 --> 01:20:42,760
other groups, that's what I've done. Looking at the complete solution, looking out what's best for

1018
01:20:43,340 --> 01:20:48,640
the constituency that we're trying to serve is the answer to the problem. Less partisanship is only

1019
01:20:48,640 --> 01:20:54,680
going to be good for our communities. We know that. Thank you for that answer. I guess for our final

1020
01:20:54,680 --> 01:20:58,940
question, can you give a bit of a closing argument? I'm sure you've given a few in your time. Could

1021
01:20:58,940 --> 01:21:00,420
to give a closing argument to our viewers

1022
01:21:00,420 --> 01:21:02,220
as to why they should vote for you this fall,

1023
01:21:02,440 --> 01:21:03,360
or this month.

1024
01:21:03,720 --> 01:21:05,640
Sure, well, it's just kind of repeating everything

1025
01:21:05,640 --> 01:21:06,580
I've already said.

1026
01:21:06,900 --> 01:21:08,880
People who know me, who read my newspaper column,

1027
01:21:09,140 --> 01:21:10,480
people who watch Harrison over the years,

1028
01:21:10,700 --> 01:21:12,000
people who have worked with me as an attorney

1029
01:21:12,000 --> 01:21:14,600
or on committees and boards that have been on over the years,

1030
01:21:14,800 --> 01:21:18,060
know that my solution, that my approach is to look at solutions,

1031
01:21:18,200 --> 01:21:20,040
my approach is to try to figure out

1032
01:21:20,040 --> 01:21:22,300
what is the problem that we're trying to solve exactly

1033
01:21:22,300 --> 01:21:23,940
and how do we solve it?

1034
01:21:24,040 --> 01:21:24,840
It's a solution.

1035
01:21:25,300 --> 01:21:27,200
You'll hear people shout slogans all the time.

1036
01:21:27,200 --> 01:21:32,860
slogans are ineffective. They don't mean anything. They're simply slogans. What I like to do is see

1037
01:21:32,860 --> 01:21:37,360
how do we solve the problem? And we start analyzing what the problem is and working towards a

1038
01:21:37,360 --> 01:21:43,180
solution is when we all benefit. My experience as an attorney, as a small business owner,

1039
01:21:44,280 --> 01:21:48,860
as a citizen of the community, has shown and proven that that's my approach towards leadership,

1040
01:21:49,080 --> 01:21:52,840
and that's what I'll do if I'm in the legislature. Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen,

1041
01:21:52,840 --> 01:21:57,740
of it, Democrat candidate for House District 11 A. Thank you for joining us today.

1042
01:21:57,920 --> 01:22:01,780
Thanks for having me. All right. Ladies and gentlemen, we'll be right back with another candidate.

1043
01:22:02,160 --> 01:22:08,080
We'll take a small break here. All right. All right. Welcome back, ladies and gentlemen.

1044
01:22:08,500 --> 01:22:22,820
Again, my name is Mike Franklin. I'm pleased to be the moderator today on behalf of the

1045
01:22:22,820 --> 01:22:26,920
He's running for reelection. Jeff, can I call you Jeff?

1046
01:22:27,380 --> 01:22:27,900
Absolutely. Thank you.

1047
01:22:28,020 --> 01:22:30,320
Very good. Why are you running for reelection?

1048
01:22:30,820 --> 01:22:32,060
And what should people know about you?

1049
01:22:32,240 --> 01:22:33,000
That's a great question.

1050
01:22:33,700 --> 01:22:36,560
First of all, I'd like to thank the chamber for allowing me to be here today,

1051
01:22:37,100 --> 01:22:38,300
and the great folks of Clocate.

1052
01:22:38,760 --> 01:22:39,420
It's an honor to be here.

1053
01:22:39,480 --> 01:22:42,820
Mike, thank you for helping facilitate this meeting.

1054
01:22:43,460 --> 01:22:44,880
I'm Representative Jeff Thatzip.

1055
01:22:45,060 --> 01:22:46,040
I'm running for reelection.

1056
01:22:46,160 --> 01:22:48,320
I've actually served two years in the Minnesota State House,

1057
01:22:48,800 --> 01:22:50,600
and running for reelection for the State House.

1058
01:22:50,600 --> 01:22:55,020
to, you know, I think, yes, why it's the people.

1059
01:22:55,280 --> 01:22:57,220
I mean, Mike, the more I'm out there,

1060
01:22:57,380 --> 01:22:59,720
meeting the people, working with the people,

1061
01:23:00,300 --> 01:23:02,340
you realize that there's real issues out there.

1062
01:23:02,420 --> 01:23:03,660
We've got a broad array of challenges.

1063
01:23:04,460 --> 01:23:06,380
Our district consists of all of Carlton County,

1064
01:23:07,020 --> 01:23:09,100
Northern Pine, as well as Southern Tantos County.

1065
01:23:09,780 --> 01:23:13,300
With that said, I've got, I'm married,

1066
01:23:13,460 --> 01:23:16,300
I've got three children, we've got two grandchildren.

1067
01:23:17,660 --> 01:23:23,360
And, you know, I actually, my parents live across a road for me over and out there in

1068
01:23:23,360 --> 01:23:26,760
Carlton County, which is actually west of Moose Lake is where we live.

1069
01:23:26,820 --> 01:23:27,980
We actually live in the family farm.

1070
01:23:28,120 --> 01:23:32,740
We purchased a family farm, renovated, I purchased it back in 1999, and my parents live

1071
01:23:32,740 --> 01:23:33,460
across a road.

1072
01:23:34,380 --> 01:23:39,100
And we really care about the way our way of life and protecting our way of life and really

1073
01:23:39,100 --> 01:23:41,540
representing the people of our great district.

1074
01:23:41,800 --> 01:23:43,620
So again, it's a truly an honor to be here.

1075
01:23:43,620 --> 01:23:44,780
I'm a small business owner.

1076
01:23:44,780 --> 01:23:49,200
I should make mention of that, I've got a number of business that I'm going to

1077
01:23:49,200 --> 01:23:53,720
real estate industry as well as we're also a farmer as well, I actually

1078
01:23:53,720 --> 01:23:58,020
raised beef cattle in my wife and I, and so at the, did preserving

1079
01:23:58,020 --> 01:23:59,500
protecting that quality of life?

1080
01:23:59,740 --> 01:23:59,960
Excellent.

1081
01:24:00,280 --> 01:24:01,040
Thank you.

1082
01:24:01,320 --> 01:24:05,540
Well, on a great segue, because as a chamber and as a business owner, I'm sure

1083
01:24:05,540 --> 01:24:08,840
you can appreciate the need for a competitive business climate in our state.

1084
01:24:09,340 --> 01:24:12,840
How can we, well, first and foremost, what are your thoughts on whether Minnesota has a competitive

1085
01:24:12,840 --> 01:24:17,960
business climate today, and what can we do to improve that competitiveness in your next term?

1086
01:24:18,660 --> 01:24:21,840
You know, I think number one, Mike, is we've got to lighten up on the mandate.

1087
01:24:22,140 --> 01:24:24,420
I'd say the answer to your question would be real simple, no.

1088
01:24:24,740 --> 01:24:28,280
I don't believe we have a real competitive business advantage over our neighboring states.

1089
01:24:28,400 --> 01:24:32,820
We've got North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, that are bordering states right now.

1090
01:24:33,260 --> 01:24:39,820
I forgot I was well, but the one that really bring attention to my mind.

1091
01:24:39,820 --> 01:24:42,880
I mean, the mandate that we've actually placed on our businesses.

1092
01:24:43,200 --> 01:24:45,960
We need to free up the permitting process.

1093
01:24:46,160 --> 01:24:49,980
We can actually proceed forward and get permits in a more

1094
01:24:49,980 --> 01:24:51,700
way of reasonable amount of time.

1095
01:24:52,080 --> 01:24:55,700
And I think the mandates that have been placed in businesses are

1096
01:24:55,700 --> 01:24:56,100
hemorrhaging them.

1097
01:24:56,100 --> 01:24:59,980
I think we look at, oh, golly, we look at the paid family paid

1098
01:24:59,980 --> 01:25:00,660
medical leave.

1099
01:25:00,820 --> 01:25:03,700
We look at the earned second paid time legislation.

1100
01:25:05,180 --> 01:25:07,460
House Republicans actually put some reasonable guardrails

1101
01:25:07,460 --> 01:25:11,840
and trying to get some things in place, but with the one-party control, we've seen such

1102
01:25:11,840 --> 01:25:18,640
an excessive overrun on these policies, and my concern is with the current climate, I'm

1103
01:25:18,640 --> 01:25:22,060
concerned that we could actually potentially see that go national as well, so let the

1104
01:25:22,060 --> 01:25:22,820
concern that I have.

1105
01:25:23,820 --> 01:25:24,700
Thank you for that.

1106
01:25:25,380 --> 01:25:28,980
We've had many years of budget surpluses in our state.

1107
01:25:29,500 --> 01:25:30,500
Should that happen again?

1108
01:25:30,520 --> 01:25:33,880
Do you prioritize tax relief or investing in more government programs?

1109
01:25:35,020 --> 01:25:36,560
Number one is that people's money.

1110
01:25:37,020 --> 01:25:40,780
I really think we need to start looking at, we have a 17 and a half billion dollar surplus.

1111
01:25:41,720 --> 01:25:45,420
With the one party control, they move through that 17 and a half billion dollar surplus.

1112
01:25:46,300 --> 01:25:52,720
They spend additional 10 million or 10 billion on top of that, increased spending by 43%.

1113
01:25:52,720 --> 01:25:55,460
That's our consumer's money, that's our constituents's money.

1114
01:25:56,160 --> 01:25:59,780
I need to think, we have to have more accountability for those monies and where that money

1115
01:25:59,780 --> 01:26:05,920
to be in spent, I think focusing on roads, bridges, infrastructure, the priority,

1116
01:26:08,020 --> 01:26:08,220
our bones

1117
01:26:08,220 --> 01:26:12,720
of our community is what we need to look at, our law enforcement, our public safety.

1118
01:26:13,720 --> 01:26:14,300
Thank you.

1119
01:26:15,240 --> 01:26:21,360
The flip side of that is you mentioned the large increases in spending, 43% and that budget

1120
01:26:21,360 --> 01:26:25,580
forecast that we've got now shows that spending growth, outpacing our tax revenue growth.

1121
01:26:25,580 --> 01:26:28,940
What about if a deficit occurs in the next two years?

1122
01:26:29,660 --> 01:26:33,380
How should the state prioritize that if you're in the legislature again?

1123
01:26:33,560 --> 01:26:35,300
Mike, I think that brings up a real good point.

1124
01:26:35,460 --> 01:26:37,220
That was a concern that we had at the legislation.

1125
01:26:38,040 --> 01:26:39,540
At least my side of the aisle actually had,

1126
01:26:39,920 --> 01:26:42,540
as we were looking at some of the success of spending taking place.

1127
01:26:42,820 --> 01:26:45,200
I'll just say it's almost like a bunch of drunk retailers

1128
01:26:45,200 --> 01:26:47,200
with the amount of spending that we've seen down there.

1129
01:26:47,820 --> 01:26:50,060
And the accountability there to be more accountability

1130
01:26:50,060 --> 01:26:51,580
to where that money is being spent.

1131
01:26:52,500 --> 01:26:54,960
I just encourage our constituents to follow the money

1132
01:26:54,960 --> 01:26:56,720
And look at where that money has been spent.

1133
01:26:58,060 --> 01:26:59,400
Thank you for that answer.

1134
01:27:00,480 --> 01:27:03,080
So just one more question on taxes and spending.

1135
01:27:03,340 --> 01:27:09,420
We have four individual income tax rates and the highest of which is 9.85%

1136
01:27:09,420 --> 01:27:10,720
That's one of the highest in the nation.

1137
01:27:10,920 --> 01:27:12,740
I think six highest in the nation.

1138
01:27:13,520 --> 01:27:16,060
If we, whichever, if we generate revenues,

1139
01:27:16,800 --> 01:27:20,500
deficits rather or surpluses, what do you think about those tax rates?

1140
01:27:20,760 --> 01:27:21,420
Are they appropriate?

1141
01:27:21,780 --> 01:27:22,680
Should they be reduced?

1142
01:27:22,720 --> 01:27:23,500
Should they be raised?

1143
01:27:23,500 --> 01:27:27,920
And what about the other rates too, not just the top rate?

1144
01:27:28,220 --> 01:27:31,380
Sure, you look at Minnesota tax system, I think it needs to be streamlined.

1145
01:27:31,880 --> 01:27:37,060
I think there's definitely a handful of faults that we look at that compared to neighboring states.

1146
01:27:37,320 --> 01:27:39,780
Again, you mentioned being competitive.

1147
01:27:40,540 --> 01:27:44,860
When we look at neighboring states that are extremely more competitive with their tax rate,

1148
01:27:44,980 --> 01:27:50,400
versus the state of Minnesota, when we're losing businesses and industries going to neighboring states,

1149
01:27:50,720 --> 01:27:53,100
might there's something that definitely need to be addressed and looked at.

1150
01:27:53,100 --> 01:27:54,980
That's a major concern in mind.

1151
01:27:55,860 --> 01:28:00,940
Streamlining taxes is a, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's a good answer.

1152
01:28:01,740 --> 01:28:02,040
All right.

1153
01:28:02,540 --> 01:28:05,020
We move on to other other subjects.

1154
01:28:05,680 --> 01:28:06,900
Education and child care.

1155
01:28:07,240 --> 01:28:08,340
Huge issue in Minnesota.

1156
01:28:08,960 --> 01:28:10,560
Probably the number one.

1157
01:28:10,560 --> 01:28:11,600
If not the number one.

1158
01:28:11,620 --> 01:28:15,400
I think it's actually clearly the number one or number two behind human services.

1159
01:28:15,500 --> 01:28:16,080
Budget item.

1160
01:28:16,880 --> 01:28:21,720
What do you think about that portion of that funding towards key 12 education?

1161
01:28:21,720 --> 01:28:27,940
in particular is do we spend enough or is there enough funding or do we need more funding for education

1162
01:28:27,940 --> 01:28:28,520
K-12.

1163
01:28:28,880 --> 01:28:34,240
You know, Mike, I'm glad to actually ask that, you know, I look at my teachers, I look

1164
01:28:34,240 --> 01:28:39,500
at my first grade school teacher, Mrs. Nelson, that left in lasting impression on me,

1165
01:28:39,840 --> 01:28:40,360
my whole life.

1166
01:28:41,000 --> 01:28:45,020
And just, you know, we value their art teachers in what they do.

1167
01:28:45,220 --> 01:28:49,880
I mean, we've got some amazing teachers, amazing administration, but we need to get back to

1168
01:28:49,880 --> 01:28:51,620
basics, reading, writing, and arithmetic.

1169
01:28:52,140 --> 01:28:53,380
That's where our focus needs to be.

1170
01:28:53,980 --> 01:28:56,940
I think we look at the mandates that we've seen.

1171
01:28:57,260 --> 01:28:57,940
I've got to note here.

1172
01:28:58,040 --> 01:28:59,620
I just want to make sure I mentioned, right?

1173
01:28:59,660 --> 01:29:02,140
We've got 65 new spending requirements

1174
01:29:02,720 --> 01:29:05,660
that were passed by the DFL traffic

1175
01:29:05,660 --> 01:29:09,360
the last session, that many schools are reporting,

1176
01:29:09,420 --> 01:29:11,440
that these unfutter mandates have put them

1177
01:29:11,440 --> 01:29:13,400
and further challenges.

1178
01:29:13,580 --> 01:29:15,160
I think we need to look at the mandate.

1179
01:29:15,320 --> 01:29:16,080
I'll give you an example.

1180
01:29:16,840 --> 01:29:24,340
We've got local school district in our district that there was a mandate put on and change in their logo of their school.

1181
01:29:25,300 --> 01:29:33,500
You know, because it was, I'll just say, Eskimo was a name that was a mandate from the state that they required that they actually changed that logo.

1182
01:29:34,200 --> 01:29:39,900
And that was unfunded. And what is that placing on that school district in those residents of that area?

1183
01:29:40,180 --> 01:29:44,380
If we pass these mandates, we need to make sure that there's money behind that to actually help facilitate.

1184
01:29:44,380 --> 01:29:50,380
I really believe that our schools need to have more control of how they can handle a manager

1185
01:29:50,380 --> 01:29:55,380
money as well and what they can do because I think our districts are completely different

1186
01:29:55,380 --> 01:29:59,720
than maybe some of the districts in the metro and our teachers have a whole different

1187
01:29:59,720 --> 01:29:59,920
Thank you.

1188
01:30:00,000 --> 01:30:08,740
Realtive and how they should teach and our resident have a philosophy of how their children should be taught. I think that needs to be put more back in the local control of our schools and our teachers.

1189
01:30:09,440 --> 01:30:28,220
Thank you for that answer. One of the products of the last legislative session was the school meal program, as well as some more early childhood programs coming from the state. Of course, through our school districts, do you support those programs and if if reelected?

1190
01:30:28,220 --> 01:30:30,960
you know, how will you handle either of both of those programs?

1191
01:30:31,780 --> 01:30:34,260
You know, I think there need to be some accountability on that.

1192
01:30:34,500 --> 01:30:36,300
When we've got these programs where they're actually,

1193
01:30:37,080 --> 01:30:37,560
I'll give you an example.

1194
01:30:37,740 --> 01:30:40,560
We've got school district in,

1195
01:30:40,560 --> 01:30:42,180
I'll just say, in the metro area,

1196
01:30:42,420 --> 01:30:43,880
why is that a, we'll be an example.

1197
01:30:44,580 --> 01:30:47,880
A lot of those students never even needed that program involved

1198
01:30:47,880 --> 01:30:49,200
because they never participated.

1199
01:30:49,480 --> 01:30:50,200
They didn't have a need.

1200
01:30:50,960 --> 01:30:52,500
There's different areas that there's a need.

1201
01:30:52,980 --> 01:30:55,780
There's already in place a federal program that actually,

1202
01:30:55,780 --> 01:30:59,840
basically to care the issues that are out there, where there are some gaps and challenges

1203
01:30:59,840 --> 01:31:00,380
in place.

1204
01:31:01,900 --> 01:31:07,020
And it gets where again, allowing more local control and that to be placed, I have a concern

1205
01:31:07,020 --> 01:31:11,820
to that hearing reports of a lot of those lunches being disposed of or that I mean being eaten.

1206
01:31:12,120 --> 01:31:15,120
So I think we need to make sure that there's some accountability with that.

1207
01:31:15,220 --> 01:31:16,860
And who's benefiting from the program?

1208
01:31:17,020 --> 01:31:21,880
Is it the students or is it maybe the ones that are, I'll just say who's benefiting from

1209
01:31:21,880 --> 01:31:22,400
those programs?

1210
01:31:22,540 --> 01:31:25,760
I just encourage our residents to, maybe follow the money a little bit.

1211
01:31:30,440 --> 01:31:54,520
I mean, I mentioned early childhood, but along with that comes just the child care crisis that it's been described to me that we're experiencing in northern Minnesota, and I would argue that in a lot of places around Minnesota, those two go together early childhood child care, and if so what attention has the legislature or if reelected will the legislature pay to the child care crisis.

1212
01:31:55,420 --> 01:31:56,720
That's existing today.

1213
01:31:57,020 --> 01:31:58,680
Mike again, I'm going to come back to the mandates.

1214
01:31:59,000 --> 01:32:02,480
We've seen such excessive mandates that have been placed on a child care system.

1215
01:32:03,100 --> 01:32:07,920
We've seen a lot of small, mom-pop type of operation that have been forced to close because

1216
01:32:07,920 --> 01:32:09,840
of these excessive mandates and over-regulation.

1217
01:32:10,800 --> 01:32:14,180
And that's saying that there shouldn't be some oversight, I think there's been some over-regulating

1218
01:32:14,180 --> 01:32:15,140
of what's taken place.

1219
01:32:16,040 --> 01:32:22,440
And it's forced a lot of real good providers on the industry, and that definitely provided

1220
01:32:22,440 --> 01:32:26,880
It's very affordable and quality child care that's out there.

1221
01:32:27,040 --> 01:32:32,340
So I think we need to really look at the system carefully and back off on the mandate

1222
01:32:32,340 --> 01:32:33,680
that we're placing on these facilities.

1223
01:32:34,340 --> 01:32:38,000
And if re-elected, that's a priority that would be a priority for you in Europe.

1224
01:32:38,140 --> 01:32:40,080
It has to be common sense legislation.

1225
01:32:41,480 --> 01:32:44,160
We're going to get away from playing politics with this stuff.

1226
01:32:44,500 --> 01:32:47,380
And I've seen a lot of that, you know, get a number, I've been, I was a freshman.

1227
01:32:47,380 --> 01:32:52,480
So, the first two years, I see a lot of, I kind of learned my way around the traffic and

1228
01:32:52,480 --> 01:32:57,340
realizing that a lot of politics has been played with real issues that really affect our

1229
01:32:57,340 --> 01:33:01,500
community and our, our, our, our way of life.

1230
01:33:01,640 --> 01:33:02,940
I'm going to have a question on that.

1231
01:33:02,940 --> 01:33:03,720
Kind of the close.

1232
01:33:04,220 --> 01:33:05,620
So, I'm glad that you brought it up.

1233
01:33:05,760 --> 01:33:08,820
But we will come back to that later on in the, in the interview.

1234
01:33:09,060 --> 01:33:11,680
Ladies and gentlemen, two we are with Representative Jeff Dodson,

1235
01:33:11,780 --> 01:33:14,380
seeking reelection to House District 11A.

1236
01:33:15,240 --> 01:33:17,400
We'll change subjects now to health care.

1237
01:33:18,040 --> 01:33:22,460
One of the issues that has been brought up and continues to be brought up is a state or

1238
01:33:22,460 --> 01:33:27,280
federally run public option which would be available to all people that would compete with

1239
01:33:27,280 --> 01:33:30,240
private sector insurance products.

1240
01:33:31,360 --> 01:33:36,400
Do you think we need a state or federally run single-payer program of whatever kind of flavor

1241
01:33:36,400 --> 01:33:38,820
would emerge or focus on state?

1242
01:33:38,860 --> 01:33:43,600
Do we need a state single-payer program or a Medicaid for all or should we do something else?

1243
01:33:44,440 --> 01:33:49,340
Mike, I've learned that people like options when we start having too much government control.

1244
01:33:50,420 --> 01:33:53,920
I'm extremely concerned we've got government number one.

1245
01:33:54,040 --> 01:33:56,440
They've got in so many different areas we see with the advantage.

1246
01:33:56,620 --> 01:34:01,620
When now all of us are coming in and trying to jump into the healthcare, I see a crisis

1247
01:34:01,620 --> 01:34:03,080
looming is where we're at.

1248
01:34:03,380 --> 01:34:06,040
I'm really concerned about where we're going to be at.

1249
01:34:06,040 --> 01:34:10,780
where a lot of these smaller facilities

1250
01:34:10,780 --> 01:34:12,900
for real greater menace would have been forced to close

1251
01:34:12,900 --> 01:34:16,700
just because of that, that they're losing their competitive

1252
01:34:16,700 --> 01:34:19,300
edges for being able to compete with the mandates

1253
01:34:19,300 --> 01:34:20,400
that are being placed on them.

1254
01:34:20,480 --> 01:34:23,720
I think that we need to really focus on having choices.

1255
01:34:24,400 --> 01:34:29,960
I think once the 2017, what was that that was in place?

1256
01:34:30,960 --> 01:34:34,220
It was the missiles were suffering from spikes

1257
01:34:34,220 --> 01:34:38,540
and 40% insurance premiums, the re-insurance stabilization

1258
01:34:39,380 --> 01:34:39,820
premiums.

1259
01:34:39,840 --> 01:34:43,060
And that was actually stripped away through this last session

1260
01:34:43,060 --> 01:34:45,260
by the Democrat-controlled trans-factor.

1261
01:34:45,920 --> 01:34:48,000
And that's something we need to look at getting re-inceed

1262
01:34:48,000 --> 01:34:52,900
back in, but that was actually over 160,000 people across the state

1263
01:34:52,900 --> 01:34:53,920
of Minnesota at that time.

1264
01:34:54,320 --> 01:34:55,600
And that's something that I'm concerned

1265
01:34:55,600 --> 01:34:58,240
that we're going to see another moving crisis with that.

1266
01:34:58,400 --> 01:35:01,740
Again, you look at EMS, look at the funding going into that.

1267
01:35:01,740 --> 01:35:04,960
And then there are areas that we need to look at supporting and getting behind and says

1268
01:35:04,960 --> 01:35:11,780
stripping money away from our, I mean, we've got our local fire district that's being

1269
01:35:11,780 --> 01:35:12,160
affected.

1270
01:35:12,820 --> 01:35:17,680
And I can say that I was actually a champion and actually working on, we got a digital

1271
01:35:17,680 --> 01:35:20,960
30 million dollar package that came in to some of those.

1272
01:35:21,340 --> 01:35:26,240
500,000 came into House District 11, 118.

1273
01:35:26,240 --> 01:35:36,460
We had received 116,439 into Carlton, 119 into a Cromwell with 75,000.

1274
01:35:36,640 --> 01:35:40,240
The essential moose lake was 163,176.

1275
01:35:41,040 --> 01:35:42,780
That's that enough to sustain themselves.

1276
01:35:42,980 --> 01:35:46,660
But that is a concern that we've got to make sure that they can continue moving forward.

1277
01:35:46,940 --> 01:35:48,220
Thank you for mentioning the EMS.

1278
01:35:48,740 --> 01:35:50,520
That's a huge deal as you know.

1279
01:35:50,520 --> 01:35:56,100
So I'm the other side of the health care question

1280
01:35:56,100 --> 01:35:57,060
as human services.

1281
01:35:57,540 --> 01:36:00,060
How is our state's human service budget?

1282
01:36:00,540 --> 01:36:02,500
And are you seeing that spent appropriately?

1283
01:36:02,660 --> 01:36:04,820
Are there any changes you would make to the funding

1284
01:36:04,820 --> 01:36:07,740
that are programming for our human services agencies?

1285
01:36:08,140 --> 01:36:10,340
You know, Mike, I think mental health is a major crisis

1286
01:36:10,340 --> 01:36:11,260
around the right now.

1287
01:36:12,000 --> 01:36:16,160
And we've seen an uptick on that after COVID

1288
01:36:16,160 --> 01:36:17,780
and moving forward, I think that's something

1289
01:36:17,780 --> 01:36:18,680
that needs to be addressed.

1290
01:36:18,680 --> 01:36:20,440
and we need to be looking at that.

1291
01:36:20,620 --> 01:36:24,040
I think redirection of funds of where we can spend our money.

1292
01:36:24,200 --> 01:36:26,160
Again, we have a $7 billion surplus.

1293
01:36:27,040 --> 01:36:28,940
Why don't we spend some of the additional money

1294
01:36:28,940 --> 01:36:31,280
in some of those areas that need to have real needs

1295
01:36:31,280 --> 01:36:32,180
out there right now, Mike?

1296
01:36:33,200 --> 01:36:34,040
Thank you for that.

1297
01:36:36,220 --> 01:36:38,240
One last health care related question,

1298
01:36:38,560 --> 01:36:42,100
although this is kind of a bridge to our aging population.

1299
01:36:43,080 --> 01:36:45,900
When I was more in a policy role in a different job,

1300
01:36:46,120 --> 01:36:48,000
I was heard it referred to as a silver tsunami.

1301
01:36:48,000 --> 01:36:53,580
And we're starting to crest over the top of that silver tsunami with our rapidly aging population.

1302
01:36:54,760 --> 01:36:57,580
And how has Minnesota doing in service of our seniors?

1303
01:36:58,160 --> 01:37:03,100
And are there areas where we could improve their quality care as they can as they age?

1304
01:37:03,240 --> 01:37:05,060
It's one year every year is the rate I'm told.

1305
01:37:05,920 --> 01:37:06,840
Every year.

1306
01:37:07,660 --> 01:37:09,440
Mike, I see a looming crisis coming.

1307
01:37:09,560 --> 01:37:13,280
I think that's one thing that the Republican for actually successful in doing.

1308
01:37:13,280 --> 01:37:22,220
We brought additional $300 million in to Nursian homes with that said that wasn't enough that's going to be a looming crisis as we move forward

1309
01:37:22,220 --> 01:37:23,740
We've got the

1310
01:37:23,740 --> 01:37:26,180
Let me make sure I cover my numbers here. We actually had

1311
01:37:27,160 --> 01:37:34,700
We were successful bringing 546,000 321 in the interview interview here in Carleton another

1312
01:37:36,120 --> 01:37:38,360
4177 and the community memorial bouquet

1313
01:37:39,280 --> 01:37:51,760
Moose Lake Village. We were able to bring in 514,000, 180,000. So I think there's some successes, but Mike, as we get an Asian population, that's something that is a major concern. We've got to look at health care.

1314
01:37:52,780 --> 01:37:59,960
What are we going to do to help take care of our seniors? Because they pay it in for society. So that is a concern and a question that we need to address and be focused on.

1315
01:38:00,840 --> 01:38:08,160
All right, moving on, you mentioned, our infrastructure in the States, and then it goes by

1316
01:38:08,160 --> 01:38:13,560
bonding at sort of a back and forth, but infrastructure is from the business community's perspective,

1317
01:38:13,660 --> 01:38:20,680
absolutely key to economic development that can be roads, bridges, clean water, building schools, all that.

1318
01:38:20,920 --> 01:38:23,000
What kind of infrastructure plans have you worked on?

1319
01:38:23,160 --> 01:38:27,360
Or would you propose to work on, should you be reelected, and why is that important?

1320
01:38:27,360 --> 01:38:29,760
or assuming it's supported, why is that important to you?

1321
01:38:29,980 --> 01:38:31,880
You know, that's near and dear to my heart, Mike.

1322
01:38:31,960 --> 01:38:34,160
I think our community more than a lot of communities

1323
01:38:34,160 --> 01:38:36,400
because we are an aging community with the first

1324
01:38:36,400 --> 01:38:37,660
or infrastructure as well.

1325
01:38:38,180 --> 01:38:39,360
We need to focus number one.

1326
01:38:39,560 --> 01:38:41,640
As probably our number one is get rid of these pet projects

1327
01:38:41,640 --> 01:38:44,180
that are out there for the metro and start focusing

1328
01:38:44,600 --> 01:38:46,680
on roads, bridges, public safety.

1329
01:38:47,500 --> 01:38:48,980
Looking at the drinking water.

1330
01:38:49,180 --> 01:38:52,300
I think we've got an aging drinking water facility throughout.

1331
01:38:52,360 --> 01:38:53,860
We've got wastewater facilities.

1332
01:38:54,820 --> 01:38:56,400
You know, Mike, you mentioned what is some of the projects

1333
01:38:56,400 --> 01:38:57,820
some proud of champion.

1334
01:38:58,720 --> 01:39:00,540
I was successful in bringing in and being

1335
01:39:00,540 --> 01:39:02,980
chief author in a $17 million bill

1336
01:39:02,980 --> 01:39:07,160
that brought in funding for the Western Lake

1337
01:39:07,160 --> 01:39:08,720
Superior's Sanitary District,

1338
01:39:08,920 --> 01:39:11,080
which is a result of or serves a cool cave,

1339
01:39:11,340 --> 01:39:13,240
Thompson Township in the city of Carlton.

1340
01:39:13,320 --> 01:39:15,540
That's a major accomplishment right there.

1341
01:39:16,160 --> 01:39:18,480
Again, granted, I was actually a freshman as well,

1342
01:39:18,640 --> 01:39:19,760
not knowing my way around the track,

1343
01:39:20,040 --> 01:39:21,980
you're like, we were successful

1344
01:39:21,980 --> 01:39:23,960
bringing in 10 million for the Carlton County

1345
01:39:23,960 --> 01:39:29,400
Sex Defender Facility and Women's Facility, another home run for a community, another five million

1346
01:39:29,400 --> 01:39:35,200
for the city of Kokey, our Kokey Water Infrastructure. Again, some success, it's a handful.

1347
01:39:35,800 --> 01:39:40,580
And you'll see that there was my priorities, it was really focusing on things that were necessary.

1348
01:39:41,300 --> 01:39:50,820
We actually did carry some other bills that might take a few years to get them accomplished with the

1349
01:39:50,820 --> 01:39:56,480
community and I also can say I was successful in carrying a bill for Jen Rand was a

1350
01:39:56,480 --> 01:40:01,060
nursery to look at that, exploring the opportunity of opening that up as well.

1351
01:40:02,180 --> 01:40:06,340
So that's something that, again, we've got the paper mill in our community, that's

1352
01:40:06,340 --> 01:40:11,180
something that's important to her curls and I was extremely successful in trying to help keep

1353
01:40:11,180 --> 01:40:16,520
that facility open and the governor was actually trying to close that facility and that

1354
01:40:16,520 --> 01:40:21,200
something that I was behind the scenes working on and we were

1355
01:40:21,200 --> 01:40:24,140
to success at the end and any of the day Mike I've learned

1356
01:40:24,140 --> 01:40:29,020
that I don't care who gets credit for it if my name's on it if

1357
01:40:29,020 --> 01:40:31,280
if I was behind the scenes and actually pushing to get some

1358
01:40:31,280 --> 01:40:33,320
lists accomplished that's what matters is what's in the best

1359
01:40:33,320 --> 01:40:36,500
interest of our community and our people that live here as well.

1360
01:40:36,820 --> 01:40:40,200
Sure. Thank you for that. Yeah. One item that some many

1361
01:40:40,200 --> 01:40:44,860
consider infrastructure now is Internet and broadband and

1362
01:40:44,860 --> 01:40:51,300
certainly since COVID, but even before COVID that was an issue, how are we doing as far as a state

1363
01:40:51,300 --> 01:40:57,060
and in our region for providing usable, you know, market competitive internet and broadband

1364
01:40:57,060 --> 01:41:00,860
and what kinds of changes might you advocate for if reelected?

1365
01:41:01,960 --> 01:41:05,380
Excuse me, Mike. Thanks, thanks for mentioning that. I think if you just go north of telling here,

1366
01:41:05,520 --> 01:41:11,760
we've got a whole wide array of people actually trenching in broadband, right? That was

1367
01:41:11,760 --> 01:41:17,340
we speak. So that's a major success right there. I think we need to continue exploring those options

1368
01:41:17,340 --> 01:41:21,660
and bringing in more broadband and looking at other opportunities that are out there as well.

1369
01:41:22,060 --> 01:41:26,180
Our district actually have just on an email this morning, we're looking at exploring some additional

1370
01:41:26,180 --> 01:41:32,160
funding for broadband throughout our townships and needed communities that should believe my email

1371
01:41:32,160 --> 01:41:36,860
went out to some of those communities to find out they felt there's a need so we could actually

1372
01:41:36,860 --> 01:41:39,340
pursue and pursue some additional money for them as well.

1373
01:41:39,340 --> 01:41:39,760
Great.

1374
01:41:40,500 --> 01:41:41,120
Thank you.

1375
01:41:41,320 --> 01:41:41,800
Thank you.

1376
01:41:42,200 --> 01:41:48,060
One other item that's in our local government conversations came as described as a crisis,

1377
01:41:48,560 --> 01:41:49,200
as a housing.

1378
01:41:49,840 --> 01:41:50,620
What can we do?

1379
01:41:50,800 --> 01:41:56,220
If we want to keep in attract people and have businesses attracting and keeping employees

1380
01:41:56,220 --> 01:41:56,720
as housing.

1381
01:41:57,620 --> 01:42:02,260
So what are your thoughts on the, is it a crisis and if so or their thoughts and ways that

1382
01:42:02,260 --> 01:42:07,580
the state can create or generate or incentivize more working class and affordable housing

1383
01:42:07,580 --> 01:42:08,080
options?

1384
01:42:08,080 --> 01:42:11,900
You know, Mike, I think you bring up a really good point, the housing of the major factory

1385
01:42:11,900 --> 01:42:12,700
across our state.

1386
01:42:12,960 --> 01:42:17,580
I think, with that, when you get housing, it brings in strong families, with that, it brings

1387
01:42:17,580 --> 01:42:20,780
in strong businesses, and with that it creates a strong community.

1388
01:42:21,460 --> 01:42:27,800
And that's something that, unfortunately, we've seen so many mandates, again, mandates and

1389
01:42:30,000 --> 01:42:36,820
over-regulation in that industry, where we go at neighboring states, Wisconsin, for example,

1390
01:42:36,820 --> 01:42:41,880
a lot less money to actually build a home and Wisconsin versus Minnesota, why is that because

1391
01:42:41,880 --> 01:42:48,860
we're nickel-diaming our developers and our housing providers that are actually providing

1392
01:42:48,860 --> 01:42:49,240
the housing.

1393
01:42:49,380 --> 01:42:56,300
We need the stream line to make that more flexible to create more housing.

1394
01:42:56,500 --> 01:43:02,120
I've learned that the developers will actually build it, and the builders will actually

1395
01:43:02,120 --> 01:43:05,020
build it if it's affordable, if they can actually justify the numbers.

1396
01:43:05,020 --> 01:43:09,880
We shouldn't have to have government subsidies for them to actually build these homes.

1397
01:43:11,400 --> 01:43:15,180
We need to lighten up on the mandate to be in place upon them.

1398
01:43:15,620 --> 01:43:16,080
Thank you, Representative.

1399
01:43:16,980 --> 01:43:22,700
One more general question, and I teed it up earlier, and then we'll give you a chance to make a closing argument.

1400
01:43:23,460 --> 01:43:30,180
You mentioned political polarization or the partisanship that you've encountered as a state representative.

1401
01:43:31,040 --> 01:43:37,720
How do you define compromise and how can you, as if you're reelected, how can you help

1402
01:43:37,720 --> 01:43:42,980
to take the temperature down and get back to more working across the aisle, regardless

1403
01:43:42,980 --> 01:43:48,400
of your public end or a Democrat or a rural or a metro or whatever the tribe might be in

1404
01:43:48,400 --> 01:43:53,040
that particular instance, how can we help to make that change?

1405
01:43:53,360 --> 01:43:58,020
You know, Mike, I think number one is you got to look at where you can agree on, forget your

1406
01:43:58,020 --> 01:44:02,540
differences, because all parties have differences of opinions and how we get there.

1407
01:44:02,900 --> 01:44:06,820
What I've learned is actually focused on where we do agree, and you'll find that I built

1408
01:44:06,820 --> 01:44:11,460
the legions with people that you might think that would be completely opposite where I

1409
01:44:11,460 --> 01:44:11,860
think.

1410
01:44:12,280 --> 01:44:16,440
But there were things that we agreed upon that were best interests for the State of Minnesota

1411
01:44:16,440 --> 01:44:17,280
and for our communities.

1412
01:44:17,380 --> 01:44:18,920
And that's where I focused on.

1413
01:44:19,060 --> 01:44:25,000
I think our constituents actually, yeah, Google, the website, the Minnesota House

1414
01:44:25,000 --> 01:44:30,940
representatives and pull up actually my bills and you can track and see the bills that I was

1415
01:44:30,940 --> 01:44:35,000
on and the ones that I actually co-sponsored and actually worked across the aisle on various

1416
01:44:35,000 --> 01:44:41,140
items that were sensitive to our area and that in Greater Minnesota and that's where I focus

1417
01:44:41,140 --> 01:44:46,400
is the center difference to the side mic and quit playing politics because I've seen that

1418
01:44:46,400 --> 01:44:51,380
way too much of a playing politics, especially even as campaigns, where it's a lot of politics

1419
01:44:51,380 --> 01:44:58,020
be employed. Let's focus on who we represent, which is a greater than a soda and all

1420
01:44:58,020 --> 01:44:59,960
Carlton County, Northern Pine, and Southern Fainland.

1421
01:45:00,210 --> 01:45:14,290
And that's what we need to focus on. Thank you very much. This is a sort of one more opportunity to kind of close and let folks know who are watching us today. Why they should support you for reelection in just a few weeks?

1422
01:45:15,210 --> 01:45:20,110
Well, a number one, Mike, if you want to thank you again for the opportunity to be here in the chamber. That means lack.

1423
01:45:20,830 --> 01:45:25,750
I'm a representative of Jeff Doffsett, and I've been honored to serve two years in the

1424
01:45:25,750 --> 01:45:30,130
House of Representatives, and I'd be honored to serve additional two years with reelection

1425
01:45:30,130 --> 01:45:31,350
in your support.

1426
01:45:31,850 --> 01:45:36,250
I think you'll find that I've been proven worthy of reelection, and I encourage you to pull

1427
01:45:36,250 --> 01:45:41,170
up again the House of Representatives website and do your own research and actually find out

1428
01:45:41,170 --> 01:45:48,130
what builds I was involved with, where my votes were, but also pull up my website, www.dautsethmn.com.

1429
01:45:48,130 --> 01:45:51,170
But again, at the end of the day, I just want to thank you.

1430
01:45:51,210 --> 01:45:56,410
It's been an honor to be able to serve our community, our great state, and I humbly asked for

1431
01:45:56,410 --> 01:46:02,210
your support for reelection, and I want to thank you, and I thank our community, and

1432
01:46:02,210 --> 01:46:02,830
God bless.

1433
01:46:03,390 --> 01:46:03,550
Thank you.

1434
01:46:03,630 --> 01:46:04,730
Thank you, Representative Dots of.

1435
01:46:05,390 --> 01:46:06,510
And thank you to the viewers.

1436
01:46:06,850 --> 01:46:08,250
This has been a great opportunity.

1437
01:46:08,390 --> 01:46:11,390
I hope it's been very informative for you to get to know some of your candidates for

1438
01:46:11,390 --> 01:46:12,510
a local and state office.

1439
01:46:13,310 --> 01:46:17,410
And with that, we'll close up, and we'll be done for the day, and thank you to the Chamber

1440
01:46:17,410 --> 01:46:22,250
for providing this format and this forum for folks to get the word out.

1441
01:46:22,530 --> 01:46:26,930
It's not always easy to get 30 minutes of a candidate's time in their own words, so thank you

1442
01:46:26,930 --> 01:46:29,510
and to your predecessors here for participating.

1443
01:46:30,030 --> 01:46:30,310
Thank you.

1444
01:46:30,570 --> 01:46:31,390
Thank you.

1445
01:46:31,510 --> 01:46:32,050
All right.

1446
01:46:32,110 --> 01:46:32,510
Thank you.