CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT?

>> Eric: THANKS, FELLAS.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THIS WEEK'S FIRST-TERM LAWMAKER HAS SOME IDEAS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL LEADERS, AND HE HAS SOME EXPERIENCE TO BACK HIM UP.

TAKE A LOOK.

- >> Mary: REPRESENTATIVE HILL, THE QUESTION WE ASK EVERYONE, WHY DID YOU WANT TO RUN?

>> I GOT INVOLVED IN THIS RACE BECAUSE OF A FEW REASONS.

NUMBER ONE, I'VE BEEN A LONGTIME TEACHER, AND HAVE WATCHED SINCE THE OUTSET OF MY CAREER ALMOST 25 YEARS AGO THE CHALLENGES THAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE FACING.

>> Mary: AS A TEACHER, YOU KNOW EDUCATION.

THIS SESSION'S HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?

WHAT ACTION, WHAT LEGISLATION DO YOU NEED?

>> YOU KNOW, FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE NEED TO LISTEN DEEPLY TO OUR EDUCATIONAL LEADERS.

AND MAKE SURE THAT WE EQUIP THEM TO DO THE CHALLENGING JOB OF MEETING THE NEEDS OF EVERY LAST STUDENT IN MINNESOTA.

IT IS GOING TO BOIL DOWN TO SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDING, I BELIEVE.

>> Mary: HOW MUCH DOES MONEY MATTER?

>> IT MATTERS A GREAT DEAL.

I THINK THAT WE'VE BEEN OPERATING IN MINNESOTA SCHOOLS ON A SCARCITY MODEL OR THE DURATION OF MY CAREER.

THERE WERE SOME YEARS IN THE EARLY 2000s WHERE THE FORMULA DIDN'T INCREASE.

WE HAVE FALLEN WAY BEHIND DUE TO THOSE YEARS WHERE THERE WAS A ZERO PERCENT INCREASE.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT OTHER ISSUES, YOU'RE IN A COMPETITIVE DISTRICT THERE IN THE STILLWATER AREA.

>> I GREW UP IN STILLWATER, MINNESOTA.

AND WE HAVE THIS BEAUTIFUL AND WONDERFUL REMINDER OF WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO FOCUS ON ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY.

WALTER MONDALE, SENATOR NELSON, ALL THOSE YEARS AGO PUT IN PLACE THIS BEAUTIFUL JEWEL THAT IS CONSTANT, YOU KNOW, I CAN DRIVE FIVE MINUTES AND BE AT THE RIVER.

AND IT NEVER FAILS TO PUT ME IN AWE.

IT'S JUST BEAUTIFUL.

MAKING SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, MINNESOTA'S WORKERS HAVE A FAIR SHOT AND LIVABLE WAGE AND CONDITIONS THAT ARE FAIR AND APPROPRIATE.

AND, SO, THOSE ARE SOME OF THE MAIN ISSUES.

ALSO PROTECTING A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO MAKE HER OWN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE DECISIONS.

>> Mary: YEAH, YOU HAVE LOT OF SUBURBAN WOMEN IN THAT DISTRICT.

DID THAT MATTER?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THAT WAS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE I HEARD ON THE DOORS.

AND, YOU KNOW, I DID A GREAT DEAL OF -- GREAT DEAL MORE LISTENING THAN SPEAKING ON THOSE STOPS.

MY WIFE, EMILY, AND I HAVE THREE LITTLE GIRLS.

AND THEY'RE A CONSTANT REMINDER OF WHY WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THE FUTURE OF MINNESOTA.

AND WE NEED TO PUT POLICIES IN PLACE THAT ENSURE THAT THEIR GENERATION, TEN GENERATIONS AFTER THEM GET TO ENJOY THIS BEAUTIFUL, WONDERFUL PLACE THAT WE CALL HOME.

>> Mary: HOW CLOSE WAS YOUR RACE?

HOW TOUGH IS POLITICS IN SUCH A COMPETITIVE DISTRICT?

>> POLITICS IS TOUGH EVERYWHERE RIGHT NOW.

OUR RACE ENDED WITH ME ON TOP BY 8 PERCENTAGE POINTS.

>> Mary: SO NOT THAT CLOSE, RIGHT?

>> WELL, DEPENDS ON WHO YOU ASK, MARY.

>> Mary: WELL, SOME OF YOUR COLLEAGUES HAD HUNDREDS OF VOTES IN THEIR MARGIN.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH SENATOR HOUSLEY.

WE'VE MET ALREADY AND HAVE, YOU KNOW, A LIST OF THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING TOGETHER ON AND MOVING FORWARD.

THE ONE GREAT OPPORTUNITY THAT THIS ELECTION AFORRED ME WAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO -- AFFORDED ME WAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND TIME GETTING TO KNOW VOTERS FURTHER NORTH FROM WHERE I LIVE.

OUR DISTRICT IS A TALL AND RELATIVELY THIN DISTRICT.

IT HUGS THE RIVER AND GOES UP THROUGH MAR APPROXIMATE REASON AND SCANDIA, WHICH ARE BEAUTIFUL, WONDERFUL PLACES.

>> Mary: SO FAR IT'S BEEN A BUSY START TO SESSION.

PEOPLE DESCRIBED BE IT AS KIND OF DRINKING THROUGH A FIRE HOSE.

WHAT HAS SURPRISED YOU ABOUT THE PROCESS SO FAR?

>> I'VE BEEN REALLY IMPRESSED WITH THE LEADERSHIP IN MY CAUCUS.

THEY HAVE REALLY SPENT TIME FOCUSED ON HE STRATEGY OF MOVING PRIORITIES ORWARD.

WE HAVE A MANDATE TO MOVE FORWARD FROM THE VOTERS.

AND, SO, I'VE BEEN REALLY IMPRESSED THERE.

I'VE BEEN REALLY IMPRESSED WITH THE NONPARTISAN STAFF HERE AT BOTH THE STATE OFFICE BUILDING AND IN THE APITOL.

WE HAVE WONDERFUL AND BRILLIANT AND CAPABLE FOLKS BEHIND THE SCENES THAT I DON'T THINK EVERYBODY GETS A CHANCE TO INTERACT WITH OR UNDERSTAND THAT MACHINE, 'LL CALL IT.

I WANT VIEWERS TO KNOW THAT, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, HAVING BEEN DOWN HERE JUST A VERY SHORT TIME, MINNESOTA'S GOVERNMENT, STATE GOVERNMENT, IS IN WONDERFULLY CAPABLE HAND