>>> WELCOME TO "MEET THE CANDIDATES".

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.

WE WILL MEET CANDIDATES FROM MINNESOTA HOUSE DISTRICT 16B.

DISTRICT LINES CHANGED SINCE THE 2020 CENSUS.

DISTRICT 16B IS MADE UP KANDIYOHI.

MAJOR CITIES INCLUDE WILLMAR, SPICER AND NEW LONDON.

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

NOW LET'S "MEET THE CANDIDATES".

WE WILL START WITH DFL CANDIDATE FRED COGELOW.

>> FIRST, THANK YOU TO PIONEER TV FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY AND VIEWERS FOR YOUR TIME.

I ENCOURAGE THE AUDIENCE TO VISIT MY WEBSITE COGELOW 16B.COM.

FRED COGELOW AND READY TO REPRESENT MOST OF MY HOMETOWN.

I CLAIM TO HAVE GONE NOT FAR IN LIFE, LIVING IN THE HOUSE BUILT FROM THE GREAT GRANDFATHER.

I COMMUNICATED ALL THREE STEPS TO ENTER MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT FROM.

FROM THAT STUDIO I MANAGED TO ESTABLISH A PROMINENT NATIONAL REPETITION IN THE ROLE OF WOOD CARVING, AND THAT FACT, ALONG WITH FIVE BUCKS ENTITLED ME TO A CUP OF COPY.

AND FOUR YEARS OF CITY LIVING, AND FOLLOWED FOUR YEARS OF EMPLOYMENT AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND WORKING WITH TROUBLED ADOLESCENTS TO SEE IF SUCH WOULD INSPIRE A RETURN TO GRADUATE SCHOOL.

I LOVE WORKING WITH KIDS BUT NOT THE REQUISITE BOOK WORK.

BESIDES COMPULSIVE NEEDS TO WORK WITH MY HANDS, WORKING WITH WOOD WAS INCREASINGLY APPARENT.

ALWAYS BEEN MODERATELY INVOLVED IN POLITICS AND THOSE THAT CLAIM TO BE HOMOSAPIENS, AND USED TO BE SAID ALL POLITICS ARE LOCAL BUT INCREASINGLY THE REVERSE TO THE POINT OUR NATION EXAISES EXISTENTIAL THREATS WITH THE CHICKENS COMING HOME TO ROOST.

MY MATERIAL PROVIDED RESPITE FROM THE NATURE OF POLITICS.

LOVE OF THAT CREATED WITH DISPOSAL OF INCLINATION THAT TOM BOX REQUESTED THAT I RUN.

WHILE I STRIVE TO ALWAYS REMAIN HUMBLE, I POSSESS A REQUISITE TO BELIEVE I CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

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

>> ''88 BECAME PRESIDENT OF AFFILIATED WOOD CARVERS, INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION WITH A WHOOPING 319 MEMBERS.

THIS RUN IS SIMPLY THE NEXT STEP EN ROUTE TO BECOMING PRESIDENT FOR LIFE OF THESE UNITED STATES.

THAT'S MY OFFICIAL STORY.

IN TRUTH, THE KEY MOTIVATOR WAS EXTREME DISMAY AT THE LEVEL OF POLITICAL DISCOURSE.

POLITICS, LIKE FICTION, HAS ALWAYS DEMANDED SUSPENSION OF DISBELIEF TO SOME DEGREE BUT REPUBLICAN ADS WERE RIDICULOUS.

THE LEAD CANDIDATE RAN AGAINST THE SOCIALIST TAKE OVER WHILE THEY ACCUSED HIM FOR HAVING VOTED FOR A PARTICULAR BILL.

IF THEY MEAN SOCIALISM BY OWNERSHIP OF AN INDUSTRY THEY ARE WHACKO.

REPUBLICANS BEMONEY ABORTION BUT THEY ARE CRAZY EAGER TO ABORT INTELLIGENT POLICY DEBATE THROUGH BUZZWORDS AND MISDIRECTION.

PALIN AND BACHMANN ONLY HAD TO CRY DEATH PANELS, ONLY THE PROVISION ON WHICH BOTH SIDES HAVE BEEN GREEN.

FOLLOWING YEARS INFORMED ME OF THE INFLATION PREMISES THAT SQUANDERED LIVES, RESOURCES IN VIETNAM AND EARLIER IMPULSES WENT NOWHERE, AND ALL THE SAME, EACH MEMORIAL DAY I REFLECT ON THE SERVICE OF THE COUNTRY BY SO PANE OF MY PEERS AND THIS YEAR DECIDED IN THE ABSENCE OF A BETTER CANDIDATE THAT IT WAS MY OBLIGATION TO MAKE THE LESSER SACRIFICE TO DO MY DUTY.

WE NEED CANDIDATES WITH PRINCIPLE WHO QUESTION THEIR VIEW AND ASSUMPTIONS AS WELL AS THOSE OF OPPONENTS AND SPEAK TRUTHFULLY ON POWER BASE.

CANDIDATES WHO'LL ASSESS THEIR OWN CONTRADICTIONS AND SEEK TO RESOLVE THEM AND PUSH FOR RESURRECTION OF THE FAIRNESS DOCTRINE.

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

>> TO ADDRESS LEGISLATIVE GRIDLOCK I PROPOSE THE LEGISLATOR HAVE A PERFORMANCE ELEMENT, BASED ON A SLIDING SCALE REFLECTING FAMILY INCOME UP TO 25% OF PAY SHOULD BE HELD IN ESCROW IF THE BODY FAILED TO INCLUDE THEIR BUSINESS BY THE END OF SESSION AND MORE DETAILS ON MY WEB PAGE.

CREATING MORE NUANCE IN THE COUNTY, AND RECORDS EXPENSES THAT REMEDY DISASTER SIMPLY AS PLUSES WHICH SUCH EXPENDITURES REFLECT RECOVERY RATHER THAN ADVANCEMENT.

REFINING AND ADOPTING THE GENERAL PROGRESS INDEX WOULD ALONGSIDE GIVE POLICY MAKERS A FULL PICTURE OF THE ECONOMIC GROWTH.

ENVIRONMENTALLY WE NEED TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE AND IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, PARENTS, PARTICULARLY IN THE LOWER INCOME BRACKETS NEED ASSISTANCE AND INCENTIVES TO SEND CHILDREN TO SCHOOL WITH GREATER SELF RESTRAINT AND LARGER VOCABULARIES, AND LATTER BEING A CHIEF INDICATER OF ECONOMIC SUCCESS.

TEACHING AWARENESS TO INFLUENCERS AND METHODS OF MANIPULATION WILL INCLUDE THE CLASSROOM SETTING AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND LATER GRADES HAVING SERVICE REQUIREMENTS WILL DO LIKEWISE.

PREPARING FOR TRANSITION TO FEWER GAS ETHANOL OR VEHICLES MAY MEAN CHANGES IN THE MIX OF PRODUCTION INCLUDING LOTS OF HEMP, AND FINANCING AND PROCESSING FACILITIES REQUIRED.

WE WILL NEEDLES TO PREPARE FOR SEISMIC SHIFTS IN THE AUTO MAINTENANCE FIELD.

ATTORNEY GENERAL SHOULD BE PROMPTED TO EXAMINE MAIN CARVE-OUTS THAT PREVENT IN SOME AREAS INSTALLATION OF COUNTY WIDE 5G WI-FI.

AS AN ENVIRONMENTALIST I WOULD LIKE TO PROMOTE LEGALIZATION OF HUMAN REMAINS COMPOSTING AS HAS BEEN ADOPTING ELSEWHERE.

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

>> WE ARE SHAPED BY EXPERIENCE.

KEEP MY RELIGIOUS UPBRINGING, DEATH OF MY FATHER WHEN I WAS NOT QUITE 7 AND STRUGGLES THAT IT MEANT FOR MY MOTHER.

THE HOUSEWIFE, AND HARD WORK AND STEADFAST NATURE ALONG WITH COMMUNITY SUPPORT, AND WHAT I HAVE SEEN ON HER PLATE MADE ME A STRONG FILM NIS.

I KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO BE REGARDED AS SLOW AND LATER AS THE OPPOSITE, LACK CONFIDENCE AND BE A CLUTZ AND REGARDED AS INEPT.

I WAS BULLIED A BIT, AND I LEARNED FROM BEING THE OTHER AND KNOWING THE SHAME HAVING CLASSMATES THAT OTHER.

EARLY FASCINATION WITH HISTORY LEFT ME WITH CONSIDERABLE EMPATHY FOR NATIVE AMERICANS AND OTHERS ON THE SHORTENED OF THE STICK.

SPENDING 7 DECADES LEFT A CHANGE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS, COUNTRYSIDE, LOCAL ECONOMY AND CLIMATE.

I OBSERVED IMPACTS FROM SHUFFLING ELDERLY WIDOWS OFF TO APARTMENTS FROM RENTAL HOUSING, REPLACING HOME OWNERSHIP AND INCREASING SHORT-TERM RESIDENCY OFTEN INVOLVING STUDENTS AND IMMIGRANTS SPEAKING NO ENGLISH.

I HAVE SEEN NEIGHBORHOOD EXPECTATIONS CHANGE AS TIDES EBB AND FLOW AND HOPE A LESSER THREAT OF COVID WITH ALL NEIGHBORHOOD GATHERINGS.

EXPOSURE AND DEVELOPMENT.

I WATCH SMALL DEVELOPMENTS FROM DOWNTOWN AND IMMIGRANTS INCREASINGLY BECOMING THE BACKBONE OF THAT DISTRICT AND INFLUX OF OUTFITS, AND DRAINING LIFE FROM THE MALLS.

WATCHED CHARACTER TAKE A SEAT TO EXPEDIENCY.

IT OFFERED ITS SHARE OF LESSONS ON BUSINESS AND PROMOTION AND THEIR RELATION TO CHANGING ECONOMIES AND CULTURE.

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

>> I VIEW AMERICAN HISTORY ASTINING EFFORTS.

OUR DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE HELD ALL MEN TO BE CREATED EQUAL WHILE THE CONSTITUTION COUNSELED SLAVES AS 3/5 OF A HUMAN.

WOMEN LIKEWISE WERE CONSIDERED ONLY AS BODIES FOR OTHERS TO REPRESENT WHILE INDIANS WERE TO BE VANISHED AND EXTERMINATED.

WE HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH THE CONSEQUENCES EVER SINCE.

CONTRADICTIONS AND HYPOCRISIES ABOUND.

WE SOO SERT FLAG REPRESENTS FREEDOM OF SPEECH BUT WHEN A KNEE IS TAKEN AS A PROTEST, EXERCISE OF FREE SPEECH, WE GO BANANAS AND WE ATTACK THAT FOR WHICH IT INVOLVES WE STANDS.

WORSE YET, THOSE RIGHTEOUSLY IN DIGANTS SAY BOO TO ASSAULT CAPITAL POLICE OFFICERS.

WE COMPLAIN ABOUT TAXES AND ASSUME OTHERS SHOULD BE TAXED TO INDULGE OUR PRIORITIES.

AREN'T THE SUMS PAID TO OUR SCHOOLS AND AFFECT SUBSIDIES TO THE GUN INDUSTRY?

WE LIMIT LOSS OF COMMUNITY AND LEDGE OUR ALEGIONIANS TO THE LOCAL MERCHANTS AND SPEND MORE TIME SOCIALIZING ONLINE THAN WE DO WITH NEIGHBORS.

I ENVISION A SOCIETY IN WHICH WE REFLECT ON OUR OBLIGATIONS TO THE PLANET, NATION AND EACH OTHER AND IMPACTS ON ALL.

ONE OF WHICH WE DISTINGUISH BETWEEN NAILABLE RIGHTS.

NOT SIMPLY FINANCIALLY BUT CULTURALLY AS WELL.

WE WE ARE NOTED TO OUR PROPERTY AND PRESUME NATURE AND THE RIGHT TO USE THEM AS WE WHICH.

WE NEED A MORE BALANCED APPROACH AND CONSIDERATE OF OTHERS.

I WANT TO LEAVE IT SERVING US MORE THAN WE SERVE IT.

>> NOW, A CLOSING STATEMENT.

>> MY CAMPAIGN IS SIMPLY IT'S ON EACH OF US TO BE INFORMED, RESPONSIBLE AND IN CONSIDERATION OF ENVIRONMENT, COMMUNITY AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.

I ENVY THE DAYS WHEN LOCAL POLITICIAN COULD FOCUS ON JOBS, EDUCATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND NOT CONCERN HIMSELF WITH EXISTENTIAL THREATS.

I WISH IT COULD BE OTHERWISE BUT MORE CHANGES ARE EN ROUTE.

IN MY YOUTH, WE WONDER HOW A NATION AS CULTURED AND EDUCATED AS GERMANY COULD COME UNDER THE SWAY OF SOMEONE LIKE HITLER AND PRESUMED AMERICANS WERE IMMUNE FROM SUCH FOLLOWLY.

HITLER FOLLOWED MUSELINY AND WE HAVE SEEN TRUMP DO ALSO.

CONSIDERING TRUMP ASSISTING HE ALONE COULD SAVE AMERICA CLAIMED RAMPANT FRAUD CLAIMED THE ELECTION AND BECAME THE MOST POWERFUL MAN ON THE PLANET FOR FOUR YEARS AND PREDICTING VAST DESTRUCTION IN THE 2020 ELECTION.

ISN'T HIS FAILURE TO HARVEST ANY CONVINCING EVIDENCE IS FULL OF WHO HE IS OR INCOMPETENT.

CHRISTIAN BACKERS ARE TO REFRAIN FROM BEARING FALSE WITNESS AND ARGUE THAT HIS DEFEAT PROVES THE DEEP STATE IS EVEN DEEP ARE THAN IMAGINED.

LIZ CHENEY HAS IT RIGHT.

THE GREATEST PRESENT THREAT TO AMERICA IS THE GOP.

IT'S TIME TO PATRIOTIC REPUBLICANS WHO VALUE THEIR DIGNITY TO REPUDIATE THAT POOR EXCUSE FOR A LEADER.

IF MY OPPONENT WILL EXPLAIN WHAT HE'S ACCOMPLISHED IN 8 YEARS AND ACTIVELY REFUTE TRUMP AND HIS LIES, REPUBLICANS OFFER HIS RECORD AND INTEGRITY OF THE VOTES, BUT SHOULD HE CONTINUE WITH THE PARTY STRATEGY OF ACCOMMODATING THE TYRANT, I WELCOME THEM TO JOIN INDEPENDENCE IN DEMOCRATS IN SUPPORTING ME AND MY EFFORTS TO SEEK REAL SOLUTIONS TO OUR PROBLEMS.

THANK YOU.

>> YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ONLINE ABOUT FRED COGELOW AT HIS WEBSITE COGELOW FOR 16B.COM.

NEXT THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE DAVE BAKER.

>> MY NAME IS DAVE BAKER.

I AM RUNNING FOR THE STATE OF MINNESOTA'S HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE AGAIN FOR DISTRICT 16B.

I HAVE BEEN HONORED TO SERVE MOST OF KANDIYOHI COUNTY IN THE WILLMAR, NEW LONDON, AND I HAVE BEEN HONORED TO SERVE THIS AREA FOR 8 YEARS, AND I'M MARRIED TO MY HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEART MARY FOR THE LAST 37 YEARS, AND REALLY ENJOYED LIVING IN THE WILLMAR LAKES AREA.

WE RUN A HOSPITALITY COMPANY.

I WORK IN ST. PAUL REALLY HARD BECAUSE I WANT TO GET A LOT OF THINGS DONE.

AS AN EMPLOYER, I KNOW IT'S IMPORTANT TO HIRE PEOPLE AND WHAT THE CHALLENGES ARE RIGHT NOW FOR WORKFORCE ISSUES.

I'M AN ENERGY GUY AND WANT TO MAKE SURE ENERGY COSTS ARE MAINTAINED, ENERGY IS RELIABLE AND AFFORDABLE AND IT'S CLEAN.

I THINK THOSE ARE ALL IMPORTANT COMPONENTS ABOUT WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO ABOUT ENERGY.

I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT STUDENTS AND OUR TEACHERS AND I CARE ABOUT OUR ROADS AND BRIDGES.

I WANT MINNESOTA TO BE COMPETITIVE WITH TAXES AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO A SHORT CONVERSATION FOR YOU TO HAVE IN THIS SHORT-TERM.

AGAIN I ALSO WANT TO THANK PIONEER TV.

[INAUDIBLE] >> RAISING THE FOURTH LEVEL OF TIERS OF TAXES.

[INAUDIBLE] THAT FRIGHTENED ME SO I DUG DEEP.

[INAUDIBLE] SO THAT IN A SENSE IS WHAT ENGAGED ME TO SAY THIS IS IMPORTANT.

ANY SENATOR, ANY STATE SENATOR OR STATE REPRESENTATIVE NEEDS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE LISTENING TO PEOPLE.

I FELT THAT MY VOICE WASN'T BEING HEARD SO I DECIDED TO STAND UP AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

IN THE MEANTIME I LEARNED A GREAT DEAL OF ISSUES FACING MINNESOTA.

WHEN I DECIDED TO RUN I HAD TO RUN BY A LOT OF THINGS.

I WAS LUCKY TO WIN BY A FEW HUNDRED VOTES.

ACTIONS GETTING THINGS DONE IN ST. PAUL.

I WANT TO GO BACK BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK THAT IS YET TO BE DONE.

PROUD TO BE REPRESENTING THE BASIC SAME AREA WITH KANDIYOHI COUNTY WITH THE NEW REDISTRICTING.

CAN'T WAIT TO GET BACK IN THERE AND ROLL UP MY SLEEVES.

I'M HOPING WE ARE GOING TO BE IN THE MAJORITY, THE REPUBLICANS IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA FOR THE MINNESOTA HOUSE AND DO SOME REALLY GOOD WORK THIS YEAR.

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

>> THE PRIORITIES DON'T CHANGE A TON FROM SESSION TO SESSION.

HOWEVER, THEY ARE VERY BIG AND THERE'S NEW THINGS THAT ARE EMERGING.

I WILL TELL YOU THAT WORKFORCE IS AN AREA IN MY BUSINESS THAT'S IMPORTANT, TEACHING, MEDICAL SERVICES, TRANSPORTATION.

WE ARE ALL SHORT OF PEOPLE THAT CAN DO THE JOB.

SO WE ARE SEEING THINGS AROUND US THAT ARE NOT GETTING DONE AS QUICKLY AND THAT WE CAN'T HOPE AS MANY DOORS AS WE WISH WE COULD BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE STAFF.

WORKFORCE IS GOING TO BE AN IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR US TO FOCUS ON.

WHAT WE ARE DOING TO EITHER GET IN THE WAY AND MAYBE WE HAVE GOT TO GET OUT OF THE WAY, BUT WHAT WE DON'T NEED WHEN WE HAVE A LOW UNEMPLOYMENT RATE.

EITHER YOU WANT TO WORK OR YOU DON'T.

I WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO SAY LET'S STAND UP LET'S GET TO WORK.

IF YOU ARE NOT WORKING THERE'S GREAT JOBS OUT THERE.

EMPLOYEES ARE PAYING BETTER THAN EVER.

WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT ASSETS ARE FOR EMPLOYEES TO BE THERE AND EMPLOYERS LIKE MYSELF ARE READY TO GET IN AND HELP PEOPLE FIND THAT BALANCE OF LIFE.

THAT'S AN IMPORTANT ISSUE.

PUBLIC EDUCATION, PRIVATE EDUCATION IS A VERY IMPORTANT THING.

I'M VERY PROUD TO WORK ALONGSIDE MANY, MANY TEACHERS IN RURAL MINNESOTA TO MAKE SURE WE ARE LISTENING TO THEM, GIVING THEM THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES AND SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED.

I HAVE BEEN PROUD TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT GOOD FINANCE FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, SUPPORT THE FUNDING THAT WE NEED TO DO TO KEEP OUR SCHOOLS OPEN AND VIBRANT AND WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB OF FINDING NEW TEACHERS AND PAY OUR NEW TEACHERS BETTER BECAUSE THAT'S IMPORTANT TO GET IT GOING.

ENERGY IS ANOTHER IMPORTANT ISSUE.

WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB WITH RENEWABLES, WITH POWER, KEEPING IT AFFORDABLE AND KEEPING IT RELIABLE.

THOSE ARE ISSUES I WANT TO STAY FOCUSED ON WHEN I RETURN TO ST. PAUL.

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

>> YOU KNOW, WHAT MAKES DAVE UNIQUE?

I DON'T KNOW.

I THINK WHAT I REALLY TRY TO DO IS TRY TO BE AN AUTHENTIC CANDIDATE WHO COMES BACK EVERY TWO YEARS AND ASKS FOR THIS JOB BACK.

I WANT TO KEEP DOING THE JOB UNTIL I FEEL LIKE I'M NOT MAKING A DIFFERENCE ANY LONGER.

IT'S A LOT OF WORK TO DO THIS.

I WANT TO DO IT FOR A PURPOSE AND THAT IS TO MAKE MINNESOTA BETTER, MAKE RURAL MINNESOTA BETTER.

I AM EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED RIGHT NOW WITH THE LEADERSHIP IN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH THAT I HAVE IN YEARS PASSED ALWAYS WORKED VERY WELL WITH.

I AM A MODERATE REPUBLICAN AND PROUD TO WORK ALONGSIDE MEMBERS OF BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE TO GET THINGS DONE, BUT WHAT I SAW HAPPENING DURING THE COVID, WHEN I GAVE UP MY POWER BECAUSE OF THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS THAT WERE COMING.

WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING, I NEVER EXPECTED OUR GOVERNOR TO USE HIS POWER THE WAY HE DID, AND I WAS SO HURT AND BOTHERED AND FELT DISRESPECTED BY OUR LEADER THAT HE NEVER REACHED OUT TO US WHEN WE ASKED MANY TIMES WHY ARE YOU SHUTTING DOWN CHURCHES?

WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS, OVER SUCH A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.

AGAIN, I LEARNED A LOT FROM THAT.

WHAT I WANT TO DO IS MAKE SURE WE DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY IN MINNESOTA.

WE NEED TO DO SEPARATE BILLS, NOT LARGE BILLS WITH A WHOLE BUNCH OF LITTLE BILLS IN A BILL CALLED AN OMNIBUS BILL.

WE NEED TO BRING THINGS UP AND I'M COMMITTED TO MAKE SURE I'M PART OF A SOLUTION TO DO THAT BETTER SO WE CAN WORK ON SMALLER BILLS AND MAKE SURE WE DO NOT HAVE THESE LARGE BILLS THAT WAIT UNTIL THE END OF SESSION AND IF FEW PEOPLE MAKE DECISIONS WE CAN CHANGE THE WAY WE DO BUSINESS IN MINNESOTA AND ST. PAUL.

I WANT TO BE ONE OF THOSE MEMBERS COMMITTED TO DOING THINGS DIFFERENT SO THE UNIQUENESS AND AUTHENTICITY IS WHAT I WANT TO BE REMEMBERED FOR.

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

>> MINNESOTA IS SUCH A FABULOUS PLACE TO LIVE.

I LOVE MINNESOTA.

WITH THE LAKES AND THE TREES IN MINNESOTA WITH OUR AG BUSINESSES AND COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL, EVERYTHING AROUND MINNESOTA IS AMAZING.

I LOVE MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. PAUL.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR AREAS OF CONCERN, MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. PAUL, HAVE SERIOUS CRIME ISSUE AND A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE THAT WE NEED TO ALL EMBRACE ABOUT HELPING THEM GET IT RIGHT.

IT WAS FAILED DURING THE RIOTS, DURING COVID, THE CITIES IN THE METRO AREA NEEDS OUR SUPPORT AND HELP.

WE ARE BETTER IN MINNESOTA WHEN EVERYBODY IS DOING BETTER.

I'M COMMITTED TO HELPING THE ENTIRE STATE DO A BETTER JOB IN MANAGING OUR TAXES HAVING OUR PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEMS ALL SET UP, GETTING MORE OFFICERS ON THE STREETS WHERE THEY ARE NEEDED BUT DOING IT BETTER AND DOING IT IN A DIFFERENT WAY THAN WE HAVE DONE BEFORE.

I THINK MINNESOTA HAS A VISION THAT WE CAN BE MORE BALANCED.

WE DON'T HAVE TO BE EVEN CONSIDERING RULES LIKE THE CALIFORNIA MISSIONS RULES THAT THEY WANT TO FORCE US TO BE PUSHING INTO ELECTRIC CARS WHEN WE ARE NOT READY AND IT'S COLD IN MINNESOTA.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE GOT BALANCED POLICIES THAT ACTUALLY WE DON'T CHANGE EVERY TWO TO FOUR YEARS WHEN THERE'S A NEW CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP.

WHEN YOU SEE THAT HAPPENING, THAT'S NOT GOOD FOR ANYBODY, BECAUSE THEN YOU ARE ALL REACTING AND IT'S NOT GOOD POLICY.

I WANT BALANCE IN MINNESOTA.

I WANT MINNESOTA TO BE SEEN AS A VERY HARD WORKING PURPLE STATE THAT CAN DO REALLY GOOD THINGS THAT WE CAN GET ALONG, WE CAN GET THINGS DONE, AND WE CAN STAY COMPETITIVE WITH OUR NEIGHBORING STATES, WITH TAXES AND ENERGY COSTS SO THAT WE CAN BRING IN NEW BUSINESSES.

I SEE MINNESOTA AS HAVING A GREAT FUTURE BECAUSE OF OUR RESOURCES AND HARD WORKERS THAT LIVE HERE IN MINNESOTA.

I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT THE FUTURE OF MINNESOTA LOOKS LIKE.

>> AND NOW A CLOSING STATEMENT.

>> I JUST WANT TO THANK AGAIN PIONEER PUBLIC TV FOR ALLOWING ME TO DO THIS TODAY.

I WANT TO THANK MY OPPONENT FRED FOR DOING THIS ALONGSIDE OF ME, TOO, AND ALL THE CANDIDATES THAT ARE ACTUALLY RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

I THINK THIS IS A BIG DEAL TO TAKE PART OF YOUR LIFE AND WANT TO DEDICATE IT TO PUBLIC SERVICE.

THIS IS SOMETHING I WILL FOREVER TREASURE AS LONG AS THE VOTERS ALLOW ME TO GO BACK.

I'M A HOSPITALITY GUY, A PERSON WHO REALLY LEAVES IN WORKING TOGETHER.

NEVER GIVING UP YOUR VERY IMPORTANT FORL COM PUS OF WHAT I BELIEVE IN.

I'M PROUD TO BE PRO LIFE, PROUD TO BE SECOND AMENDMENT.

I ALSO KNOW WE HAVE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT OTHER THINGS THAT ARE CHALLENGING AND HARD.

I DON'T GET INTO THE HARD FRINGES ON THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW THAT WE ARE GETTING THERE.

WE HAVE TO LISTEN TO PEOPLE, AND I HOPE THAT MINNESOTANS HAVE SEEN IN MY DISTRICT, I HAVE BEEN A GOOD LISTENER.

I GO TO A LOT OF MEETINGS AND TALK TO A LOT OF FOLKS.

WHAT I CARE ABOUT IS IF I DON'T GO FURTHER ON THIS YEAR AND I DON'T MAKE THIS CUT, I SURE HOPE I DO, BUT THEY ALWAYS WILL SAY, I WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT AS LONG AS I'M ABLE TO SERVE OUR AREA.

I WANT TO THANK THE VOTERS FROM DISTRICT 16B NOW, AND MOST OF KANDIYOHI COUNTY I CAN'T THINK ENOUGH FOR ALLOWING ME TO SERVE IN YOUR AREA THIS LONG.

I HOPE I CAN SERVE AGAIN FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ONLINE ABOUT DAVE BAKER AT HIS WEBSITE DAVE BAKER.GOP.

>>> REMEMBER, ELECTION DAY IS TUESDAY NOVEMBER 8th.

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