Posted: 8/2/06
Candidates square off at forum
By Jan Lee Buxengard
Special to The Argus
About 90 people attended the first political forum hosted by the Houston County Township Officers Association (HCTOA) on July 26 at the Four Seasons Community Center, Caledonia.
Candidates running for state legislative seats for the area were invited to participate in the question-and-answer period.
Those present were: Brenda Johnson (R-Chatfield), Kevin Kelleher (I-Houston), and Sharon Ropes (D-Winona), who are seeking the District 31 Senate seat vacated when Sen. Bob Kierlin decided not to run for re-election; Greg Davids, R-Preston, incumbent for representative of District 31B and his Democratic opponent, Ken Tschumper, Democrat from La Crescent.
As people arrived, they were handed colored cards to write question/s on. The cards were turned in to the officers who served on the panel.
Questions were not screened. Similar questions were categorized, and those most frequently asked were combined. In an alternating fashion, HCTOA vice president Kermit McRae read the questions for the candidates to respond.
Richard Markos, president of HCTOA, presided. ìThere are 17 townships in Houston County,î he reported. ìFour-hundred fifty miles of the 8,200 miles of roads in Minnesota are in Houston County. The last census shows 20,000 people living in the county, of which 8,200 live in townships.î
ìThis is the first time all five candidates have been together,î Markos noted about the forum that lasted over two hours. ìThey showed dignity, impartiality, and politeness,î Markos commented in closing remarks about the conduct of the candidates.
Each candidate gave a three-minute presentation before and after the question and answer session.
Senate District 31, Kevin Kelleher
ìIím running for the same reason Iím serving on the county board ñ to serve my community,î Kelleher stated.
While going door-to-door, he has been hearing repeatedly that, ìThere are serious problems in this state and nation. People feel disconnected with people in government. The two parties have forgotten whom they are serving. Itís not about the party; itís about the people.î
ìRoads are deteriorating badly. Our county highways are better than the state highways,î he pointed out.
ìOur schools are struggling.î Metro schools are funded $11,000 per student and Houston gets $7,000. ìI canít tell you the difference in the students thatís worth almost $4,000.î
ìFrankly, weíre not getting our share,î he stated about road and school funding.
Regarding his run on the third party ticket, he stated, ìThe party is not a religion ñ itís a platform.î He will work with the party that he feels is best to work with on the issues. ìAbe Lincoln was a third party candidate,î he pointed out.
Senate District 31, Sharon Ropes
ìPolitics is only real when itís local and improving peopleís lives,î Ropes stated. ìIím running because of all the stress people are under regarding health care. People tell me their top three concerns are health care, health care, health care.î
ìI have a strong respect for small communities, where you learn from school, family and church.î As far as the two parties, she said, ìIíve been married to a Republican for 27 years, and weíve learned how to get along.î
Senate District 31,
Brenda Johnson
ìThe basic everyday things are still the issues and topics weíll be working on,î Johnson said. ìRural legislators donít have as much power. Our district is at the short end of the stick. We need to work with our legislators as a group.î
ìWe can have a list, but we must have a solution for how to address all the problems.î
House District 31B,
Greg Davids
Strong education, health care, nursing home care, are among Davidsí top issues of concern. ìSix percent of the stateís population does not have health care coverage.î
ìMy goal is to see Minnesota become the ìSaudi Arabia of renewable fuelî.
ìThere is a movement to get rid of local control for zoning,î he announced, adding that a press release has been sent to local newspapers regarding the issue.
Instead of the dairy investment tax credit, Davids said, ìI got several farm organizations together, and weíre now working on livestock investment tax credit.î
House District 31B,
Ken Tschumper
ìIím a real direct person,î he began. ìDemocrats have suffered from lack of conviction. My goal is simple. I want to win this election to have democratic control of the House.î
ìMy issues are: 1. Health care is the number one priority in peopleís lives. 2. The state has cut back on funds for education and have made big increases in [post secondary education] tuition costs ñ are 50 percent higher than four years ago. 3. Campaign finance reform.
Many issues discussed
Here are some of the topics that were asked about, and the responses.
ï Economic development ñ what do you favor?
ìIím an economics teacher,î stated Johnson, founding member of an economic development authority, stated. ìI favor technical if communities want to bring it on. This will develop a work force, providing jobs to buy cars, houses, etc. And, make sure the people are trained.î
Ropes stated, ìWe must have a diverse base to stabilize communities and boost the economy. We have to deal with health care. Businesses are tied down with health care costs. And we must make a serious commitment to renewable energy. We can bring in jobs, jobs, jobs.î
Kelleher noted that, ìEconomic development is a large puzzle. We must have all pieces firmly in place. One piece we miss is agriculture, which is still the economic engine for this region.î And, he added, ìTechnology is coming down in price.î
ï What environmental protection legislation have you/would you introduce?
ìFarmers should be the strongest environmentalists,î Tschumper stated. ì[Gov.] Pawlenty has the worst record for under funding and under staffing PCA (Pollution Control Agency). Should make [PCA] fully staffed and funded for what it was intended to be ñ thatís good for rural residents.î
Davids reported environmental legislation passed laws including the Clean Water Legacy Act to maintain water quality standards for surface waters, and a law to reduce mercury emissions from Minnesotaís three largest coal-fired power plants.
ï Proposal for health care insurance coverage?
There are numerous insurance companies selling insurance in Minnesota, Ropes pointed out. ìWe should have one payer paying the bills and strip out the middle man and get rid of administration and waste. We have to do things that make sense for the whole state.î
Kelleher reported that MinnesotaCare health insurance has been in existence for the last 4-6 years. ìThey raised the level of eligibility and made it difficult to afford.î He also commented there should be a decentralization of mental health care facilities. ìThis year, Houston County had a record number of commitments to St. Peter.î
Johnson stated, ìWe must move to a smarter health system ñ transform the system or start a whole new health care system -- a system with diversity of options and choice, and ñ we have the right to know how much it costs.î
She continued, ìTwenty percent is access, 20 percent genes, 10 percent, and 50 percent us. We need to work on health before we work on health care.î
ï Annexation dispute ñ townships and cities?
ìMost annexation centers around zoning and economic development,î Tschumper commented. ìIt should be more balanced.î He doesnít want to see so much legal involvement.
Davids hasnít seen the issue as a big problem. ìCity and township need to work together ñ try to make a balance.î
Johnson shared her experience as Vice Mayor of Chatfield, explaining that when developers come to the city council, ìwe tell them to go to the township first to have first shot to see if itís workable.î
ï Transportation funding ñ if motor vehicle excise tax fails, what take its place?
ìThe Minnesota excise tax should be dedicated to transportation. They donít need to mess with the funding,î Kelleher stated. He wants to see an increase in bonding for bridges. ìOne-third of bridges, if not more, are deficient, and there isnít money to fix that. We have not built a new road in Houston County in 14 years. We need more revenue.î
Johnson reported that the last time Highway #44 was fixed was in 1990, and she did not know when Highway 76 had last been worked on. ìIt cost $238 million for the Highway 52 project [at Rochester], and our roads have to wait. Enough already, we have needs and issues.î
Candidate Ropes would like to see ìa balanced approach -- balanced sensible. It shouldnít be in the constitution.î
ì1988 was the last time the gas tax was increased,î Davids noted. State House representation is made up of 68 percent from the seven-county metro area and 32 percent from out state. He noted the Highway 61 improvement project at La Crescent, and that the Hwy #76 ñ Eitzen project is scheduled to begin in late 2007 or early 2008.
Tschumper stated, ìRoads cost too much. We have to do some cost cutting in road construction. There is a tremendous amount of profit for construction companies. Weíre never going to catch up at this rate.î
ï Put on ballot to legalize same-sex marriage?
ìIím not opposed to same-sex marriage, and donít think it should be voted on,î Tschumper stated. ìHistory is going towards equality.î In response to a question asked by an audience member regarding what the problem is, what the threat is to marriage, and the purpose for the amendment, ìTschumper stated point blank, ìDairy farmers have been married to their cows for decades!î
Davids supported a constitutional amendment defining marriage as a union between a man and woman. ìIt does need to be protected.î
ìWe live in a free society. Itís a personal choice, îRopes stated. Her answer was ìnoî. ìI oppose putting it on the constitution.î
Marriage is a man and woman, Johnson noted. ìYes the people should vote.î
Kelleher doesnít support the constitutional amendment. ìI support finding some civil union for people.î
ï Department of Natural Resources land trust group acquiring land?
As chairman of the Houston County Board of Commissioners, Kelleher reported that recently, the DNR came to the county board regarding acquiring land. ìThey had a willing seller and willing buyer. The DNR needs a plan and to bring it to the county.î
Ropes said, ìIf the DNR wants to buy property because they can, leave it up to the buyer and seller.î
ìThe county gets some of the money in lieu of taxes,î Davids stated. Johnsonís concern was, ìItís a new hardship for the township.î
Tschumper added, ì35 years ago, the DNR was buying land for the State Hardwood Forest.î
ï Position on taking a pledge of ìno new taxesî if elected?
All candidates replied no.
ï What committees have you served on/if elected, you hope to be appointed to?
Davids has served the 6-year limit on the commerce committee, and is now on the ag and rural development committee and is speaker pro-tem of the House. ìI would be looking at ways and means, and taxes and capital bonding,î
Tschumper is interested in environmental and natural resources, health and human services.
Ropesí interest would be in health care, education, energy technology, environment, and veterans.
Ag and rural affairs would be Kelleherís choice, along with environment and natural resources, human services and veterans.
Johnson is interested in education finance, transportation, ag and commerce, and health.
ï Ethanol ñ is there a question about food versus fuel? causing asthma?
ìItís been a tremendous success,î Tschumper stated. ìShould end the ethanol subsidies. Could be used for education and health, and should start an ethanol promotional council. Switch grass-based ethanol is ten times more productive than corn and would be a good rotation crop.î
Davids noted that ethanol plants are cooperatives, not big corporations, as Tschumper had stated. ìI donít want subsidies to end. For some time, all new plants didnít get the subsidies.î Regarding the asthma question, he pointed out, ìThe American Lung Association was the biggest supporter behind ethanol.î They wouldnít have supported it if there were a health danger.
ìWe need ethanol to bring the price of gasoline down,î Johnson commented, adding she was not worried about food versus fuel.
ìEthanol is moving us away from the fossil [sources] to a new clean,î Ropes said adding, ìWe need technology as the industry develops.î
ìThe benefits would be huge,î Kelleher said. ìItís all about energy independence.î
To contact candidates
Johnson can be reached at PO Box 482, Chatfield, MN 55923; phone (507) 867-4650; email brenda.johnson@attglobal.net or online www.brendajohnson.org
Kelleherís address is 3088 Storer Valley Rd., Houston, MN 55943; phone (507) 896-2054; kevin.kelleher@hotmail.com or www.kelleherforsenate.us
Ropesí address is 978 Gilmore Avenue, Winona, MN 55987; phone (507) 454-5447; Email: sharon@ropesforsenate.com or www.ropesforsenate.com
Davids can be reached at P.O. Box 32, Preston, MN 55965; phone (507) 765-2790; Legislature, 477 State Office Bldg., St, Paul, MN 55155; (651)296-9278; E-mail: rep.greg.davids@house.mn
Tschumper can be reached at 1460 Tschumper Rd., La Crescent, MN 55947; (507) 894-4248; ktschump@acegroup.cc or www.kentschumper.org
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