00:00:02.266 --> 00:00:04.834

can finish your thought, your the sentence if you’d like as

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we go on, but thanks for paying such close attention to the

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timers tonight. Candidate Bittner. All right, well, all 00:00:17.100 --> 00:00:21.367

mental health needs, uh, need to be addressed with compassion 00:00:21.367 --> 00:00:25.533

and, uh, mental health is an issue throughout society, not

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just students, but with adults as well. Um, I do believe that

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mental health needs to fall under the category of the 00:00:31.934 --> 00:00:36.734

Health and Human Services section, our category, I, I, uh,

00:00:36.734 --> 00:00:39.467

personally would like to see it separated from schools. I mean,

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there will be always some intersectionality because 00:00:42.567 --> 00:00:45.367

that’s where the students are, but they should be, the needs

00:00:45.367 --> 00:00:47.400

should be addressed under the health community and not

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schools. Schools need to focus on Their primary task, which is 00:00:51.867 --> 00:00:55.467

teaching children, so not to be, not compassionate, but I just

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think that the two need to be separated and that the needs

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need to be dealt with separately. Uh, family is the 00:01:01.400 --> 00:01:04.734

backbone, and I certainly appreciate that. The community

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is the next line of defense.

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Thank you. Candidate Bittner, this question comes to you 00:01:11.266 --> 00:01:16.800

first. As a member of the legislature, what measures, if

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any, would you support to reinforce or ensure voter 00:01:21.100 --> 00:01:33.367

confidence in our elections. 00:01:33.367 --> 00:01:38.266

Well, this is very fundamental to our System of government to

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have fair and free elections. 00:01:41.367 --> 00:01:46.133

And I do believe that we need to have some way to make sure

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that the people are voting are valid voters registered voters 00:01:51.233 --> 00:01:56.400

and that they have a right to vote. So, uh, a number of

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states have proposed and actually are using voter ID, um, 00:02:01.233 --> 00:02:02.667

I am not opposed to that idea.

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I think it would be, um, One of the only ways to ensure that

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our elections don’t have questions and that we don’t get 00:02:10.734 --> 00:02:13.734

into some of the major issues that we’ve suffered from in the

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past few years. Candidate Ericson. I would say that a 00:02:25.667 --> 00:02:29.500

significant part of this has to do with educating voters about

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how the system works. We When we’re setting up for elections, 00:02:36.533 --> 00:02:39.166

election judges get to come in in advance to test the machines

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to make sure they’re working. 00:02:40.767 --> 00:02:42.867

Candidates are invited to test the machines to make sure that

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they’re working. There are countless protections between

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the ballot box and the final count. And there are 00:02:51.800 --> 00:02:54.634

protections to make sure that people who are registered to

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vote can vote. And I think that the belief that those things 00:03:00.400 --> 00:03:04.233

are not true is a result of misinformation and fear and

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does not exist in reality. So protecting our communities by 00:03:10.000 --> 00:03:14.266

education about the process is the most important way forward.

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Candidates say Yeah, I just want to echo Christian. I don’t 00:03:22.233 --> 00:03:25.500

think there’s anything wrong with our election process. I

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believe that we’ve always had and always will have fair

00:03:29.734 --> 00:03:34.000

elections. I do believe in that educational piece with so much 00:03:34.000 --> 00:03:35.100

misinformation going out there.

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I do think us as a community can definitely gain confidence

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the more we understand the process. Um, I also want to 00:03:43.634 --> 00:03:48.367

kind of just address the voter ID thing. It’s from states that

00:03:48.367 --> 00:03:52.400

have done it in the past. It’s a barrier to our democracy at 00:03:52.400 --> 00:03:56.133

times. It does hinder people coming out to vote. It does

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hinder some of the, like, makes people go away and us in 00:04:00.200 --> 00:04:03.367

Minnesota here, we take care of our own and we take care of our

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community. So we want to make sure everyone is everyone that

00:04:07.133 --> 00:04:11.000

should and can participate in our electoral democra 00:04:11.000 --> 00:04:13.133

democratic process does, and we don’t want to put any barrier,

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but currently we do have a very fair election that has not been

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hindered in any way, so the more we can educate and talk to

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community members, the better. 00:04:21.000 --> 00:04:26.367

Candidate Lee Yeah, Minnesota has been like number one or at,

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at the top of uh voter turnout and participation and we need 00:04:30.200 --> 00:04:34.467

to be super proud of that. I am, I’m really proud of that. So

00:04:34.467 --> 00:04:37.734

our system works. I am a strongly opposed to any voter

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ID laws. I think what we’re doing, uh, it works really well, 00:04:42.367 --> 00:04:46.634

um, and, uh, in terms of what we need to do is to continue to

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support uh the training, the education, the transparency 00:04:50.867 --> 00:04:53.800

that we already have to continue to support our

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election. judges, our city clerks, uh, poor Devon, uh, has

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gone through so much. Uh, and, and, and our resident. If 00:05:01.934 --> 00:05:07.400

anything, what we need to do is continue to expand uh uh voting

00:05:07.400 --> 00:05:12.734

voting access, uh, drop off boxes, transportation, language, 00:05:12.734 --> 00:05:16.533

uh, uh, access, right? Um, so that way we can get everyone to

00:05:16.533 --> 00:05:17.533

participate as much as possible.

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Thank you. Candidate Lee, this is coming to you first. Do you 00:05:24.000 --> 00:05:25.367

support ranked choice voting?

00:05:25.367 --> 00:05:31.000

Why or why not? Yes, uh, I do, uh, because, uh, as I 00:05:31.000 --> 00:05:34.867

understand it, the thing that really sold me was that no vote

00:05:34.867 --> 00:05:42.300

goes to waste. No vote Go to waste. If you choose your top, 00:05:42.300 --> 00:05:44.834

uh, person, uh, or candidate.

00:05:44.834 --> 00:05:50.133

Second choice, 3rd choice, and so on, then your vote will go 00:05:50.133 --> 00:05:53.667

to someone and that matters a lot to me. So that’s what sold

00:05:53.667 --> 00:05:57.634

me, uh, and I’m uh I’m a supporter of ranked choice

00:05:57.634 --> 00:06:01.400

voting and will work to uh make sure that um that happens uh 00:06:01.400 --> 00:06:03.834

everywhere that we can. Uh, can, can, can help it to make, make

00:06:03.834 --> 00:06:12.634

it happen. Thank you. Candidate Ericson. The more I learn about 00:06:12.634 --> 00:06:16.367

rank choice voting, the more intrigued I am. I think for a

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country like the United States with the democratic tradition

00:06:19.266 --> 00:06:23.367

we have to be a solely two-party system is. is 00:06:23.367 --> 00:06:29.233

perplexing to me that we remain in that boat, um. I mean We

00:06:29.233 --> 00:06:32.467

can’t decide which of However many football teams we support, 00:06:32.467 --> 00:06:36.166

but we have two parties to choose from. And so I think Ra

00:06:36.166 --> 00:06:39.867

choice voting is a, is a way forward that broadens the

00:06:39.867 --> 00:06:44.634

number of choices we have. But I think that needs to come with 00:06:44.634 --> 00:06:47.367

an enormous investment in civic education about how it works.

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Um, I think the process we have now is confusing to people, and 00:06:51.634 --> 00:06:54.367

I don’t think that rank choice voting would be any less

00:06:54.367 --> 00:06:59.133

confusing to people. And so continuous engagement on the

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electoral process needs to be an investment we make as a 00:07:02.200 --> 00:07:04.000

society regardless of rank choice voting or the system we

00:07:04.000 --> 00:07:12.400

have now. Candidates say. Yeah, so this is a very unique uh 00:07:12.400 --> 00:07:17.400

question as I see rank choice voting happening in Minneapolis

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and just around. So as when it comes down to it, I don’t think 00:07:20.567 --> 00:07:24.100

we would rank choice voting or a two party system, no vote is

00:07:24.100 --> 00:07:28.934

ever a waste, regardless of who candidate you vote for, you, a

00:07:28.934 --> 00:07:31.867

person participated in a democracy is valuable 00:07:31.867 --> 00:07:34.266

regardless of who you’re voting for, who you’re writing in. I

00:07:34.266 --> 00:07:38.100

don’t, I would never say we’re wasting that vote. I do believe

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our two-party system. I’m currently is one that does 00:07:42.266 --> 00:07:45.467

marginalize some fresh ideas that come in, uh, some new

00:07:45.467 --> 00:07:48.934

perspective that could be there, but I do, I, I also believe

00:07:48.934 --> 00:07:51.934

that us as people, we the people, we can decide if we 00:07:51.934 --> 00:07:55.734

want a third party to have that power and so forth. So whether

00:07:55.734 --> 00:07:58.000

it’s rank choice voting, whether it’s just a two-party

00:07:58.000 --> 00:08:01.233

system, the people is the one that’s gonna decide what is 00:08:01.233 --> 00:08:04.734

best to move us forward and I think as long as we are voting

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and participating, we can make a change regardless. Candidate

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Bittner All right, well, I would approach that one from a 00:08:14.467 --> 00:08:18.834

control standpoint, I guess, because if a municipality wants

00:08:18.834 --> 00:08:21.300

to do rank choice voting, I would say that it’s fine. 00:08:21.300 --> 00:08:24.000

That’s the way it’s set up right now. From a state

00:08:24.000 --> 00:08:26.233

perspective, I would say no, that is not something we want

00:08:26.233 --> 00:08:30.867

to do. We want to keep the decisions local. I am all for 00:08:30.867 --> 00:08:34.867

local, uh, decision making, local solutions, overstate

00:08:34.867 --> 00:08:37.367

solutions, and in this case, I would say if the municipality

00:08:37.367 --> 00:08:40.934

wants to do it, that’s fine. 00:08:40.934 --> 00:08:43.867

All right, the next question will come to candidate Erickson

00:08:43.867 --> 00:08:51.200

first. Many are concerned with gun violence in our communities. 00:08:51.200 --> 00:08:54.000

In fact, gun violence created the need for the special

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election. What legislation, if any, would you support to meet

00:08:58.667 --> 00:09:07.734

the need for safe communities. 00:09:07.734 --> 00:09:14.767

It’s a hard question to answer in one minute. Um, Some time 00:09:14.767 --> 00:09:17.000

ago, somebody asked our police chief what causes him to lose

00:09:17.000 --> 00:09:21.734

sleep at night. And it didn’t take him long to answer that it 00:09:21.734 --> 00:09:27.634

was 14 year olds with guns. And, um There’s an immense number of

00:09:27.634 --> 00:09:29.634

problems that lead to that.

00:09:29.634 --> 00:09:32.800

There’s more than one gun per person in the United States. 00:09:32.800 --> 00:09:40.266

They The market is flooded with firearms. Um, it’s Easier here 00:09:40.266 --> 00:09:43.467

than in many places in the world to acquire them, and we

00:09:43.467 --> 00:09:51.467

need to close loopholes like, um, straw buyers. Um. And 00:09:51.467 --> 00:09:56.467

Lastly, we need to create a society in which our 14 year

00:09:56.467 --> 00:10:00.000

olds don’t feel like owning guns is the best way for them 00:10:00.000 --> 00:10:03.734

to have power and voice.

00:10:03.734 --> 00:10:13.367

Candidate Bittner. Yes, this certainly is a sensitive issue 00:10:13.367 --> 00:10:20.266

on many fronts, and we need to walk a balance on this one, so. 00:10:20.266 --> 00:10:24.133

Um, on one hand, we have to protect liberties. On the other

00:10:24.133 --> 00:10:25.166

hand, we have to protect people.

00:10:25.166 --> 00:10:31.533

I believe we’ve made a lot of progress in allowing people to 00:10:31.533 --> 00:10:34.233

have safely have guns for those that should have them. There

00:10:34.233 --> 00:10:41.634

are Um protections in place that don’t allow people who 00:10:41.634 --> 00:10:44.800

shouldn’t have them to get them legally. Now there are ways for

00:10:44.800 --> 00:10:49.266

them to get them, and that is illegal. Um, I believe that

00:10:49.266 --> 00:10:52.000

there has been a lot of back and forth in Minnesota over the 00:10:52.000 --> 00:10:55.567

years on gun laws, and I believe that we are actually,

00:10:55.567 --> 00:10:59.266

um, in an OK place. I think the the restrictions that we

00:10:59.266 --> 00:11:02.734

currently have in place are to safeguard individuals and our 00:11:02.734 --> 00:11:17.934

community. Candidate Lee. You know, um We, we are here 00:11:17.934 --> 00:11:24.000

because um of uh a really again tragic uh situation uh where 00:11:24.000 --> 00:11:29.467

the individual involved, um, had 50 guns, um, at his place,

00:11:29.467 --> 00:11:39.800

um. So You know It’s not Uh, necessarily a Uh, gun problem 00:11:39.800 --> 00:11:43.533

or uh or a um rights problem. 00:11:43.533 --> 00:11:50.467

Um, what I will do is work towards a statewide. Buyback 00:11:50.467 --> 00:11:54.500

program so what we need to do is to be able to get guns off

00:11:54.500 --> 00:11:59.100

the, the, uh, the, the streets that people don’t need anymore.

00:11:59.100 --> 00:12:05.467

Um, but also expand the ERPO, which is our red flag loss to 00:12:05.467 --> 00:12:09.734

really dive deeper into folks that have uh mental health or

00:12:09.734 --> 00:12:13.100

or or other wellness, uh, uh, issues, um, that of course, you 00:12:13.100 --> 00:12:20.934

know, could be a a larger risk to themselves and society. Mhm 00:12:20.934 --> 00:12:24.133

Many are concerned with gun violence in our communities. In

00:12:24.133 --> 00:12:28.467

fact, gun violence created the need for this special election.

00:12:28.467 --> 00:12:32.667

What legislation, if any, would you support to meet the need 00:12:32.667 --> 00:12:36.467

for safe communities. Yeah, this has been an ongoing issue.

00:12:36.467 --> 00:12:39.100

I feel, um, as a prosecutor, there’s something that I deal

00:12:39.100 --> 00:12:43.934

with on a daily basis in my work, whether it’s adult gun 00:12:43.934 --> 00:12:46.033

violence or you gun violence.

00:12:46.033 --> 00:12:50.567

One of the things that we do, um, in our, in Henry County is 00:12:50.567 --> 00:12:53.467

when you with a case, we give them options depending on the

00:12:53.467 --> 00:12:56.734

case for diversion. Diversion of the program where we partner

00:12:56.734 --> 00:12:59.467

with community and we, they get mental health services, they

00:12:59.467 --> 00:13:02.200

get resources and just see what is going underlying the issue. 00:13:02.200 --> 00:13:07.467

One of the things I want to do, if you like that, is create a

00:13:07.467 --> 00:13:10.767

proactive process rather than reactive. I see you coming into 00:13:10.767 --> 00:13:14.367

my office as when they’ve already done something bad. I’d

00:13:14.367 --> 00:13:17.567

rather pour into them to keep them from doing something bad.

00:13:17.567 --> 00:13:20.567

Giving them resources, community center, access to 00:13:20.567 --> 00:13:22.400

those mental health. Services now, which is going back to

00:13:22.400 --> 00:13:24.500

that educational piece, right?

00:13:24.500 --> 00:13:27.266

Making sure we have other options rather than turning

00:13:27.266 --> 00:13:30.900

towards gun rather than using gun or doing or stealing cars, 00:13:30.900 --> 00:13:35.133

right? So when we when we pour into our youth at an early

00:13:35.133 --> 00:13:41.000

stage, the outcome is a lot more successful. Candidates say 00:13:41.000 --> 00:13:44.200

this next question comes to you first, and it’s a bit of a

00:13:44.200 --> 00:13:47.900

follow-up. What ideas do you have to address the safety of

00:13:47.900 --> 00:13:50.567

our elected officials and all that work or visit our state 00:13:50.567 --> 00:13:57.100

capital. First thing I would say is, again with heavy hearts

00:13:57.100 --> 00:14:00.900

we’re up here. Just the response time that with 00:14:00.900 --> 00:14:04.533

everything that happened, the response time by our police

00:14:04.533 --> 00:14:08.467

officers and, and our elected officials just surrounding and

00:14:08.467 --> 00:14:10.934

coming into community and making sure and checking on 00:14:10.934 --> 00:14:15.734

everyone. I wanna just uh thank those people. I think one of

00:14:15.734 --> 00:14:18.367

the biggest thing that we are dealing with right now,

00:14:18.367 --> 00:14:21.734

especially for this election, it’s addresses of elected 00:14:21.734 --> 00:14:23.233

officials being public, right?

00:14:23.233 --> 00:14:26.500

So for this election when you are filing and you’re going

00:14:26.500 --> 00:14:29.634

through, they made an exception to not have address public,

00:14:29.634 --> 00:14:33.367

right? That is something that we can make sure that we try to 00:14:33.367 --> 00:14:37.634

build upon, right? I definitely agree that the community and

00:14:37.634 --> 00:14:40.467

the residents have the right to be able to assess their elected 00:14:40.467 --> 00:14:44.033

official, but with this waves that we can protect elected

00:14:44.033 --> 00:14:48.233

officials by hiding some of their personal information

00:14:48.233 --> 00:14:48.900

versus the private information.

00:14:48.900 --> 00:14:52.634

Um, I think we can move and come up with a better program 00:14:52.634 --> 00:14:56.367

to make sure people are safe in their home, and that’s part of

00:14:56.367 --> 00:15:07.000

my my primary goal, if you like to. Candidate Lee. I think, um, 00:15:07.000 --> 00:15:09.400

Yes, personal protection of personal information is, is

00:15:09.400 --> 00:15:16.634

gonna be important. Um Also, uh, obviously increasing some 00:15:16.634 --> 00:15:21.934

physical, um, uh, safety precautions. Um, maybe a metal 00:15:21.934 --> 00:15:25.133

detectors or maybe um a waiting room, right, um, at the Capitol

00:15:25.133 --> 00:15:26.734

or other other buildings, right?

00:15:26.734 --> 00:15:29.734

So that there’s more of a safety process unfortunately,

00:15:29.734 --> 00:15:34.900

uh, we are in that sort of uh atmosphere right now, um, but 00:15:34.900 --> 00:15:41.634

two other things uh also, uh, one is the rhetoric, um, we 00:15:41.634 --> 00:15:45.634

need to bring the rhetoric down, uh cool the temperature, you

00:15:45.634 --> 00:15:48.533

know, those are uh phrases that y’all have heard, um, so it’s

00:15:48.533 --> 00:15:52.734

about. again, why I’m running to bring communities together 00:15:52.734 --> 00:15:56.767

to try to work with everyone, right? Uh, and then the other

00:15:56.767 --> 00:16:02.000

thing is cybersecurity, um, we do have uh resources to be able 00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:05.734

to monitor what’s happening online in social media,

00:16:05.734 --> 00:16:07.100

especially the darker corners, and we need to continue to do

00:16:07.100 --> 00:16:16.000

that. Candidate Ericson A couple of weeks ago when I went 00:16:16.000 --> 00:16:19.100

down to file for office, my kids asked if we could go

00:16:19.100 --> 00:16:23.934

wander around the capital, and we did, uh, and the freedom to 00:16:23.934 --> 00:16:30.734

just walk in. To the state’s House. Uh, freely by any 00:16:30.734 --> 00:16:35.634

resident is something that I would really fear giving up.

00:16:35.634 --> 00:16:38.367

But also elected officials do deserve to be safe, and I think

00:16:38.367 --> 00:16:42.634

that there’s ways to get there that still keep the kind of 00:16:42.634 --> 00:16:45.200

openness and availability that we’ve gotten used to as a

00:16:45.200 --> 00:16:50.533

society, um. I think that this recent tragedy is pointed out 00:16:50.533 --> 00:16:55.467

that we need to build a robust communication system to all of

00:16:55.467 --> 00:16:59.800

our elected officials that happens instantaneously so that

00:16:59.800 --> 00:17:03.100

people are aware and can make decisions regarding their 00:17:03.100 --> 00:17:07.667

safety and, um. I know that there’s some talk about the

00:17:07.667 --> 00:17:10.834

state making services available for elected officials to sort 00:17:10.834 --> 00:17:15.000

of Protect their homes and kind of a crime prevention way, and

00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:18.367

I think that’s a useful step forward as well. Candidate

00:17:18.367 --> 00:17:25.266

Bittner All right, yes, so we all learned that our addresses 00:17:25.266 --> 00:17:28.767

would be private when we filed for candidacy and, um, that is

00:17:28.767 --> 00:17:33.567

an important step. Um, I remember years ago too when uh 00:17:33.567 --> 00:17:37.533

it was There were protests at legislators’ homes, and that

00:17:37.533 --> 00:17:40.734

should just not happen either, which also brings me to agree 00:17:40.734 --> 00:17:43.634

that we need to lower the temperature, um, we need to

00:17:43.634 --> 00:17:46.166

focus on civil discourse. I mean, that is one thing I would

00:17:46.166 --> 00:17:50.867

just want to say that we are Minnesotans, you know, we have 00:17:50.867 --> 00:17:54.667

differences of opinion. Yes, but we are Minnesotans. Let’s

00:17:54.667 --> 00:17:58.467

remember that we need to keep our focus on society and on the

00:17:58.467 --> 00:18:02.834

fabric of society. Um, I also agree that we need to keep 00:18:02.834 --> 00:18:05.467

access to our capital. It is such a beautiful building, and

00:18:05.467 --> 00:18:09.634

it is filled with heritage and history. We need to keep that

00:18:09.634 --> 00:18:14.934

open and available to all of us, um, and, uh, I would be in 00:18:14.934 --> 00:18:17.800

favor of some measure of security to make sure that we

00:18:17.800 --> 00:18:20.800

can still be there. Thank you. 00:18:20.800 --> 00:18:25.634

Candidate Bittner, this one comes to you first, and it’s a

00:18:25.634 --> 00:18:29.266

follow-up question on safety that’s come in. Uh, what can

00:18:29.266 --> 00:18:32.233

the legislature do to ensure safety for our students in our 00:18:32.233 --> 00:18:46.634

schools. Well, we need to work closely as the legislature with 00:18:46.634 --> 00:18:49.634

our school districts. I mean, we need to be together with

00:18:49.634 --> 00:18:53.934

them as much as possible because we have big problems to, 00:18:53.934 --> 00:18:58.266

uh, address. If it’s, uh, outcomes, test scores, um. You

00:18:58.266 --> 00:19:02.033

name it, we have to be there with them and help them, help 00:19:02.033 --> 00:19:04.133

guide them through, uh, and provide the resources that they

00:19:04.133 --> 00:19:10.000

need. Um, I think that’s the only way the school districts 00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:13.667

are the experts. We need to supply them with what they need

00:19:13.667 --> 00:19:17.400

to make sure that they, that the learning environment is a

00:19:17.400 --> 00:19:21.266

safe one and that seems to be just A given. I’m, I’m sorry 00:19:21.266 --> 00:19:25.934

that it isn’t, but that’s, that’s where we’re at.

00:19:25.934 --> 00:19:39.367

Candidate Ericson. I think we’ve touched on this on a few 00:19:39.367 --> 00:19:43.500

other issues that when we send our kids to school, uncertain. 00:19:43.500 --> 00:19:51.500

And afraid And bullied and feeling voiceless. It’s going 00:19:51.500 --> 00:19:55.100

to increase. The lack of security and safety in our

00:19:55.100 --> 00:19:58.934

schools. Um, but that doesn’t solve the immediate problem.

00:19:58.934 --> 00:20:01.634

The kids need to be safe today and social change happens over 00:20:01.634 --> 00:20:06.634

time. And so I think answering the questions about how do we

00:20:06.634 --> 00:20:10.767

keep guns out of the hands of children, whether it’s red flag 00:20:10.767 --> 00:20:17.233

laws or Um Increasing Efforts to keep illegal firearms off

00:20:17.233 --> 00:20:21.400

the streets. All of those are important parts of that 00:20:21.400 --> 00:20:25.734

equation, and I think I do agree that that principles and

00:20:25.734 --> 00:20:28.900

superintendents need resources to make decisions for their

00:20:28.900 --> 00:20:39.467

unique contexts as, as educators. Candidates say. Yeah, 00:20:39.467 --> 00:20:44.300

I think this is a really scary thought to think about as a 00:20:44.300 --> 00:20:48.634

parent, um, as a 2 year old, as having a 2 year old, sending

00:20:48.634 --> 00:20:50.900

your kids to school and thinking that you might not see 00:20:50.900 --> 00:20:55.734

them. This is an issue that has been going on for years, um,

00:20:55.734 --> 00:20:59.834

currently here today, we have about 32 school students that’s

00:20:59.834 --> 00:21:04.133

happened as of the end of the day. How do we support that? My 00:21:04.133 --> 00:21:07.934

solution to that is always giving the schools the

00:21:07.934 --> 00:21:11.166

resources they need. We need guidance counselor, we need 00:21:11.166 --> 00:21:13.734

more training for these teachers to see if they can

00:21:13.734 --> 00:21:15.367

spot these issues ahead of time.

00:21:15.367 --> 00:21:19.166

Obviously, um, going back to a previous question, we have

00:21:19.166 --> 00:21:21.400

universal background checks already. We have to continue to 00:21:21.400 --> 00:21:24.000

enforce these kind of things to make sure guns are not falling

00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:27.400

in the hands of youth who are going through certain

00:21:27.400 --> 00:21:30.734

situations and we, as our teachers are the first line and 00:21:30.734 --> 00:21:33.667

they’re teaching and they see these youth more oftentimes

00:21:33.667 --> 00:21:36.266

than parents do. They’re the one that was spotted, so we

00:21:36.266 --> 00:21:39.367

need to make sure they have adequate training in looking.

00:21:39.367 --> 00:21:44.767

And finding these issues area right away. Candidate Lee First 00:21:44.767 --> 00:21:51.266

of all, uh, no, uh, teachers do not need guns. Um, what we do 00:21:51.266 --> 00:21:58.000

need are uh more uh Maybe classroom safety features which

00:21:58.000 --> 00:22:00.233

uh there there are have been a lot that have been, you know, 00:22:00.233 --> 00:22:03.934

hitting the market, so we can look into some of those things

00:22:03.934 --> 00:22:08.734

where maybe it’s barring the door more or um just processes

00:22:08.734 --> 00:22:11.934

uh and and trainings, you know, so, so more physical features 00:22:11.934 --> 00:22:15.266

for classrooms and the school, um, bulletproof, uh, tables and

00:22:15.266 --> 00:22:22.634

chairs. Other than that, um, our SROs are super important, 00:22:22.634 --> 00:22:26.900

um, you know, they are uh already there working with the,

00:22:26.900 --> 00:22:31.266

the, the, the, the children and helping to, um, you know, keep 00:22:31.266 --> 00:22:36.634

an eye out, um, and Uh, emergency response. We need to

00:22:36.634 --> 00:22:40.867

practice that, right? Um, let’s learn from Uvalde, OK? Uh, 00:22:40.867 --> 00:22:44.000

let’s make sure that our first responders are equipped and

00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:51.467

prepared to respond as much as possible, um. Thank you. 00:22:51.467 --> 00:22:56.800

Candidate Eriksson, this one comes to you first. Oftentimes

00:22:56.800 --> 00:22:59.166

we ask candidates how they will work with others that have

00:22:59.166 --> 00:23:03.734

viewpoints that are different from their own. In this time of 00:23:03.734 --> 00:23:06.467

political polarization and extreme rhetoric. What ideas do

00:23:06.467 --> 00:23:08.867

you have to bring down the temperature and get the work of

00:23:08.867 --> 00:23:17.133

the people done. A lot of social science research has 00:23:17.133 --> 00:23:21.867

proven that we don’t really understand each other very well. 00:23:21.867 --> 00:23:26.667

Um, and so learning to communicate our values and

00:23:26.667 --> 00:23:30.533

positions in ways that others can understand is vitally 00:23:30.533 --> 00:23:36.834

important, um, Also being very clear about where you won’t

00:23:36.834 --> 00:23:40.033

budge is important. I think there’s issues upon which we 00:23:40.033 --> 00:23:43.233

shouldn’t fold, and there’s some issues upon which we can

00:23:43.233 --> 00:23:47.166

compromise and bend. And we should be clear about where

00:23:47.166 --> 00:23:51.266

those are early in negotiations, so we know we can find where 00:23:51.266 --> 00:23:57.667

the common ground is and where there’s not room for Um

00:23:57.667 --> 00:24:04.634

Compromise. And uh, Lastly, is realizing that it will be hard. 00:24:04.634 --> 00:24:08.367

Because the temperature is very high. And it’s, it’s easy to

00:24:08.367 --> 00:24:12.000

say, boy, it sure would be nice to lower the temperature, but 00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:16.400

the temperature is high. And so we need to be patient and we

00:24:16.400 --> 00:24:24.367

need to invest in communication with each other. Candidates say 00:24:24.367 --> 00:24:29.667

Maybe because. Mhm. Often we ask candidates how will they

00:24:29.667 --> 00:24:32.367

work with others that have viewpoints that are different 00:24:32.367 --> 00:24:36.767

from their own. In this time of political polarization and

00:24:36.767 --> 00:24:39.467

extreme rhetoric, what ideas do you have to bring the

00:24:39.467 --> 00:24:44.734

temperature down and get the work of the people done. So, um, 00:24:44.734 --> 00:24:47.800

in a divided house right now, you have to be able to work

00:24:47.800 --> 00:24:50.567

with the other side. Um, I believe that government work 00:24:50.567 --> 00:24:52.834

for the people when it listens to the people and in order to

00:24:52.834 --> 00:24:57.000

get things done, you have to find that common ground. What I

00:24:57.000 --> 00:25:01.133

would do is build existing relationship that I have with 00:25:01.133 --> 00:25:03.867

Democrats and Republicans. I have been a policy director

00:25:03.867 --> 00:25:05.200

from a nonpartisan perspective.

00:25:05.200 --> 00:25:08.133

I have sat down with Republicans. I’ve sat down with

00:25:08.133 --> 00:25:11.634

Democrats to get bills done to get Bill signed, to move bills. 00:25:11.634 --> 00:25:14.533

So I will build on that relationship that I already

00:25:14.533 --> 00:25:17.734

have and continue to negotiate, right? Find that commonality

00:25:17.734 --> 00:25:20.467

that we all have because at the end of the day, we all want to 00:25:20.467 --> 00:25:23.100

make Minnesota better, but we can’t do that if we are just

00:25:23.100 --> 00:25:26.367

stuck in our ways, right? I think, uh, as I said, you got

00:25:26.367 --> 00:25:27.300

to compromise with everything.

00:25:27.300 --> 00:25:29.467

I compromise. When I’m talking to my wife, I compromise when

00:25:29.467 --> 00:25:31.834

I’m talking to my kids. You got to be able to compromise. And 00:25:31.834 --> 00:25:35.800

this idea that you just saw one thing or one party or one track.

00:25:35.800 --> 00:25:38.100

It’s not, doesn’t get work for the people. It doesn’t work for

00:25:38.100 --> 00:25:41.300

the community. So I believe in building that relationship that 00:25:41.300 --> 00:25:44.533

I already have, push it forward and build that trust to get

00:25:44.533 --> 00:25:49.200

things done. Candidate Lee.

00:25:49.200 --> 00:25:57.266

What we need to do is bring the focus back on our humanity. Our 00:25:57.266 --> 00:25:58.867

shared experiences of family.

00:25:58.867 --> 00:26:04.734

Of sports. Of recreation, you know, um, we can talk about all 00:26:04.734 --> 00:26:10.567

that all day long, um. But politics has been one of those, 00:26:10.567 --> 00:26:16.467

you know, uh, uh, uh, band, you know, uh, topics at the, the

00:26:16.467 --> 00:26:20.667

kitchen table, but we need to get back into that. And some, 00:26:20.667 --> 00:26:24.000

some can do it well, but some, you know, need to ease into it,

00:26:24.000 --> 00:26:28.467

but we need to get back to creating those relationships

00:26:28.467 --> 00:26:34.166

again. And maybe mending some um that have been uh torn apart 00:26:34.166 --> 00:26:39.634

in recent years. Uh, we have to do that, um, focus on uh our

00:26:39.634 --> 00:26:43.667

goals, uh, and talk to each other, um. Melissa would have 00:26:43.667 --> 00:26:49.000

wanted us to also get off of social media as much as

00:26:49.000 --> 00:26:52.900

possible and just talk to each other. Thank you. Candidate 00:26:52.900 --> 00:27:00.266

Bittner. I love that That’s a great idea. All right, and I 00:27:00.266 --> 00:27:04.567

will begin again by saying that we are Minnesotans. The way to,

00:27:04.567 --> 00:27:07.467

uh, get things done with people is to develop relationships

00:27:07.467 --> 00:27:12.533

with them. You have to work to find the common ground. People 00:27:12.533 --> 00:27:15.667

are individuals and they need to be treated as such. We are

00:27:15.667 --> 00:27:20.533

not groups, we are individuals, and we have different ideas. 00:27:20.533 --> 00:27:24.266

But we can uh find what is the underlying value. We might have

00:27:24.266 --> 00:27:26.033

different opinions, but there are different, there are

00:27:26.033 --> 00:27:30.734

underlying values there that we need to understand. Um, we are 00:27:30.734 --> 00:27:34.033

all trying to reach similar goals, but oftentimes we have

00:27:34.033 --> 00:27:36.100

different ideas and a different means, a different way to go

00:27:36.100 --> 00:27:38.400

about it. Uh, I negotiate.

00:27:38.400 --> 00:27:41.367

That’s what I do. I’m a real estate agent. That’s my job, 00:27:41.367 --> 00:27:45.734

and I must say that listening to people is very important.

00:27:45.734 --> 00:27:48.400

The most important thing you can do is become an excellent

00:27:48.400 --> 00:27:55.734

listener. Candidate Lee, this is coming to you first. Um, 00:27:55.734 --> 00:27:58.133

we’ve had some questions submitted about the environment.

00:27:58.133 --> 00:28:03.800

Please tell us how your work as a state representative may be 00:28:03.800 --> 00:28:06.000

informed by environmental impact and environmental

00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:11.800

justice issues. Yeah, um, so proud that, uh. I’m so proud 00:28:11.800 --> 00:28:15.467

that we have our very own, uh, Breckenridge, Isaac Walton

00:28:15.467 --> 00:28:19.900

League, uh, right here in our backyard, uh, and that we, we

00:28:19.900 --> 00:28:25.667

might have, uh, the, actually 34B might have the most river 00:28:25.667 --> 00:28:30.100

shoreline of any district in Minnesota. So there’s a really 00:28:30.100 --> 00:28:32.834

strong responsibility uh to be able to make sure that we

00:28:32.834 --> 00:28:34.900

reinvest, uh, not just in the environment, but also in the

00:28:34.900 --> 00:28:39.533

properties, right? Um, so we have, uh, the city has done a

00:28:39.533 --> 00:28:42.834

lot for River Park, and of course the new Gateway Park, uh, 00:28:42.834 --> 00:28:46.467

working really greatly with our, uh, a really wonderful partners,

00:28:46.467 --> 00:28:51.300

uh, Three Rivers, so continue to uh uh expand and fund that, 00:28:51.300 --> 00:28:56.634

um, also, um, Uh, whoever is in this seat will also join the

00:28:56.634 --> 00:29:01.400

caucus of Mississippi River, um, uh, uh, folks, um, so you know, 00:29:01.400 --> 00:29:04.467

I will definitely work to protect uh our, uh, the, the,

00:29:04.467 --> 00:29:08.634

the. the, the cleanliness, um, uh, and the pollution and, and

00:29:08.634 --> 00:29:12.667

keep that out of our, our Mississippi. Thank you. 00:29:12.667 --> 00:29:19.200

Candidates say. Yeah, I think, uh, climate change is one of

00:29:19.200 --> 00:29:22.800

the presenting issue of our generation nowadays, we see a 00:29:22.800 --> 00:29:25.934

lot of air pollution occurring where it is unsafe for you to

00:29:25.934 --> 00:29:28.934

go outside, it’s not safe for you to walk. It’s unsafe to

00:29:28.934 --> 00:29:31.000

take your little ones, and that’s something that we need 00:29:31.000 --> 00:29:35.667

to address. And one of the ways that we can address that is by

00:29:35.667 --> 00:29:37.667

supporting public transportation, right? Um,

00:29:37.667 --> 00:29:40.100

currently I do park and ride. I will park somewhere and then 00:29:40.100 --> 00:29:45.166

drive the bus to the cities, encouraging people to carpool,

00:29:45.166 --> 00:29:47.166

encouraging people to go electric. Electric. There’s

00:29:47.166 --> 00:29:50.100

ways that we can lower our carbon footprint, and then 00:29:50.100 --> 00:29:53.734

we’ll find that, find solutions to that. The environment is

00:29:53.734 --> 00:29:56.533

gonna be here long after we’re gone. We need to do our part to

00:29:56.533 --> 00:29:59.200

make sure that it’s up and running for the future

00:29:59.200 --> 00:30:02.800

generations. And I think that is something that is really key 00:30:02.800 --> 00:30:05.934

to my campaign and making sure that we address and find

00:30:05.934 --> 00:30:08.634

solutions, and those solutions comes from the community. Those

00:30:08.634 --> 00:30:11.567

solution comes from listening to people and see what fits 00:30:11.567 --> 00:30:15.634

them, how they feel that they can do. How can we at Brooklyn

00:30:15.634 --> 00:30:18.834

Parker make Brooklyn Park safer to drink the water to move

00:30:18.834 --> 00:30:20.400

around a little bit better. 00:30:20.400 --> 00:30:26.800

Candidate Bittner. Right, yes, I will agree that we live in

00:30:26.800 --> 00:30:29.500

one of the most beautiful states in the country, and we

00:30:29.500 --> 00:30:32.734

live in one of the most beautiful areas in the state. 00:30:32.734 --> 00:30:37.033

We have a beautiful Mississippi River right here, and we have

00:30:37.033 --> 00:30:40.200

wonderful parks here as well to enjoy. As far as this goes, I 00:30:40.200 --> 00:30:43.867

believe we have to strike the right balance between

00:30:43.867 --> 00:30:47.000

protecting our natural resources and also allowing for

00:30:47.000 --> 00:30:49.533

their responsible use. Um, when you’re talking about the

00:30:49.533 --> 00:30:53.634

environment, I think what we’re really mostly getting at is 00:30:53.634 --> 00:30:58.000

energy and we are gonna have to rethink how we look for energy

00:30:58.000 --> 00:31:02.567

as well. I think we need to rethink our clean energy goals, 00:31:02.567 --> 00:31:04.233

um, maybe they were aggressive.

00:31:04.233 --> 00:31:07.500

I think le clean natural gas might be something that we need

00:31:07.500 --> 00:31:11.667

to look at. But I also think that um with the increased 00:31:11.667 --> 00:31:14.367

electricity needs that we’re going to be having in the

00:31:14.367 --> 00:31:17.800

future with EVs and uh data centers. We need to be looking

00:31:17.800 --> 00:31:21.266

at putting nuclear. back on the table with the um small nuclear 00:31:21.266 --> 00:31:25.533

reactors as a way to generate nuclear power. Candidate

00:31:25.533 --> 00:31:32.634

Ericson. I’m gonna go back to education on this one. As long 00:31:32.634 --> 00:31:36.300

as our society doesn’t have a shared understanding of what

00:31:36.300 --> 00:31:41.667

science is, we will have very little success moving forward 00:31:41.667 --> 00:31:47.734

on this issue, um. If we can’t agree on what is causing

00:31:47.734 --> 00:31:54.934

wildfires. We stuck. If we can’t agree on. pumping carbon 00:31:54.934 --> 00:31:58.133

monoxide and carbon dioxide into our air being bad. We’re

00:31:58.133 --> 00:32:03.467

not going to go anywhere. So we need to educate our community. 00:32:03.467 --> 00:32:07.367

Such that we have a shared understanding of what science

00:32:07.367 --> 00:32:14.667

is and how science works. Thank you. We’ve moved through our 00:32:14.667 --> 00:32:17.000

time for questions, so we do need to move on to closing

00:32:17.000 --> 00:32:19.634

statements now. A reminder you’ll each have 2 minutes for

00:32:19.634 --> 00:32:22.367

your closing statement, and we’ll begin with candidate 00:32:22.367 --> 00:32:28.634

Erickson. I want to start by saying thank you again for

00:32:28.634 --> 00:32:32.800

being here, for asking questions and for paying 00:32:32.800 --> 00:32:36.000

attention to our answers, uh, 60 seconds really isn’t a very

00:32:36.000 --> 00:32:39.233

long time to answer complex questions like this. But I

00:32:39.233 --> 00:32:42.400

think it does give you a picture of what comes to the 00:32:42.400 --> 00:32:46.233

top of our minds when a thought enters our head, um, so

00:32:46.233 --> 00:32:48.400

hopefully you’ve gotten some picture of where each of us

00:32:48.400 --> 00:32:53.667

stand tonight. Um From there, I would go to, please reach out 00:32:53.667 --> 00:32:57.400

if you have questions. I think I know I will be happy to

00:32:57.400 --> 00:33:02.200

answer emails, uh, if people send them, uh, Eriksson for 00:33:02.200 --> 00:33:07.033

house at gmail.com. Um, If a candidate comes to your door,

00:33:07.033 --> 00:33:11.300

answer it. Um, we, we love to talk and we love to listen. Um, 00:33:11.300 --> 00:33:15.467

so please reach out and be engaged. This is a very short

00:33:15.467 --> 00:33:19.367

time frame from Us entering the race to the election. Um, so

00:33:19.367 --> 00:33:22.400

it’s going to be important that residents look around and find 00:33:22.400 --> 00:33:26.367

what each of us stand for. But ultimately it is my position

00:33:26.367 --> 00:33:33.133

that On September 16th, the seat needs to be blue. And um, 00:33:33.133 --> 00:33:39.100

So I ask you to vote thusly, um, the primary. I’m asking for

00:33:39.100 --> 00:33:42.266

your support, but ultimately on September 16th, I’m asking you 00:33:42.266 --> 00:33:44.367

to vote blue. Thank you.

00:33:44.367 --> 00:33:49.266

Candidate Bittner Again, I would like to thank the League

00:33:49.266 --> 00:33:51.367

of Women Voters for this forum. 00:33:51.367 --> 00:33:55.667

America is an idea itself, and we need to promote the free

00:33:55.667 --> 00:33:58.367

exchange of ideas and thank you all to you who participated

00:33:58.367 --> 00:34:01.567

here tonight. Again, I’m Ruth Bittner and I’m asking for your 00:34:01.567 --> 00:34:06.367

vote to represent this district 34B is a diverse district.

00:34:06.367 --> 00:34:09.000

Different backgrounds and opinions, but we can focus on

00:34:09.000 --> 00:34:10.567

our common goals and vision. 00:34:10.567 --> 00:34:13.767

First of all, a legislator represents people. I listen to

00:34:13.767 --> 00:34:18.133

people. I am a hardworking problem solver as a real estate

00:34:18.133 --> 00:34:21.734

agent, that’s what I do. I negotiate. I can’t stress 00:34:21.734 --> 00:34:26.100

enough the need to work with people, valuing them as

00:34:26.100 --> 00:34:28.867

individuals, and we need to dial down our rhetoric. We need

00:34:28.867 --> 00:34:33.166

to see each other as fellow Minnesotans and fellow 00:34:33.166 --> 00:34:36.734

Americans at all levels of discourse, I want to promote

00:34:36.734 --> 00:34:40.367

civility. This is the only path forward for our society. I 00:34:40.367 --> 00:34:44.000

would like to have conversations and not

00:34:44.000 --> 00:34:45.467

cancellations. My top priorities First, we need to

00:34:45.467 --> 00:34:48.634

get a state budget back in order. We are all sickened to

00:34:48.634 --> 00:34:52.233

see the fraud and theft that has plagued our great state. 00:34:52.233 --> 00:34:55.400

Let’s start by getting money to the people it was meant for and

00:34:55.400 --> 00:34:58.166

not for the to those who would take advantage of our

00:34:58.166 --> 00:35:01.467

generosity. I fully support the office of the Inspector General 00:35:01.467 --> 00:35:04.567

to investigate and prevent such fraud in the future. Second, we

00:35:04.567 --> 00:35:07.667

all want to live in safe communities. Let’s make sure

00:35:07.667 --> 00:35:11.400

our local law enforcement is fully staffed, trained, and 00:35:11.400 --> 00:35:14.533

supplied with the resources needed. Third, education is the

00:35:14.533 --> 00:35:18.467

key to our. future and sadly we are not succeeding. Spending

00:35:18.467 --> 00:35:22.133

has increased, yet test results are unacceptably low. We must 00:35:22.133 --> 00:35:24.800

work with school districts to get the route to get to the

00:35:24.800 --> 00:35:28.734

root of the problem, to restore the bright future of our next

00:35:28.734 --> 00:35:33.200

generation. The best solutions are the local solutions. You 00:35:33.200 --> 00:35:36.200

can learn more at Ruthinneramn.com. I’m asking

00:35:36.200 --> 00:35:40.734

for your vote on September 16th, and my name is Ruth Bittner. 00:35:40.734 --> 00:35:46.266

Candidates say Thank you again.

00:35:46.266 --> 00:35:49.467

I want to thank the League of Women Voter. I want to thank

00:35:49.467 --> 00:35:52.734

everybody for coming out and having such an important 00:35:52.734 --> 00:35:56.834

conversation. Um, I think the wide range of knowledge,

00:35:56.834 --> 00:35:59.467

experience here, we’ll move Brooklyn Park forward. But I

00:35:59.467 --> 00:36:03.734

want to say this racism is not about one person. It’s about 00:36:03.734 --> 00:36:06.400

building a future that every neighbor in this district can

00:36:06.400 --> 00:36:10.867

thrive. It’s about making sure our children Have a resources 00:36:10.867 --> 00:36:14.934

they need to be able to succeed in score. It’s about families

00:36:14.934 --> 00:36:20.266

feeling safe in their community and about having diverse voice 00:36:20.266 --> 00:36:24.000

being represented through all of Minnesota. I’m not a career

00:36:24.000 --> 00:36:27.867

politician. I’m a proud Democrat. I’m a father. I’m an

00:36:27.867 --> 00:36:31.533

advocate. I’m a public servant and I’m someone who is your 00:36:31.533 --> 00:36:35.667

neighbor. And I am here today to fight on your behalf. I have,

00:36:35.667 --> 00:36:38.567

I’ve been fighting as an organizer. I’ve been fighting

00:36:38.567 --> 00:36:41.634

as a prosecutor, and I will continue to fight for you in 00:36:41.634 --> 00:36:46.367

the Minnesota House. I hope to continue to grow up and foster

00:36:46.367 --> 00:36:49.100

deeper conversation. I am always available and accessible.

00:36:49.100 --> 00:36:52.900

You can find more information at my website, Ericsonsa.com. 00:36:52.900 --> 00:36:56.233

Again, this is just a tipping point, but whoever does get

00:36:56.233 --> 00:36:59.367

this seat needs to move brokenpart forward and needs to

00:36:59.367 --> 00:37:02.767

make sure that we are carrying on the legacy of Speaker 00:37:02.767 --> 00:37:05.100

Hortman. Not just carrying on it, but building upon it to

00:37:05.100 --> 00:37:10.467

make Brooklyn Park a better place. Thank you. Candidate Lee 00:37:10.467 --> 00:37:13.233

Thank you again to the Legal Women voters for the

00:37:13.233 --> 00:37:19.567

opportunity again everyone for coming out. What separates me,

00:37:19.567 --> 00:37:26.467

uh, is my, uh, statewide work experience. I helped to lead 00:37:26.467 --> 00:37:28.533

our census statewide mobilization partnership, which

00:37:28.533 --> 00:37:31.367

helped Minnesota to keep our 8th congressional seat, and if 00:37:31.367 --> 00:37:35.634

you didn’t know, that was by like 22 people. We, we kept our

00:37:35.634 --> 00:37:39.734

8th congressional seat because we counted 22 people more than

00:37:39.734 --> 00:37:46.734

New York. Also, uh, I have statewide organizing and 00:37:46.734 --> 00:37:50.000

programming experience responding uh in the uh 00:37:50.000 --> 00:37:53.734

pandemic to the COVID-19, um, uh, situation. Uh, at the state

00:37:53.734 --> 00:38:00.133

level. Uh, so I will, again, bring all of that to bear with 00:38:00.133 --> 00:38:06.000

in terms of working within our caucus and at the legislature.

00:38:06.000 --> 00:38:11.367

I am proudly the DFL endorsed candidate. It was also recently 00:38:11.367 --> 00:38:15.367

endorsed by the DFL Veterans and Military, uh, families

00:38:15.367 --> 00:38:23.367

caucus. And by my union, make the Minnesota Association of 00:38:23.367 --> 00:38:29.200

Public Employees. And I looked to gain more, uh, because

00:38:29.200 --> 00:38:35.867

unions, uh, as well as uh veterans as well as the 00:38:35.867 --> 00:38:40.266

environment and organizations that support um justice, uh, 00:38:40.266 --> 00:38:44.867

it’s important again to build that tent for all of us to come

00:38:44.867 --> 00:38:49.800

together around. I’m also proud to have Senator John Hoffman’s

00:38:49.800 --> 00:38:53.000

endorsement, Representative Samantha Van endorsement and 00:38:53.000 --> 00:38:58.000

former rep, Mike Nelson’s endorsement. Which are all

00:38:58.000 --> 00:39:00.467

bordering uh this district. 00:39:00.467 --> 00:39:04.367

Together, let’s keep moving.

00:39:04.367 --> 00:39:09.533

Minnesota For stronger. That’s my slogan. Thanks. The League

00:39:09.533 --> 00:39:12.367

of Women Voters of Brooklyn Park Oso, Maple Grove, would 00:39:12.367 --> 00:39:16.133

like to thank all of you for coming tonight. I’d like to

00:39:16.133 --> 00:39:19.200

especially thank the candidates for being part of the

00:39:19.200 --> 00:39:21.867

democratic process by running for office and for being 00:39:21.867 --> 00:39:23.400

willing to serve your community.

00:39:23.400 --> 00:39:36.266

It’s not an easy task. If we did not get If we did not get 00:39:36.266 --> 00:39:38.934

to your question tonight, and I know we didn’t get to all of

00:39:38.934 --> 00:39:41.634

them, or you have further questions for candidates, we 00:39:41.634 --> 00:39:45.266

invite you to contact them directly with your concerns. I

00:39:45.266 --> 00:39:48.100

would like to remind everyone again that the views expressed

00:39:48.100 --> 00:39:51.133

in this forum are those of the candidates, not those of the 00:39:51.133 --> 00:39:54.934

League of Women Voters. And I have one more special message

00:39:54.934 --> 00:39:59.133

to everyone. Your vote is important and it truly counts.

00:39:59.133 --> 00:40:04.000

Early voting began today for the August 12th primary. Early 00:40:04.000 --> 00:40:06.800

voting begins September 2nd for election day, which is

00:40:06.800 --> 00:40:11.467

September 16th. All of the voting information that you 00:40:11.467 --> 00:40:16.900

need, locations and times can be found at MNvotes.org. Thank