(bright music) (upbeat music) - [Narrator] Welcome to "Meet the Candidates," the local election forum from Pioneer PBS.

This season, we asked every candidate the same list of questions to learn more about what type of legislator they will be if elected.

In this episode, we'll meet candidates from Minnesota House District 21B.

District lines have changed since the 2020 census.

District 21B is made up of Jackson County and portions of Nobles, Cottonwood, Watonwan, and Martin Counties.

Major cities include Worthington, Windom, and St.

James.

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

And now, let's meet the candidates.

We will start with the DFL candidate, Jon Wilson.

- Thank you, Pioneer PBS, for the opportunity to talk about why I'm running for the representative of Minnesota House District 21B.

I'm running because I believe that we're tired of gotcha-era politics, where politicians spend more time attacking each other, finding something to be angry about, and scoring political points than actually solving problems.

I know there's a better way.

I spent my life serving this part of Minnesota: public school teacher, a coach, school board member, a mayor, and a member of our communities.

I've learned that progress doesn't happen when everyone agrees.

It happens when people are willing to sit down, listen, compromise when necessary and find common ground.

That is the kind of representative I tend to be.

Over the past four years, I believe the people of District 21B deserve more than political positions and votes that simply follow ideological agenda.

They deserve results.

They deserve someone who will fight for the infrastructure funding for our communities, help address rural healthcare, EMS challenges, and make housing and property taxes more affordable, support our farmers, small businesses, and strengthen our public schools.

Communities like Trimont, Wilder, Butterfield, Alpha, Windom, and others across 21B have real infrastructure needs that require serious investment and a representative who will build relationships necessary to get those dollars back home.

I'm running as a centrist Democrat because I do not fit neatly into those political extremes.

I want to work with metro legislators, legislators from both parties to make sure we understand something important.

Rural Minnesota has too often been forgotten.

I'm not running to go to St.

Paul and become part of the problem.

I'm running to be part of the solution.

I want to bring people together, build coalitions, and deliver measurable results for 21B, because at the end of the day, this campaign isn't about me.

It's about whether the people of 21B is a voice that will listen, work with anyone, and deliver.

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

- I want to represent 21B because I believe that this is a moment when our district needs a different kind of leadership.

My decision to run isn't about wanting a title or another political position.

It comes from the belief that I can make a difference, and that experience that I've gained serving our communities can be put to work in St.

Paul.

I've been fortunate to serve in a lot of different roles.

Each one has given me a different perspective on what people expect from someone they trust with their vote.

They don't expect perfection.

They expect someone to listen, to work hard, and actually accomplish something.

That's where I believe I can make a difference for 21B.

I know how to sit across the table from people who don't always agree with me.

I know that sometimes you have to put personal preferences aside, find the common ground, and keep working until you find a solution.

That's not weakness, it's leadership.

I want district 21B to have a representative who understands how decisions made at the Capitol affect a farmer trying to keep their family operation going, a small business owner trying to make payroll, a young family trying to buy a home, and a city to replace aging infrastructure, or a school trying to give students the opportunities they deserve.

I'm running because I believe our district has tremendous potential, but we need someone willing to build the relationship necessary to turn that potential into progress.

I don't expect to agree with everyone in St.

Paul.

In fact, I know I won't, but I'm willing to work with anyone who's willing to work for the people of 21B.

That's ultimately why I want this job, not for another voice and the political noise, but a voice the people and the communities I call home and leave the district better than when I found it.

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

- My priorities for the next legislative session is really about one thing, making government work better for the people of district 21B.

That starts with making sure government is accountable for every dollar it spends.

Fraud, waste, and abuse have no place in Minnesota government.

Taxpayers work too hard to have their money lost to weak oversight, unnecessary spending, or programs that fail to deliver results.

I will support stronger audits, greater transparency, meaningful consequences for fraud, and regular reviews to ensure government programs are serving the people they were created to help.

We should fund what works, eliminate what does not, and never treat taxpayer dollar as an unlimited resource.

Second, I want a serious commitment to rural infrastructure.

We have communities across the district facing major water, sewer, street, wastewater, and other infrastructure needs.

These are projects that small communities simply cannot afford to handle on their own.

I will build the relationships in St.

Paul to get them funded, make sure rural Minnesota is not an afterthought of when major investments are made.

Third, I'll tackle the property taxes.

The system has become too complicated in many rural communities, too expensive for services being provided.

I want to look at the entire system, not simply shift burden from the taxpayer to one another.

Homeowners, farmers, small business cities, counties and schools all have a stake in getting this right.

My goal would be the property tax system is predictable, fair, sustainable for rural Minnesota.

Fourth, healthcare affordability and access has to be a priority.

Rural families shouldn't have to go travel long distance or pay more simply because they live outside the metro.

We need to look at ways to strengthen rural healthcare, protect access to local services, and make healthcare more affordable for working families.

Finally, I want to continue to invest in public education.

As a teacher, I know that our schools are preparing the next generation of Minnesotans.

Whether a student goes to college, enters a trade, farms, starts a business or serves their community, they deserve a strong foundation of real opportunities.

But just as important as what I prioritize is how I approach these issues.

Not going to St.

Paul with a list of demands or to fight with everyone who disagrees with me.

I'm going ready to build relationships, find common ground and build bipartisan coalitions.

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

- I believe a unique perspective I would bring to Minnesota House comes from having spent my entire career and much of my life serving people, not serving politics.

I've had the opportunity to see the government from several different sides.

Those experiences have given me a perspective I think especially valuable in the legislature.

I understand what policies look like after they leave St.

Paul and reach a real community.

As a teacher, I understand the importance of investing in our young people and preparing them for whatever path they choose.

As a school board member and mayor, I learned what it means to make difficult decisions with limited resources and then look your neighbors in the eye and explain those decisions.

You learn quickly that there isn't always a perfect answer.

You have to find the best answer.

And for someone who spent decades coaching and working with young people, I've learned that success doesn't come from everyone being on the same team in the same way.

It comes from understanding each person's strengths, setting a common goal, and getting everyone moving in the same direction.

I would bring that same philosophy to the Minnesota House.

I also bring the perspective of someone from rural Minnesota who understands that the state looks very different outside the metro.

We need legislators who can explain to metro colleagues what it takes to keep a small community running, and just as importantly, legislators willing to listen and understand the metro communities have challenges of their own.

That's where being a centrist matters.

I'm not interested in being the loudest person in the room.

I'm interested in being the person who can walk in a room where people disagree, find the five things they can agree on and start getting something done.

My unique perspective is that I've spent my life bringing people together, solving problems, serving communities and delivering results.

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

- So my vision for the future of Minnesota is a state where you don't have to live in the Twin Cities to have a future.

I want to see a Minnesota where our rural communities are growing, our small businesses are thriving, our farms remain family owned, and our young people have a reason to come home after they finish their education.

That starts with recognizing that rural Minnesota is not a problem to be solved, it's an asset to be invested in.

I want to see communities like those throughout 21B have the infrastructure they need to grow, good roads, reliable water, and sewer systems, housing, broadband, and resources necessary to attract businesses and families.

I want a property tax system that is fair and is sustainable, especially for rural homeowners, farmers, small business, cities, counties, and schools.

We should be asking how the government can deliver services more efficiently, not simply asking taxpayer for more money.

I want a healthcare system where your zip code doesn't determine the quality or affordability of the care that you receive.

Rural hospitals, clinics, EMS, mental health services, and healthcare professionals are essential parts of our communities, and we need to make sure they have a future.

And I want a public education system in Minnesota that everyone could be proud of that puts us back on top across the board for our students, families, teachers, and our teacher assistants.

But my vision goes beyond individual policies.

I want to see a healthier political culture in Minnesota, a Minnesota where Democrats and Republicans can disagree without treating them as enemies, where we can debate ideas without attacking people's character, where we hold government accountable without believing the government itself is the enemy.

And most importantly, I want a government that measures success by results.

A Minnesota that works for rural and urban communities, a Minnesota that rewards hard work, a Minnesota that invests in its future, and a Minnesota where we stop asking which political party won and start asking, did the people in Minnesota win?

- [Narrator] And now, a closing statement.

- So at the end of the day, elections have a very simple question.

Are you better off today than you were four years ago?

Chaos rules the day along with higher prices on everything.

I believe District 21B deserves better.

For the past four years, we've had a representative in St.

Paul who has had the opportunity to make a difference for our communities.

But when you look at what has actually been accomplished, I believe the results simply aren't there and that matters.

Because while political arguments continue in St.

Paul, our communities are dealing with aging infrastructure, rising property taxes, healthcare challenges, housing needs, and schools working hard to prepare the next generation.

I'm not asking you to vote for me because I promise to agree with you on everything.

I'm asking you to vote for me because I will show up, listen, work with people on both sides of the aisle and fight to deliver for results.

I will take that experience I've gained as a teacher, coach, school board member, mayor, community leader, and put it to work for 21B.

I will build a relationship with legislators in greater Minnesota and the metro.

I will find people willing to work with us, build coalitions, bring our priorities back to the Capitol again and again until we get the results.

The election gives you a choice.

We can continue the politics of division, the endless gotcha era, and two more years of asking why our communities aren't getting the attention they deserve, or we can choose a different direction.

We can choose a representative who believes rural Minnesota matters, a representative who believes compromise is not surrender, a representative who measures success by what gets done for you, not tearing everything down.

I'm asking for your vote because I believe 21B deserves that kind of representation.

If you want someone who will put 21B before party politics, results before rhetoric, people before political agendas, I would be honored to earn your vote.

Let's turn the page, let's bring rural Minnesota back to the table, and together let's get something done.

- [Narrator] You can find more information online about Jon Wilson at his website, jonwilsonformnhouse21b.com.

(upbeat music) Next, the Republican candidate, Marj Fogelman.

- Hello, my name is Marj Fogelman, and I am the current Minnesota House representative for District 21B.

My husband and I reside in rural Fulda, and we currently own and operate a micro small business, Mike's Mini Excavating.

I am a Christian, and I rely on my Christian values to lead me in my daily life.

I have lived in Southwest Minnesota my entire life, and I decided to run for office because many of our liberties and freedoms were disappearing.

My experience with volunteering at our church and our hockey association and running our own small business is the kind of real-world experience that is needed in St.

Paul.

During my two terms, I have met and received correspondence and phone calls from many residents and various groups in and around the district.

It is so rewarding to help individuals and groups with an issue.

When out and about in the district, I enjoy one-on-one conversations and meetings I have attended.

I am thankful to those who voted for me in the last election, and I will continue to listen and advocate for the district.

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

- I am running because I want to fight for and with the people of our district to ensure responsible and prosperous Minnesota with less government, less regulations, lower taxes, and an economy that works for everyone.

I'm running to protect the integrity of our elections.

I'm running to end rampant fraud, which has been allowed to thrive under Democrat control of this state.

I'm running for school choice.

Our children are falling further and further behind with our children test scores at less than 50% of grade level.

I'm running to protect our constitutional rights, the right to bear arms, the right to free speech, and the right to health freedom, the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

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

- My priority for the next legislative session will be District 21B and the state of Minnesota.

Residents have watched $9 billion that we know of stolen from them by fraudsters while Governor Tim Waltz, Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, and Democrat lawmakers purposely ignored this crime.

Ending Minnesota's fraud epidemic has to be our top priority in the next legislative session.

I will do my best to work with other legislators to cut taxes and shrink government, putting more money in your pocket, and letting you decide what to do with your money.

I believe the government is supposed to work for you, not dictate your life.

When Democrats last controlled state government, they wasted nearly $20 billion in surplus money, raised taxes another $10 billion, and increased government spending by 40%.

None of us can afford to have this happen again.

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

- Working in the private sector and operating our family business gives me a unique perspective.

When you are working in the government, taxpayer money should be treated like your own money, being frugal, and spending for what our state and district need.

It is hard making decisions on wants versus needs.

It means looking at what we are constitutionally responsible for and making decisions based off of that.

With a tighter budget at the state level, our citizens will have more money in their pockets, which will in the end help our economy be better in Minnesota.

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

- My vision for the future of Minnesota would be to end fraud.

This epidemic has taken nearly $10 billion from taxpayers.

We need to lower taxes and eliminate government interference.

My conservative values will continue to provide some balance that has been missing in the legislature.

I want to ensure a responsible and prosperous Minnesota.

I want people to keep more of what they earn so they can pay their bills.

I want to see a Minnesota where business opportunities and communities grow and are thriving.

I want to see a government led by honor and trust that listens to the citizens, not one that allows fraudsters to thrive and reward those that are ruining our state.

- [Narrator] And now, a closing statement.

- I decided to run for office to try and make a difference for my children and my community, as well as the entire state of Minnesota.

My strong Christian faith leads me every day, and I look to that to help me make decisions.

Being a conservative voice is what our state needs.

For years, Republicans have complained about the rampant fraud in our state and Democrats have scoffed about it.

Now you can't turn on the news without hearing a fraud story.

Minnesotans are outraged and rightly so.

By supporting me and other Republicans this fall, you will be voting to finally end the fraud epidemic in Minnesota while cutting taxes and shrinking government.

All of these things will lead to you having more money in your pocket for you to spend how you see fit.

With your help, together we can change Minnesota and have everything better for everybody that lives in the state.

My name is Marj Fogelman, and I appreciate you watching.

- [Narrator] You can find more information online about Marj Fogelman at her website, marjformnhouse.com.

(upbeat 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.

(upbeat music continues)