(bright music) - [Narrator] 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 15B.

District lines have changed since 2020 Census.

District 15B is made up of Redwood, Brown, and Blue Earth Counties.

Major cities include New Ulm, Redwood Falls, and Sleepy Eye.

To find out which district you live in, visit mnvotes.org.

And now, let's meet the candidates.

We'll start with DFL Candidate Keith Klawitter.

- My name's Keith Klawitter.

I've lived in Morgan for 48 years, and that's exactly the same amount of time that it's been since we've had a Democrat in this 15B seat in the state House of Representatives.

My education, I went to Hector High School, graduated from there.

I spent two years at Golden Valley Lutheran College, and then I finished up my education at the University of Minnesota Morris with a double major in history and English, and with a coaching certificate, which was very valuable to me.

My work experience as an educator, I'm retired now.

I taught for 33 years, and I taught all those years in District 15B, one year in Milroy, and then the last 32 years in Morgan.

I directed school plays, I directed community plays, and at the end of one of our Bath football games, one of the new teachers says, "You're some kind of renaissance man, "if you're doing plays and sports," and I guess I kind of was.

I was a bus driver.

I drove sometimes for the school, mostly for my athletic activities, and I also drove community buses in Redwood Falls for UCAP and Western Community Action.

I've been a truck driver since 1973, hauling gravel, hauling crops, hauling sugar beets, so I know what it's like to be in a big rig.

And now I'm a part-time groundskeeper at a local golf course, which is three days a week, and I totally enjoy that.

My family is my wife, Carla.

We've been married for 51 years.

We have four adult children and 11 grandchildren.

And I will work with Democrats, Republicans, and Independents anytime that would help our district.

I'm willing to challenge my own party when its position does not reflect our values or the realities of what we need in District 15B.

And I will speak up when any party's agenda does not serve District 15B.

- [Narrator] Why do you want to be the representative for your district?

- I was approached by the Chairman of the Redwood County DFL, asked if I wanted to run, and Paul Torkelson retired after 20 years serving in this district.

He ran unopposed in 2022.

In 2024, a Democrat registered the day, last day of filing just so people would have a choice.

And now with no incumbent, I see that we have an opportunity.

That's not necessarily why I ran, but it turns out to be a time that maybe Democrats can take this seat and turn it blue.

In this campaign, I've been meeting with local leaders, including farmers, business owners, local meat processors in particular, educators, and healthcare providers.

I've been learning about their opportunities and their challenges, what's working, what's getting in the way, where do they see opportunities for our communities?

The good people of District 15B are fed up with the nonsense and chaos coming out of Washington, DC.

They're looking for a new direction.

They're willing to have a fresh voice truly represent them.

They're not interested in the right photo ops with a cardboard cutout, and you know who that is.

Southwestern Minnesota has many distinct needs.

Our realities can be overlooked when legislators act as rubber stamps for party priorities.

I'll continue listening and speaking for the people in 15B.

Negative rhetoric has been perpetrated by our president and other MAGA folks in his thrall.

I will focus on fairness, decency, and respect.

Pointing out Washington's failures is fair to do.

- [Narrator] What are your priorities for the next legislative session?

- As I said from the start at the endorsing convention, my priorities are in no particular order, agriculture, healthcare, and education.

Agriculture directly or indirectly affects all of us, including businesses and schools.

Family farmers are being squeezed, rising input costs, unstable markets, tariffs and the war in Iran.

When farms are strong, our small towns and schools are stronger too.

I will ask to serve on the House Ag Committee to be a direct voice for one of the most agriculture dependent parts of Minnesota.

Healthcare, rural healthcare is essential infrastructure, not just about treating illness, whether or not our towns and schools can remain strong.

With a loss of services, patients have to travel farther for care, higher costs for some to delay treatments or to go without treatment at all.

Workers lose jobs, communities lose residents, and schools lose students.

I support clear standards for protecting access, affordability, and continuity of care in rural Minnesota.

Education in District 15B schools are often the center of community life, but declining enrollment, basic costs remaining constant, it makes it difficult to retain and recruit teachers and staff.

State policy should recognize the realities of small school districts, give schools stable funding, provide students with full range of opportunities.

I'll encourage cooperation with area schools, employers, and communities.

I visited Minnesota West and Canby and I was intrigued by the integration that they have with the communities and with the various Minnesota West campuses.

And then there's a permanent school trust fund.

On the ballot this November, there's a constitutional amendment and we need to vote yes to this.

It's a modest increase in school funding without increasing taxes.

There's a 2.3 billion educational asset that already exists and it was created with bipartisan effort.

It gives rural districts more predictable state funding.

It eases pressure on local property taxes.

And again, we need to say yes to this.

- [Narrator] What unique perspective do you bring to the Minnesota House?

- As an educator, a coach and a sports official, I've learned that you need to apply the same rules fairly to everybody.

You need to show respect.

You have to have a willingness to compromise, to have some integrity, and then you get trust.

I've worked with students, parents, other faculty and staff, school administrators, but I am also able to assert my authority and to be the final say and to make a decision.

Along that line, my campaign manager received a mailing from the Republican Governor prospect, Lisa Demuth, and she had three things on there that my manager said those would not be legal for her to do.

They would require legislative authority.

So I'm not going to have all the answers, but I do know that we need to stand up when people are trying to do things that are not legal.

My experiences lead to my understanding in agriculture as a dairy farm kid until the age of 12, I got in at the beginning of milking cows and I was glad I didn't have to do that the rest of my life.

My work experience with area farmers and businesses, and I again hope to serve on the Ag Committee to give Greater Minnesota a voice without a Metro flavor to it.

Healthcare, staying healthy as possible is important for all ages and I think that's something that education needs to stress to eliminate some health problems that can develop.

I experienced with my mother after she had her stroke, fast response is critical.

We need to have that healthcare system out here.

Care at home, assisted living, and then nursing home.

It was all things you don't learn in school.

Education starts with, everything starts with a good education and I'm keenly aware there's a need for vocational careers and college is not for everyone.

In our family, we have four kids and eight grandkids who are through and currently in college.

But again, we need vocational schools as well as four-year schools and stress the need for technical job opportunities.

I'll work to ensure rural communities receive a fair share of state investment.

- [Narrator] What is your vision for the future of Minnesota?

- Families in our district are working hard and deserve to earn a living wage.

They're paying more for basic necessities.

They're driving longer distances to work, medical appointments, or for school activities, and they can't stop driving even though gas prices have gone up through the roof.

There's limited housing available and it's a longstanding problem.

Low income housing, people aren't able to make enough to maintain the home and livable residences sometimes are deteriorating and then are lost for good.

Housing options end up non-existent.

When costs become too difficult to manage, working families and younger residents are forced often to leave Southwestern Minnesota.

State government should focus on what costs it can realistically influence and keep what's working or change or eliminate what's not working.

Everyone's right to be angry about all the fraud, waste and abuse, but it's not all one sided.

People who live in glass houses, Republicans are quick to condemn the Democrats for what's happened.

There's blame on both sides.

Punish the fraudsters, not the people who need these programs.

Treat it as a government problem, not as an exaggerated partisan weapon to score political points.

Build durable safeguards to protect public money regardless of party control.

The good news is that the legislature has recently given money to counties to upgrade computer systems that should help to eliminate fraudulent applications.

It's a great step forward and helpful for counties.

I support independent oversight, stronger screening before public money is paid out, protection for whistleblowers, authority to pause suspicious payments while they're being investigated, and consequences when officials ignore clear warning signs.

We need to build or rebuild a state government that protects taxpayers, delivers services effectively and earns public trust.

- [Narrator] And now a closing statement.

- We've got our work cut out for us and we can start out here at the grassroots level.

I have lots to learn.

I am not a career politician.

I'm not some MAGA Stepford loyalist who's been indoctrinated to promote bad policies and celebrate devotion and to be pictured with a cardboard cutout.

I'm what the framers of the Constitution thought the House of Representatives should be.

I'll listen and take your voices to Saint Paul.

As a teacher, coach and official, through it all, I think I've earned trust and respect from people.

You need to be accountable, you need to be able to accept responsibility, you have to be able to compromise, you have to have integrity.

I'm reminded of the old acronym TEAM.

Together, everyone achieves more.

We could use some good old-fashioned teamwork, some partisanship.

It's amazing how much we can accomplish when no one cares about who's going to get the credit.

And I want to get back again to the idea of the fairness, decency and respect.

I'm asking voters to look beyond partisan politics.

Have I mentioned it's been 48 years since we had a Democrat in this seat?

I need them to consider the person that's running, not just the party, the party that's crippling our country's people.

The definition of insanity, everybody knows what that is.

You keep on doing the same thing 48 years and expect different results.

I'll do my best to represent everyone in District 15B, even those who think I'm a horrible person for my factual letters to the editor, even those who steal my campaign signs, even those whose discretionary spending includes buying far too much MAGA merchandise.

Vote.

Vote for me.

Vote for the Permanent School Trust Fund Constitutional Amendment.

I want to say thank you to Pioneer Television and to all who have supported and encouraged me up until this point.

Thank you.

- [Narrator] You can find more information about Keith Klawitter at klawitterforhouse.com.

(gentle music) Next, the Republican Candidate, Jerry Theis.

- Hi, I'm Geri Theis and I'm proud to be your endorsed Republican Candidate for House 15B.

My family's connection to this area runs five generations deep.

My great-grandparents and grandparents were dairy farmers by Gilfillan, and I grew up right here in the district on a hobby farm.

Growing up in that environment instilled in me a value of hard work and a deep respect for agriculture.

I spent my career as a business owner in Redwood Falls, which has given me a practical, on the ground perspective of what it takes to manage resources wisely, meet a budget, and serve the neighbors who rely on me every day.

My experience has taught me the importance of accountability, the necessity of balancing a budget, and the value of listening to those around me.

Beyond my business, I've had the privilege of serving as President of the Minnesota Association of Realtors.

In this role, I traveled the state of Minnesota listening to the concerns and opportunities of the members I served, and I plan to bring that same approach into this role.

It also taught me strong leadership skills to handle complex challenges and the ability to work together to get things done.

It reinforced my belief in fiscal responsibility and the idea that our government should be as efficient and honest as the people it represents.

I am honored to have earned the trust and the endorsement of organizations that reflect the values of our community, including the Minnesota Farm Bureau, the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association, Women Lead, Minnesotans for Health and Parental Rights, the Minnesota Pipe Trades, the International Union of Operating Engineers, and MCCL.

I'm proud of where I came from and I'm dedicated to the future of our district.

Thank you for taking a moment to get to know me.

- [Narrator] Why do you want to be the representative for your district?

- I'm running to be your representative for District 15B because this isn't just a political district to me, it is home.

My roots run deep and today my children and grandchildren are building their lives right here in the district.

I care deeply about our communities and I want to ensure they remain strong, vibrant, and prosperous for my grandchildren, my future great grandchildren, and all the people of this district.

But I see the reality my own family is facing, and I know many of you are living it too.

My children are working two or three jobs just to pay the bills.

They are overtaxed and cost of essentials, especially childcare, has become completely unaffordable.

It is heartbreaking to watch the next generation struggle this hard just to keep their heads above water.

What makes it even more frustrating is knowing that while our families are sacrificing to pay their taxes, our state government is failing to manage the money responsibly.

We are seeing our hard earned tax dollars go out the door in massive fraud, failing to reach the people who actually need help.

We don't have a revenue problem in Minnesota.

We have a spending and management problem.

I see the exhaustion in the eyes of my neighbors and I hear the frustration in the voices of parents trying to make ends meet.

It shouldn't be this hard to build a life in Minnesota.

We deserve a government that respects the value of a dollar and the dignity of hard work.

I am committed to being a voice for the families who are doing the heavy lifting, ensuring that your concerns are not just heard, but acted upon with urgency and integrity.

I am running because I refuse to sit back and watch our state move in the wrong direction.

I want to bring common sense, business owner accountability to Saint Paul.

I want to fight for policies that restore affordability, root out fraud, and ensure that our tax dollars are actually working for the families of District 15B, not being squandered by a broken system.

I'm asking for your vote so we can protect our future and build a stronger, more affordable Minnesota for the generations to come.

- [Narrator] What are your priorities for the next legislative session?

- My legislative agenda is built on four pillars to make Minnesota affordable and safe again.

First, ending the culture of fraud.

Millions of taxpayer dollars are being diverted from those who need them most.

I will fight for strict oversight and systematic reform to ensure every dollar is protected, tracked, and used exactly as intended.

Your money belongs to you, not to those who exploit our system.

Second, lowering your tax burden.

Minnesota has a spending problem, not a revenue problem.

I will push for meaningful tax relief that respects your financial independence, allowing you to keep more of what you earn.

When families control their own finances, our economy becomes stronger.

Third, restoring public safety.

We must stand firmly behind our law enforcement officers, ensuring they have the resources and support that they need to keep our streets safe.

I'm committed to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that criminals are held accountable for their actions.

Fourth, cutting the red tape.

As a small business owner, I know the excessive regulations are hidden taxes that drive up cost.

I will work to remove those unnecessary barriers so our local business owners can hire, grow, and compete without the government standing in their way.

This isn't just about policy, it's about the future of our district.

We need a government that works for the people.

I am committed to restoring fiscal responsibility, ensuring our communities are secure, and rewarding hard work.

I'm asking for your support to bring common sense leadership to the Capitol.

Let's work together to make Minnesota a place where our families can thrive once again.

Thank you.

- [Narrator] What unique perspective do you bring to the Minnesota House?

- My perspective is shaped by two things, my lifelong connection to District 15B and the practical leadership skills I have developed as a business owner and industry leader.

Growing up on a hobby farm here with family history reaching back to my great-grandparents' dairy farm, I learned the value of hard work and community early on.

That background helps me relate directly to the people of this district and the unique needs of our area.

As a mother, I view our future through a lens of deep responsibility.

I want to ensure that our next generation inherits a state that is prosperous, stable, and welcoming.

This care for our community is what drives me.

It is the same instinct that guides me to protect our neighbors and advocate for the families who call this district home.

Professionally, I've served as both President and Treasurer of the Minnesota Realtors.

My leadership went beyond the numbers.

I Chaired the finance and risk management committee, and I also served as Chair for Executive Board and the Board of Directors.

I have managed complex budgets, navigated high-stake decision making, and learned exactly how to scrutinize spending and address risk.

I understand that every dollar spent by the state comes from the hard work of our citizens, and I take that responsibility of protecting those resources very seriously.

I am prepared to bring that same level of oversight to the Capitol.

My goal is to ensure your tax dollars are managed with the transparency and caution that a family budget deserves.

I am committed to restoring affordability, keeping our streets safe, and ending the fraud that wastes your hard-earned tax money.

My approach is rooted in both the heart of a mother who cares for our collective future and the experience of a leader who knows how to deliver results.

I am ready to put this experience to work for you.

- [Narrator] What is your vision for the future of Minnesota?

- I envision a Minnesota where heavy burden of overtaxation is lifted, allowing families and small business owners to keep more of their hard-earned money.

In this future, your paycheck goes further, reducing the daily stress of rising cost and giving you the breathing room to invest in your own priorities, whether that's saving for your children's education, expanding a local business, or simply enjoying peace of mind at the kitchen table.

When families have more financial freedom, the quality of life across our state flourishes.

I see a Minnesota where people aren't just working to survive, but are empowered to truly live.

This means having time to coach a child's sports game, host a neighborhood gathering, or travel to see loved ones without the constant pressure of financial strain.

It means the freedom to focus on the moments that define a life well lived.

Most importantly, when our citizens are prosperous and secure, our communities become naturally more vibrant.

A government that values your hard work is one that fosters a culture of generosity.

I see a future where because you have more time and more stability, you are able to give back more freely, volunteering at local food shops, supporting our schools, and helping neighbors in need.

By restoring fiscal common sense and ensuring that the government lives within its means, we aren't just balancing a budget, we are unlocking the potential for Minnesotans to focus on what truly matters.

We are building a state where you are the primary architect of your own future.

Imagine a Minnesota where the government is a partner in your success, not a barrier to it, a place where your hard work translates directly into a better life for your family and a stronger, more connected community for us all.

That is the Minnesota I am fighting for, and I believe it is the future we can achieve together.

- [Narrator] And now, a closing statement.

- Thank you all for taking time out of your busy lives to engage in this process and hear more about our vision for our district.

Your involvement is vital because this election is truly a turning point for our state.

The decisions we make now will determine the future for Minnesota for the years to come.

I am running for House because I want to bring back the Minnesota we know and love, a state defined by the beauty of our 10,000 lakes, the productivity of our rich farmland, and the strength of our communities.

We have drifted away from those foundations, and it is time to steer back toward a future of prosperity and common sense.

I want to see our local economies thrive again, where our farmers can pass their land to the next generation, and our small towns remain the heartbeat of our state.

I bring the experience and negotiating skills necessary to make this happen.

As a business owner and having served as President and Treasurer of the Minnesota Realtor Association, I spent my career balancing budgets and navigating complex high-stake decisions.

I know how to scrutinize spending, demand accountability, and work across the table to get results.

I am prepared to apply that same discipline at the Capitol to ensure your tax dollars are managed with the caution and transparency they deserve.

As a mother, I see our future through a lens of deep responsibility.

I want a state that is prosperous, stable, and welcoming for the next generation.

My goal is to store affordability, keep our streets safe, and end the fraud that wastes your hard-earned money.

I see a future where you keep more of what you earn, where the cost of living doesn't dictate your family choices, and where you have the time and resources to truly enjoy life with the people who matter most.

I'm ready to put my experience to work for you.

I humbly ask for your vote in November election, and I thank you for your commitment to the future of this great state.

- [Narrator] You can find more information about Geri Theis at theisforhouse.com.

(gentle music) Learn more about voting, how to register, and what district you live in by visiting the Minnesota Secretary of State website at mnvotes.org.

Remember, Election Day is Tuesday, November 3rd.

Thank you for watching "Meet the Candidates" on Pioneer PBS.

(gentle music)