>>> WELCOME TO "MEET THE CANDIDATES".

THE LOCAL ELECTION FORUM FROM PIONEER PBS.

THIS SEASON WE ASK EVERY CANDIDATE THE SAME LIST OF QUESTIONS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT TYPE OF LEGISLATOR THEY WILL BE IF ELECTED.

IN THIS EPISODE WE WILL MEET CANDIDATES FROM MINNESOTA HOUSE DISTRICT 16A.

DISTRICT LINES HAVE CHANGED SINCE THE 2020 CENSUS.

16A IS MADE UP OF CHIPPEWA AND RENVILLE COUNTY AND PORTIONS OF MEEKER AND KANDIYOHI COUNTIES.

MAJOR CITIES INCLUDE LITCHFIELD, MONTEVIDEO AND OLIVIA.

TO FIND OUT WHAT DISTRICT YOU LIVE IN VISIT MN VOTES.ORG.

NOW LET'S "MEET THE CANDIDATES".

WE WILL START WITH DFL CANDIDATE ROBERT WRIGHT.

>> BEFORE WE GET STARTED, I JUST WANT TO THANK PIONEER PBS FOR PUTTING ON THIS MEET THE CANDIDATE SERIES.

THIS IS AN INVALUABLE SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY NOW WITH RURAL NEWSPAPERS, YOU KNOW, GETTING LESS AND LESS FUNDING AND MORE AND MORE OF THEM CLOSING DOWN.

OUR NEWS SOURCES ARE GETTING FEW AND FAR BETWEEN.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE VIEWERS HERE WHO HAVE TAKEN THE TIME.

THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ELECTION, JUST LIKE THE LAST ELECTION WAS AND JUST LIKE THE NEXT ELECTION IS GOING TO BE INTO THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.

IT'S UP TO YOU, THE VOTERS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT CANDIDATES MOVING FORWARD THAT WILL PROTECT AND DEFEND OUR PRECIOUS DEMOCRACY AND KEEP THIS 250-YEAR-OLD EXPERIMENT GOING WELL INTO THE FUTURE.

>> WHY DO YOU WANT TO BE THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR YOUR DISTRICT?

>> BASICALLY THE SAME REASON THAT I'M RUNNING FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE RIGHT NOW IS THE VERY SAME REASON THAT I BECAME ACTIVE IN PARTISAN POLITICS AGAIN AFTER MAYBE 30 -- IT'S BEEN A GOOD 30 YEARS THAT I HAVE BEEN AWAY FROM IT.

BUT IN THE WAKE OF THE 2016 SURPRISE AND THE OBVIOUS RAMIFICATIONS THAT THREATEN OUR DEMOCRACY, IT MIGHT SOUND CORNY TO SAY THIS, BUT IT'S REALLY A MATTER OF PATRIOTISM.

IT'S A PATRIOTIC CALL TO STAND UP IN DEFENSE OF OUR PRECIOUS DEMOCRACY.

WE HAVE GOT SOMETHING REALLY GOOD GOING HERE, AND WE NEED TO KEEP IT GOING.

SINCE THAT TIME, SINCE WE FIRST -- SINCE WE FIRST HAD THE ELECTION OF DONALD TRUMP THAT SURPRISED US ALL AND THEN WE HAD THE INSURRECTION AND WE HAD SOMETHING ELSE HAPPENED WHEN WE HAD THE SUPREME COURT OVERTURN THE ROE DECISION FROM THE 70s.

IT'S NOT SO MUCH THAT THEY OVERTURNED THE DECISION.

IT'S THE WAY THEY DID IT.

IT'S COMPLETELY DISRESPECTFUL OF WOMEN AND THEY ARE SAYING ANYTHING THAT'S NOT EXPLICITLY SPELLED OUT IN THE CONSTITUTION IS NOT A PROTECTED RIGHT.

THAT WIPES OUT OUR RIGHT TO PRIVACY, THREATENS ALL KINDS OF OTHER RIGHTS AND I WAS SPEAKING ABOUT THIS BEFORE A GROUP JUST A COUPLE DAYS AGO.

REPUBLICANS, THEY TOLD US THAT WE HAD NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

FRANKLY FROM THE HISTORY OF REPUBLICANS TELLING US NOT TO WORRY ABOUT SOMETHING, THAT'S THE TIME YOU REALLY NEED TO START WORRYING.

WE ARE GOING TO SEE THINGS LIKE ACCESS TO BIRTH CONTROL.

THOSE ARE GOING TO GO BYE-BYE IF WE AREN'T CAREFUL HERE.

>> WHAT ARE YOUR PRIORITIES FOR THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION?

>> PRIORITIES FOR THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION ARE REALLY SIMPLE.

DEFENDING DEMOCRACY IS ALWAYS NO.

1, BECAUSE IF WE LOSE OUR DEMOCRACY, EVERYTHING ELSE KIND OF BECOMES MOOT.

WE HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS.

WE HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES BEFORE US THAT ARE REALLY SERIOUS, THINGS LIKE CLIMATE CHANGE, AND THESE ARE THE THINGS WE NEED TO DEAL WITH, BUT IF WE LOSE OUR DEMOCRACY, WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE A SAY IN THOSE THINGS.

WHATEVER DICTATOR, KING, WHATEVER, IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER WHAT EXTREME THEY COME FROM, THEY ARE GOING TO MAKE OUR DECISIONS FOR US, AND WE ARE JUST CUT OUT OF THE LOOP, AND THAT IS NO WAY TO MOVE FORWARD.

THAT IS NO.

1 PRIORITY.

A CLOSE SECOND IS DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE AROUND FAMILY PLANNING AND WOMEN'S RIGHTS AND ALL OF US HAVING THE RIGHTS -- THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY, RIGHT TO CHOOSE OUR OWN DESTINIES, TO MAKE OUR OWN FAMILY PLANNING DECISIONS AND NOT HAVE THE GOVERNMENT MAKING THEM FOR US OR HAVING ANY SAY WHATSOEVER.

THESE ARE PRIVATE DECISIONS.

THEY NEED TO BE MADE PRIVATELY, LIKE THEY ALWAYS HAVE BEEN.

WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS TAKE THE ISSUE OFF THE TABLE.

THE BEST WAY I CAN THINK OF TO DO THAT IS PUT TWO AMENDMENTS ON THE BALLOT FOR VOTERS TO GIVE IT THE THUMBS UP OR THUMBS DOWN.

FIRST IS THE STATE LEVEL, STATE CONSTITUTION, AND WE CAN PUT AN AMENDMENT ON THE BALLOT AND LET THE PEOPLE HONESTLY DECIDE WHETHER WE ARE GOING TO HONOR IT OR WHETHER WE ARE -- WHETHER WE ARE GOING TO HONOR WOMEN AND TREAT THEM EQUALLY WITH MEN OR NOT.

IT WOULD BE INTERESTING IF WE CHOSE NOT TO.

THE OTHER THING IS TO CODIFY ROE, THE PROTECTIONS OF ROE, MAKE THEM EXPLICITLY PART OF OUR MINNESOTA STATE CONSTITUTION TO THAT THERE'S NONE OF THIS SHENANIGANS SAYING IT'S NOT EXPLICITLY SPELLED OUT, SO IT'S NOT A RIGHT.

NO MORE OF THAT.

WE HAVE GOT TO END THAT.

>> WHAT NEED OF PERSPECTIVE DO YOU BRING TO THE MINNESOTA HOUSE?

>> THAT'S ANOTHER EASY QUESTION TO ANSWER.

I THINK I TOUCHED ON THIS BEFORE.

I'M ONE OF THE REMAINING OF THE LAST GENERATION THAT CAN REMEMBER WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HAVE A GOVERNMENT THAT ACTUALLY KIND OF SORT OF FUNCTIONS.

YOU KNOW, EVEN BACK IN THE '60s WHEN WE HAD REAL CHALLENGES BEFORE US, AND WE CERTAINLY DID.

WE HAD THE RACIAL ISSUES IN THE '60s, RIGHT BEFORE WE PASSED THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT.

THOSE WERE JUST BRUTALLY SERIOUS MOMENTS IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY, BUT THERE WAS NEVER A DOUBT THAT WE WERE WORKING OR THAT WE WERE MOVING FORWARD, THAT WE WERE WORKING -- WE WERE TRYING TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO OUR PROBLEMS, BUILD A CONSENSUS AROUND SOLUTIONS.

THAT WAS ALWAYS A GIVEN.

IT'S NOT A GIVEN ANYMORE.

NOW WE HAVE GOT COMPETING EXTREMISTS FROM BOTH FRINGE EDGES OF THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM TRYING TO DOMINATE OUR POLITICS.

THAT'S NOT HOW DEMOCRACY WORKS.

DEMOCRACY IS ABOUT BUILDING SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS THAT MAYBE NOBODY VIEWED THEM AS PERFECT SOLUTIONS, BUT EVERYBODY CAN BUY IN AND SAY THIS IS A REASONABLE WAY TO MOVE FORWARD.

THAT'S HOW DEMOCRACY WORKS.

IT'S WHY IT WORKS SO WELL.

IT'S BECAUSE WE ALL MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER.

>> WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF MINNESOTA?

>> MINNESOTA HAS LONG HAD A REPUTATION AS A LEADER IN THIS COUNTRY.

WE HAVE BEEN ON THE LEADING EDGE OF MORE ISSUES THAN I CAN COUNT.

WE HAVE BEEN A LEADER IN EDUCATION.

WE HAVE BEEN A LEADER IN PROVIDING EXCELLENT HEALTHCARE WITH RESOURCES LIKE THE MAYO CLINIC, FOR EXAMPLE, THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF THE FUTURE.

WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD AN EYE TOWARDS THE FUTURE, AND BOTH PARTIES HAVE GENERALLY WORKED PRETTY WELL TOGETHER.

IT'S WHAT -- THE WORD PROGRESSIVE HAS KIND OF CHANGED ITS MEANING.

BACK IN THE '60s, '70s AND EVEN INTO THE '80s, PROGRESSIVE WAS ABOUT MAKING PROGRESS, WASN'T ABOUT A FAR LEFT IDEOLOGY BUT ABOUT ACTUALLY MAKING PROGRESS ON ISSUES, BOTH SOCIAL AND SCIENTIFIC ISSUES AS WELL.

IT WAS ABOUT MOVING FORWARD IN ALL WAYS.

IT'S ABOUT EMBRACING THE FUTURE AND STRIVING TO DO BETTER GOING INTO THE FUTURE.

SO MY VISION IS THAT WE GO BACK TO MOVING FORWARD.

SOUNDS COUNTERINTUITIVE, BUT IT'S NOT.

WE ONCE DID IT.

WE CAN DO IT AGAIN.

IT'S REALLY THAT SIMPLE.

WE HAVE GOT TO GET BACK TO BEING A LEADER.

WE NEED TO MAKE OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM WHAT IT ONCE WAS, AND WHEN DR. JENSEN -- WHEN DR. JENSEN TALKS ABOUT TAKING US BACK TO AN EDUCATION SYSTEM THAT WORKS, HE'S TALKING ABOUT DOING IT BY BUDGET CUTS, AND I'M NOT JUST NOT REALLY SURE HOW EXACTLY THAT WORKS.

LET'S CUT THE BUDGET TO IMPROVE YOUR EDUCATION SYSTEM?

I DON'T THINK SO.

WE NEED TO INCREASE OUR EDUCATION BUDGET AND WE NEED TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT OFFERING COLLEGE NOW SO THAT THE KIDS CAN COMPETE IN THE 21st CENTURY THAT'S BECOMING MORE AND MORE TECHNICAL IN NATURE.

>> AND NOW A CLOSING STATEMENT.

>> MOVING FORWARD, THIS DECISION THAT WE ARE GOING TO MAKE HERE LOCALLY ABOUT WHO IS GOING TO REPRESENT US IN THE STATEHOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN ST. PAUL, MOST OF US ARE GOING TO HAVE A NEW REPRESENTATIVE IN JANUARY.

THE BULK OF THIS NEW DISTRICT THAT WE ARE IN IS MADE UP OF THE OLD DISTRICT 17A THAT IS CURRENTLY REPRESENTED BY TIM MILLER, AND FOR THOSE OF US THAT ARE IN THAT PORTION OF THE DISTRICT, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A NEW REPRESENTATIVE.

IT'S GOING TO BE -- YOU KNOW, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A VERY DIFFERENT REPRESENTATIVE, NEITHER DEAN URDAHL OR MYSELF IS VERY MUCH LIKE TIM MILLER.

I APPRECIATE THE JOB DEAN HAS DONE.

I ESPECIALLY LIKE WHAT HE'S DONE WITH BRINGING BACK CIVICS EDUCATION IN MINNESOTA.

I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND IF I'M ELECTED, I WILL DOUBLE DOWN ON THAT EFFORT.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE CIVICS BEING TAUGHT EVERY SINGLE YEAR IN K THROUGH 12.

WE NEED TO BE GRADUATING STUDENTS FROM HIGH SCHOOL THAT ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND HOW OUR CONSTITUTION WORKS, HOW DEMOCRACY WORKS, UNDERSTAND THE DEBT, NOT JUST THE IDEA THAT MAJORITY RULES BUT THAT DEMOCRACY IS ABOUT BUILDING CONSENSUS AROUND SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS.

THAT SORT OF THING.

ASIDE FROM THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE VERY DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

DEAN IS ABOUT AS CONSERVATIVE AS YOU CAN GET, WHILE I'M A LITTLE MORE -- I SEE GOVERNMENT IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO EXIST IN BALANCE.

WE NEED BOTH A HEALTHY PUBLIC SECTOR AND WE NEED A HEALTHY PRIVATE SECTOR.

BEYOND THAT, WE REALLY NEED TO GET BACK TO RESPECTING EACH OTHER, EACH OTHER, MEN, WOMEN, BLACK, WHITE, THE WHOLE 9 YARDS.

THIS TRYING TO BLAME PROBLEMS ON THIS GROUP OR THAT GROUP, WE HAVE GOT TO END THAT.

>> YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ONLINE ABOUT ROBERT WRIGHT AT HIS WEBSITE WRIGHT FOR US.ORG.

NEXT, THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE DEAN URDAHL.

>> I'M STATE REPRESENTATIVE DEAN URDAHL.

FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS I HAVE REPRESENTED PORTIONS OF CENTRAL MINNESOTA IN THE STATEHOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

CURRENT DISTRICT COMPRISED OF MEEKER COUNTY, THREE TOWNSHIPS IN MCCLOUD COUNTY, INCLUDING HALF THE CITY OF HUTCHISON AND ONE TOWNSHIP.

NEW DISTRICTING CREATED ME IN THE NEWLY CREATED DISTRICT 16A WHICH ENCOMPASSES LITCHFIELD, THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF KANDIYOHI WITH LAKE LILLIAN EAST AND LAKE ELIZABETH AND FALLEN TOWNSHIPS AND ALL OF RENVILLE AND CHIPPEWA COUNTIES.

I'M A NATIVE OF LITCHFIELD.

I LIVE ON A HOBBY FARM NEAR GROVE CITY.

MY WIFE KAREN AND I HAVE BEEN MARRIED 51 YEARS.

WE ARE THE PARENTS OF THREE SONS, 11 GRANDCHILDREN, ONE GREAT GRANDSON AND A DOG BUSTER.

PRIOR TO MY TIME IN THE LEGISLATURE, I TAUGHT HISTORY AT NEW LONDON SPICER HIGH SCHOOLS.

I CURRENTLY SERVE ON THE LEGACY EDUCATION POLICY AND CAPITAL INVESTMENT COMMITTEES.

I HAVE SERVED AS CHAIR OF LEGACY AND CAPITAL INVESTMENT.

I'M THE AUTHOR OF 9 PUBLISHED BOOKS, MANY OF THEM ABOUT THE HISTORY OF MINNESOTA.

UPRISING WAS MY FIRST BOOK ABOUT THE WAR OF 1862.

CURRENTLY MAKING A MOVIE ABOUT IT, TRYING TO POSTURE EDUCATION, UNDERSTANDING AND HEALING BECAUSE WOUNDS ARE STILL OPEN.

THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ELECTIONS IN RECENT MEMORY.

IT CAN BE GENERATIONAL IN IMPACT.

GREATER MINNESOTA IS FACED WITH MANY CHALLENGES AND NEEDS.

I HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS NEEDED TO MEET THESE CHALLENGES.

>> WHY DO YOU WANT TO BE THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR YOUR DISTRICT?

>> PEOPLE OF GREATER MINNESOTA FACE CHALLENGES THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED.

THEY NEED SOMEONE WILLING TO STAND UP AND FIGHT FOR THEM.

THE HOUSING SITUATION IN OUR PART OF MINNESOTA IS DEPLORABLE.

MOST OF THE CITIES HAVE SHORTAGES.

I KNOW OF A SITUATION IN LITCHFIELD WHERE A HOUSE WENT UP FOR RENT AND HAD 300 APPLICANTS WITHIN A WEEK.

I HAVE AUTHORED WORKFORCE HOUSING LEGISLATION AS WELL AS C CAP FUNDING FOR HOMES.

PEOPLE WHO HAVE JOBS SHOULD HAVE PLACES TO LIVE WHERE THEY WORK.

ANOTHER AREA OF CONCERN IS DAY CARE.

THE NUMBER OF CENTERS IS DWINDLING AS WE CONTINUE TO OVER REGULATE AND UNDERCOMPENSATE THEM.

IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO GET PEOPLE TO WORK IN GREATER MINNESOTA IF THEY HAVE NO PLACE TO LIVE AND NO ONE TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR CHILDREN.

OUR LOCAL ROADS AND BRIDGES, OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, ARE IN DISREPAIR.

IN THE LAST BONDING BILL UNDER CONSIDERATION, I INCLUDED A RECORD AMOUNT OF FUNDING FOR LOCAL TRANSPORTATION AND WATER PROJECTS.

IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE CARE OF WHAT THE STATE OWNS, THE BUILDINGS, THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND AS A MEMBER OF THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT COMMITTEE I TAKE THAT RESPONSIBILITY VERY SERIOUSLY.

>> WHAT ARE YOUR PRIORITIES FOR THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION?

>> FIRST I THINK WE HAVE TO ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY.

CRIMINALS NEED TO BE LOCKED UP AND NOT GIVEN BAIL FREE SLAPS ON THE WRIST.

WE MUST ADEQUATELY FUND OUR POLICE TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEED TO KEEP US SAFE.

REGARDING TAXATION, WE HAVE A NEARLY $12 BILLION SURPLUS THAT'S PROJECTED.

COULD BE DIFFERENT, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE KNOW TODAY.

MOST OF THAT SURPLUS NEEDS TO BE RETURNED TO THE PEOPLE.

ONLY 12 STATES TAX SOCIAL SECURITY.

WE ARE ONE OF THEM.

I SUPPORTED EXEMPTING THE SOCIAL SECURITY TAX.

IN EDUCATION I SUPPORT A TRANSPARENT SYSTEM IN WHICH PARENTS HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT AND HOW THEIR STUDENTS ARE BEING TAUGHT.

SAYING THAT, I KNOW WE MUST AVOID BEING SO DESCRIPTIVE THAT TEACHERS CAN'T TEACH.

WE ARE FAILING OUR STUDENTS IN THE EDUCATION OF CIVICS.

1 IN 4 ARE PROFICIENT IN GRADUATION IN CIVICS KNOWLEDGE.

ONLY 25% ACTUALLY KNOW HOW THIS GOVERNMENT WORKS WHEN THEY GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL.

I AM A RECOGNIZED LEADER OF CIVICS EDUCATION REFORM IN MINNESOTA, AND WE WILL SOON SEE CIVICS COURSES THAT ARE CREDIT BEARING AND TAUGHT TO JUNIORS AND SENIORS WHO ARE READY TO LEARN IT.

OUR SCHOOLS MUST EDUCATE, NOT INDOCTOREIGHT.

I OTHERS TO DEVELOP A PLATFORM FOR EDUCATION AND ELECTIONS AND VOTER INTEGRITY.

I'M NOT DWELLING IN THE PAST REGARDING ELECTIONS BUT WHAT MUST BE DONE IN THE FUTURE TO MAKE SURE OUR ELECTIONS ARE FAIR.

>> WHAT UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE TO YOU BRING TO THE MINNESOTA HOUSE?

>> MY TIME IN THE HOUSE ENHANCED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS I HAVE NEEDED TO DO MY JOB AS STATE REPRESENTATIVE.

I HAVE THE TENACITY AND SKILLS TO GET BILLS PASSED.

I'M PROUD OF WHAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO IN EDUCATION AND BONDING.

I WAS THE AUTHOR OF THE BILL TO RESTORE OUR BEAUTIFUL STATE CAPITOL.

I'M ABLE TO BRING TOGETHER LEGISLATORS OF BOTH PARTIES TO PASS BILLS.

AFTER A COMMITTEE MEETING LAST SESSION, THE DEMOCRAT MEMBER CALLED ME TO SAY I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE WAY THAT YOU DO YOUR JOB.

MY RESPONSE WAS IF YOU ARE HERE TOED THE BEST YOU CAN FOR THE PEOPLE YOU REPRESENT, IF THEIR INTEREST COMES FIRST, THE PATH FORWARD IS CLEAR.

NOW, THIS MAY COME AS A SURPRISE TO YOU, BUT FLOOR SPEECHES ARE MOSTLY FOR SHOW AND RARELY SWAY ANYONE.

ONE DFL MEMBER WAS ASKED IF SHE HAD EVER SWITCHED HER VOTE BASED ON A FLOOR SPEECH, SHE REPLIED REPRESENTATIVE URDAHL'S CIVIC SPEECH.

I VOTED YES AFTER BEING A NO.

IN A RECENT SURVEY I WAS RATED AS ONE OF THE BEST SPEAKERS IN THE HOUSE.

THAT DOES AID IN GETTING THINGS DONE.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, I HAVE THE ABILITY TO FORGE COALITIONS ACROSS PARTY LINES TO REACH CONSENSUS.

I AM AN EXPERIENCED COMMITTEE CHAIR AND WILL HIT THE GROUND RUNNING TO GET THINGS DONE.

>> WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF MINNESOTA?

>> I'M PROUD TO BE A MINNESOTAN BUT I'M DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT OUR PATH FOR THE FUTURE IF WE DON'T TAKE ACTION IN VARIOUS WAYS.

OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM WAS ONCE THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY.

NOW WE HAVE FAILING SCHOOLS IN URBAN AREAS THAT ARE BEGINNING A SLIGHT TO MEDIOCITY.

IT'S ESSENTIAL THAT MINNESOTA TAKES CARE OF ITS OWN, OUR ROADS, BUILDINGS, WATER, INFRASTRUCTURE MUST BE MAINTAINED AND PRESERVED.

I FIRMLY BELIEVE IN THE RESOURCEFULNESS OF MINNESOTANS AND WE MUST FREE THEM FROM IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY FROM REGULATIONS THAT STIFLE THE ECONOMIC GROWTH OF OUR STATE.

YES, WE HAVE CHALLENGES IN THE FUTURE, BUT WE WILL SUR MOUNT THEM AND THRIVE AND FREE TO MOVE AHEAD.

>> NOW, A CLOSING STATEMENT.

>> I'M A LIFELONG MINNESOTA AN.

MY MOTHER'S FAMILY CAME TO MINNESOTA IN 1956 AND CAME DEEPLY INVOLVED IN THE CIVIC LIFE OF THE AREA.

AS I LEFT MY SMALL COUNTRY CHURCH ON SUNDAY MORNINGS WITH MY PARENTS, MY MOTHER WOULD OFTEN POINT OUT THE MONUMENTS IN THE CEMETERY AND MY ANCESTOR'S ROLE IN MY HISTORY.

MY GREAT, GREAT GRANDFATHER CAME FROM NORWAY IN 1846, SETTLED IN THE LITCHFIELD AREA BEFORE IT WAS LITCHFIELD IN 1856, WAS ACTIVE IN THE U.S.D.A.

COAT A WAR OF 1862 AND IN FACT HE HELPED BURY THE FIRST FIVE KILLED IN THAT WAR WHICH I THINK IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT INSTILLED IN ME A DESIRE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS AND TO TEACH ABOUT IT AND TO DEVELOP THE UNDERSTANDING AND THE EDUCATION THAT'S NEEDED: TISK LIFE WAS IMPORTANT TO MY FAMILY AND THOSE IDEALS WERE IN STALED IN MY WHEN I WAS A CHILD.

KAREN AND I HAVE CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.

IT IS VITAL THAT THE WORLD WE LEAVE FOR THEM AS THE PROMISE AND POSSIBILITIES THAT WE WERE GIVEN BY THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE.

I HAVE SAID THAT THIS ELECTION, THIS GENERATIONAL IMPACT, AND IT IS.

HOW AND WHAT WE TEACH OUR CHILDREN WILL SHAPE THE FUTURE.

LET IT BE A FUTURE OF HOPE, OF PROMISES REALIZED AND WITH EXPECTATIONS OF GREATNESS.

I ASK FOR YOUR VOTE ON NOVEMBER 8th THAT I MAY CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR YOUR VALUES AND FOR GREATER MINNESOTA.

THANK YOU.

>> YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ONLINE ABOUT DEAN URDAHL AT HIS FACEBOOK PAGE.

FACEBOOK.COM/REP DEAN URDAHL.

LEARN MORE ABOUT VOTING, HOW TO REGISTER BY VISITING THE MINNESOTA SECRETARY OF STATE WEBSITE AT MN VOTES.ORG.

REMEMBER, ELECTION DAY IS TUESDAY NOVEMBER 8th.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING "MEET THE CANDIDATES" ON PIONEER PBS.