>> 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 WILL MEET CANDIDATES FROM SENATE DISTRICT 16.

DISTRICT LINES HAVE CHANGED SINCE THE 2020 CENSUS.

DISTRICT 16 IS MADE UP OF CHIPPEWA, KANDIYOHI AND WESTERN PORTION OF MEEKER COUNTY.

MAJOR CITIES ARE WILLMAR, LITCHFIELD, MONTEVIDEO AND OLIVIA.

NOW LET'S MEET THE CANDIDATES.

WE WILL START WITH DFL CANDIDATE FERNANDO ALVORADO.

>> I HAVE LIVED IN WILLMAR FOR 36 YEARS WHERE MY WIFE AND I RAISED TWO DAUGHTERS IN THE WILLMAR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.

I VOLUNTEERED TO BE PRESIDENTS OF VARIOUS ORGANIZATION.

WHEN THE SWIM CLUB NEEDED A LEADER, I STEPPED UP.

WHEN THE SPORTS BOOSTERS NEED A LEADER I STEPPED UP AND I HANDLED PROBLEMS THAT THEY HAD.

THEY SAID THERE WAS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM WITH FEES.

I DETERMINED WE SHOULD ESTABLISH AN ENDOWMENT FUND.

I STEPPED UP.

I DID NOT WALK AWAY.

I VOLUNTEERED TO RUN FOR CITY COUNCIL WHEN IT WASN'T WORKING PROPERLY.

I DID NOT WALK AWAY.

I HANDLED PROBLEMS.

I ADDRESSED PROBLEMS.

I WANT TO BE YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE TO HANDLE THE PROBLEMS, TO WORK WITH OTHERS, TO MAKE MINNESOTA A BETTER PLACE TO WORK AND TO PURSUE YOUR DREAMS.

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

>> I'M RUNNINGS MINNESOTA STATE SENATE TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF SENATE DISTRICT 16.

I VISITED EVERY CORNER OF THE STATE, AND I HEAR ONE THING CONSISTENTLY THAT THEY ARE TIRED OF WORK NOT BEING COMPLETED AT THE MINNESOTA SENATE.

THEY WANT TO SEE A SENATE WORK.

THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT MINNESOTA IS DOING SOMETHING, AND THEY ARE TIRED OF POLITICAL INFIGHTING.

I WANT TO WORK WITH CONSERVATIVES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE PARTY TO GET THINGS DONE FOR THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

I HAVE NO POLITICAL AGENDA, BUT I WANT TO MAKE IT BETTER FOR MINNESOTANS.

I WANT FREEDOM FOR ALL, FREEDOM FOR PEOPLE TO PURSUE THEIR EDUCATION.

FREEDOM FOR PEOPLE TO LOVE WHO THEY WANT, MARRY WHO THEY WANT.

I WANT FREEDOM OF GUN ACCESS, OWNERSHIP WITHIN REASONABLE GUIDELINES.

THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO DO WHEN I REPRESENT SENATE DISTRICT 16.

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

>> WHAT ARE MY PRIORITIES?

I WANT TO COMPLETE THE WORK THAT MINNESOTA SENATE FAILED TO DO.

I WANT COMPLETE FUNDING FOR OUR EDUCATION.

I WANT COMPLETE MONEY FOR DAY CARE CENTERS.

I WANT COMPLETE TAX REBATE FOR THE CITIZENS OF MINNESOTA.

I WANT TO DO THE WORK THAT THE MINNESOTA REPUBLICANS FAILED TO DO WHEN THEY HAD THEIR OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE IT BETTER FOR US ALL.

I WANT TO FUND LAW ENFORCEMENT.

WHEN THE MINNESOTA REPUBLICANS WALKED AWAY, WE LOST FUNDING FOR THE MINNESOTA LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CORRECTIONS OFFICER.

I WANT TO COMPLETE THAT WORK.

I'M NOT A CAREER POLITICIAN, AND I WANT EVERYONE IN THE DISTRICT TO BE ABLE TO PURSUE THEIR AMERICAN DREAM.

I NEED TO SUPPORT LEGISLATION THAT WILL BRING OUT THE BEST FOR ALL OF US AND THAT MEANS LEGISLATION THAT WILL ALLOW STUDENTS TO SUCCEED.

I WANT TO BUILD ON COOPERATION AND COOPERATIVE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ALLOW THEM TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND OUR COMMUNITIES TO BE SAFE.

I WANT TO CONTINUE TO PROTECT WOMEN'S FREEDOM OF HEALTHCARE CHOICES AND ENCOURAGE DIVERSITY, TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE FABRIC OF MINNESOTA'S COMMUNITIES, WHICH MAKES US STRONGER, NOT WEAKER.

WE HAVE TO BE MORE MINNESOTA NICE SO THAT WE LEARN FROM EACH OTHER.

WE HAVE TO WORK HARDER TO UNDERSTAND AND COME ALONGSIDE EACH OTHER SO THAT WE CAN LEARN FROM EACH OTHER.

IF WE HAVE AN IDEA THAT WE DON'T LIKE AND THEY HAVE AN IDEA THAT WORKS, WE HAVE TO STOP OUR IDEA AND WORK WITH THAT OTHER PERSON'S IDEA.

THOSE ARE MY PRIORITIES.

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

>> I GREW UP IN A PROJECT IN WATERTOWN NEW YORK CALLED CLOVER DETAIL APARTMENTS.

THEY WERE CLEAN AND CONVENIENT BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE SERVICES LIKE A WASHING MACHINE OR DRIER OR ANY OF THOSE APPLIANCES.

WE DRIED OUR CLOTHES OUT ON A CLOTHES LINE.

MY MOTHER WORKED TO RAISE TWO BOYS.

THEN WHEN WE WERE GROWING UP, WE DIDN'T HAVE VACATIONS.

WE WENT TO SCOUT CAMP FOR A WEEK AND THAT WAS OUR VACATION.

WE DIDN'T SEE MUCH OF THE WORLD.

IN HIGH SCHOOL, WE MOVED OUT TO THE COUNTRY, AND I LIVED IN A SINGLE WIDE MODULAR HOME, TRAILER, AND IT WAS -- AND LIVING THERE WAS LIKE A BAROMETER.

WHEN IT WAS WINDY OUT, YOU HEARD IT ON THE INSIDE.

WHEN IT WAS HOT OUT, YOU FELT IT ON THE IN.

WHEN IT WAS COLD AND PIPES FROZE UP, YOU GOT UP EARLY IN THE MORNING TO THAW THE PIPES OUT BEFORE YOU WENT TO SCHOOL.

I DID THAT.

I KNOW ABOUT HARD WORK.

WHEN I WAS 17 I WAS POSED WITH A QUESTION.

YOU HAD TO START PAYING RENT TO LIVE AT YOUR HOME.

I JOINED THE NAVY AT 17.

THAT ANSWERED THOSE QUESTIONS.

I LEARNED -- I WENT THROUGH THE SERVICE.

I WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED.

WENT TO MANKATO STATE.

GOT MY DEGREE.

I HUSTLED AND GOT AN INTERNSHIP AND I GOT DONE IN FOUR YEARS.

I WORKED HARD.

I BELIEVE BY -- AND I WORKED 28 YEARS IN THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY, AND I WORKED WITH PEOPLE STRUGGLING, AND I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO WORK AND TALK AND COMMUNICATE, AND THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO BRING TO THE MINNESOTA SENATE, A PERSPECTIVE OF UNDERSTANDING, EMPATHIZING AND KNOWING WHAT PEOPLE ARE GOING THROUGH.

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

>> WHAT IS MY VISION FOR MINNESOTA?

I SEE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE THE WHOLE BETTER.

I SEE COMMON SENSE GUN LAWS WHICH PROTECT LAW ENFORCEMENT IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

I SEE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND AFFORDABLE DAY CARE SO FAMILIES CAN WORK AND NOT WORRY ABOUT HAVING THEIR EARNINGS GO TO PAY FOR DAY CARE.

I SEE SENIORS LIVING IN THEIR HOMES WITH SERVICES PROVIDED SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO MOVE OUT AND AFFORDABLE MEDICATION.

I SEE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT AND JOBS CREATED SO THAT MINNESOTA CONTINUES TO BE A LEADER IN THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE.

I SEE FUNDED PUBLIC EDUCATION.

I SEE MINNESOTA BECOMING A GO TO STATE WITH CLIMATE CHANGE.

I SEE THAT I AM GOING TO WORK FOR MY CONSTITUENTS AT SD16.

I NEED YOUR VOTE IN NOVEMBER.

VOTE FOR FERNANDO ALVORADO.

IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE YOU DREAM, I NEED YOU TO HELP ME GET TO THE SENATE AND TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE FOR A BETTER MINNESOTA.

REMEMBER, MINNESOTA IS BETTER WORKING TOGETHER.

THAT'S MY SLOGAN.

THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO BRING TO THE SENATE FOR YOU, AND THAT'S WHY I WANT TO REPRESENT SENATE DISTRICT 16.

THANK YOU.

>> AND NOW, A CLOSING STATEMENT.

>> TODAY YOU WILL LIKELY HEAR NEARLY TWO DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES.

MY OPPONENT, MR. LANG INDICATED WE ARE GOING TO TAX MORE AND SPEND MORE.

HE HAS INDICATED THAT THERE SHOULD BE LESS GOVERNMENT IN OUR PERSONAL LIVES AND GOVERNOR FAILED TO HANDLE THE PANDEMIC PROPERLY.

UNDER THE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP WE CREATED OVER $9 BILLION SURPLUS.

WE HAVE NOT INCREASED TAXES ON THE MIDDLE CLASS NOR DO WE WANT TO.

WE WANT TO HAVE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND MAKE SURE THOSE FINANCIAL INTERESTS THAT ARE BENEFITING FROM OUR INFRASTRUCTURE CONTRIBUTE TO THE COST OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.

HE HAS INDICATED THAT THERE SHOULD BE LESS GOVERNMENT IN OUR PERSONAL LIVES.

HE WANTS TO TAKE AWAY REPRODUCTIVE CHOICE FROM OUR FEMALE POPULATION AND LIMIT OUR OPTIONS TO MAKING HARDER TO VOTE.

IF THAT IS NOT GOVERNMENT INTRUSION ON OUR PERSONAL LIVES, I DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS.

THE HANDLING OF THE PANDEMIC WAS DONE WITH HEALTH CONCERNS OF EVERY MINNESOTAN.

WE WERE DEALING WITH A VIRUS WITH UNKNOWN CONSEQUENCES.

IT WAS A KILLER WITH OVER A MILLION AMERICANS DEAD.

I HAVE HEARD OF PEOPLE WHO ARE BARELY ABLE TO WALK FIVE STEPS BEFORE THEY NEED TO REST, FAMILIES THAT HAVE BEEN TURNED UPSIDE DOWN WITH A LOSS OF A PARENT OR BOTH PARENTS.

MINNESOTA RANKS AMONG THE BEST STATES IN BATTLING COVID THANKS TO OUR GOVERNOR.

YOU HAVE A CLEAR CHOICE IN NOVEMBER.

OUR CURRENT SENATOR WHO FRACTIONALIZED, IGNORES AND IS IN DECISIVE OR WHO WILL WORK HARD TO BUILD A BETTER MINNESOTA INCLUDING FARMERS, DAY CARE, HOURLY WORKERS AND YOU.

A MINNESOTAN THAT KNOWS THE VALUE OF HARD WORK, BUILDING A TEAM AND INCLUDING OTHERS TO BUILD A BETTER MINNESOTA.

MINNESOTA IS BETTER WORKING TOGETHER AND YOUR VOTE IN NOVEMBER WILL HELP BUILD A BETTER LIFE FOR YOU AND ME.

THANK YOU.

>> YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ONLINE ABOUT FERND FERNANDO ALVORADO.

NEXT REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE ANDREW LANG.

>> HELLO.

MY NAME IS SENATOR ANDREW LANG.

I HAVE BEEN THE SENATOR IN WHAT IS NOW DISTRICT 17.

WHAT WE ARE RUNNING FOR IS DISTRICT 16.

IT'S ALWAYS BEEN COMPRISED OF 4 COUNTIES.

4 COUNTIES ARE CHIPPEWA, RENVILLE, AND KIND OF THE WESTERN HALF OF MEEKER COUNTY.

MY HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO SERVE THIS DISTRICT FOR THE LAST 6 YEARS.

I CURRENTLY SERVE ON BOTH THE ENVIRONMENT POLICY AND ENVIRONMENT FINANCE COMMITTEES AS WELL AS THE AG FINANCE AND AG POLICY COMMITTEES.

I HAVE SERVED ON THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE AND NOW CURRENTLY THE CHAIR OF THE VETERANS MILITARY AND VETERANS COMMITTEE.

THANK YOU.

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

>> WELL, INITIALLY JUST A COUPLE OF SHORT YEARS AGO THE WAY IT SEEMS, I RAN INITIALLY JUST TO KIND OF STOP SOME OF THE BAD STUFF FROM HAPPENING THAT I SAW HAPPENING TO CITIZENS IN MY DISTRICT.

OVER THE YEARS I HAVE LEARNED A LOT.

I HAVE CONSTANTLY BEEN WORKING FOR THE CITIZENS OF THE DISTRICT AND AGAIN AND AGAIN, IT'S PRETTY AMAZING TO ME AND PRETTY REWARDING TO DRIVE THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT AND SEE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED WHEN I HAVE BEEN IN OFFICE AND HONESTLY KNOWING IF I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN THERE THAT THEY WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN DONE, THINGS MAYBE AS TRIVIAL AS RENAMING A ROAD, BUT STILL AS YOU GO FORWARD, IT'S THINGS LIKE HOSPITALS THAT WERE BUILT, THINGS LIKE HIGHWAY 23 BEING FOUR LANES FROM ST.

CLOUD ALL THE WAY TO WILLMAR OR SOMETHING THAT I KNEW AT THE END OF THE DAY WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN FINISHED IF I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN THERE.

THAT HAS CHANGED FROM TRYING TO STOP THINGS FROM HAPPENING TO REALLY TRYING TO HELP OUR AREA OF THE STATE AND OUR STATE AS A WHOLE REALLY PROSPER AND MOVE ON IN THE FUTURE.

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

>> WELL, IT'S A LONG LIST.

BUT INITIALLY IN THE 6 YEARS I HAVE BEEN THERE EVERY YEAR WE HAVE HAD A BUDGET SURPLUS.

WE TAX THE CITIZENS OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA TOO MUCH.

WE HAVE OUR BALANCED BUDGET STATE.

WE DO ALL OF OUR BALANCED BUDGETING EVERY OTHER YEAR IN THE BIENNIUM AND EVERY BIENNIUM IT COMES UP.

THAT FIGURE IS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 9 1/2 BILLION DOLLARS DEPENDING ON WHAT THE FORECAST LOOKS LIKE.

NO.

1 ON THAT LIST WOULD BE THE ELIMINATION OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY TAX.

THAT'S SOMETHING FROM THE BEGINNING WE HAVE BEEN PUSHING CITIZENS OUT OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

IT USED TO BE JUST RETIREES.

IF YOU LOOKED AT THE STATISTICS AND LOOK AT RETIREES THOSE WERE THE FOLKS LEAVING THE STATE.

WHAT'S HAPPENED OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS, THE AGE, THE TIME FRAME STARTED MOVING INTO INDIVIDUALS IN MY OWN AGE WHERE THEY ARE LEAVING THE STATE, TOO, AND LEAVING THE STATE FOR TAX PURPOSES MORE THAN ANYTHING.

OTHER BIG TICKET ITEMS ARE PROTECTING OUR FARMING ECONOMY.

THAT'S ONE THING AND VISITING ON THE AG COMMITTEES OVER THE YEARS.

ONE THING AFTER THE OTHER WHERE GROUPS HAVE TAKEN AIM AT FARM COMMUNITIES, AND MADE IT TOUGH TO BE FARMERS AND THAT IMPLIES ALSO THE TAXING ENVIRONMENT ON FAMILIES AND THEN AGAIN WHEN IT COMES TO FARMING, WE HAVE TO WORK ON THE BEGINNING FARMERS, START-UP FARMERS, MIDDLE AGE FARMERS THAT ARE WORKING ON RESTRUCTURING LAWNS AND ESTATE PLANNING INTO THE FUTURE.

WHEN IT COMES TO TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS, I SAT ON THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE AND BEEN INVOLVED IN THAT.

HAVING A REAL STRONG INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN AND INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM IN PLACE WORKING ALONGSIDE MINN DOT AND ALWAYS HAVING BRIDGES AND ROADS THAT WE ALL ENJOY.

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

>> WELL, I HAVE FOR THE LAST TWO DECADES, I HAVE IN THE MINNESOTA ARMY NATIONAL GUARD.

I SPENT A LOT OF TIME WORKING WITH GUARDSMEN AND BEEN OVERSEAS IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS.

I THINK I HAVE A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE WHEN IT COMES TO GETTING THE JOB DONE.

IN THE PAST I HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN THE POLITICIAN AS KIND OF A DEMEANING THING, SO I SAID I TRIED REALLY HARD NOT TO BE A POLITICIAN BUT TRIED REALLY HARD TO REPRESENT THIS AREA OF THE STATE AND MAKE THE COMMON SENSE DECISIONS.

THE RESPECT THAT I LEARN IN THE MILITARY IS UNIQUE.

IT'S SOMETHING WHERE THE MINNESOTA SENATE COULD PROBABLY USE A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THAT.

I ENCOURAGE FRIENDS OF MINE THAT HAVE BEEN MILITARY MEMBERS TO STAND UP AND RUN AND GET INVOLVED.

I THINK THAT THE MILITARY AS A WHOLE IN THAT PERSPECTIVE IS DEFINITELY GETTING THE GO GET THE JOB DONE ATTITUDE AND NOT WORRY ABOUT THE POLITICS IN THE FRONT PAGE OF THE NEWSPAPERS SO MUCH.

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

>> I THINK THAT VISION KIND OF GOES ALONG WITH EVERYTHING THAT I JUST STATED.

YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO HAVE THE STRONG ECONOMY.

ANYTHING THE STATE OF MINNESOTA CAN DO TO HAVE THE ECONOMY BOOMING, JOB CREATORS LOOKING FOR PLACES IN THE STATE.

THAT GOES HAND IN HAND WITH THE TAXING ENVIRONMENT.

IF WE CAN KEEP OUR YOUNG FAMILIES AND OUR SENIOR CITIZENS HERE IN THE STATE, I THINK THAT PROVIDES WELL FOR THE STATE AS A WHOLE.

ULTIMATELY A PROSPEROUS STATE IS SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY BENEFITS FROM.

THAT'S NOT JUST THE TAXING ENVIRONMENT BUT PUBLIC SAFETY.

OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN VIOLENT CRIME.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN FIX.

WE PUT MORE COPS ON THE STREET AND WE PROVIDE OPPORTUNITY FOR BUSINESSES AND WE HAVE THOSE UNIQUE JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG AND GROWING FAMILIES.

I THINK WE CAN ENSURE THE STATE OF MINNESOTA IS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE FOR EVERYBODY, WHETHER IT'S IN THE METRO OR GREATER MINNESOTA, WE CAN DO THAT, AND WE HAVE SEEN THE ROAD.

WE HAVE SEEN THE ROADMAP HOW TO GET THERE, AND WE NEED TO DRIVE DOWN THAT.

>> NOW, A CLOSING STATEMENT.

>> AGAIN, I APPRECIATE THE TIME.

IT'S BEEN MY GREAT HONOR TO SERVE THIS DISTRICT FOR THE LAST 6 YEARS.

MY WIFE HAS ALLOWED ME GRACIOUSLY TO RUN ONE MORE TIME FOR SURE, AND WE HAVE KIND OF HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.

I HAVE BEEN VERY INVOLVED IN SENATE COMMITTEES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

I HAVE REALLY THROWN MYSELF AT THIS JOB.

I HAVE REALLY WORKED MY TAIL OFF.

AS MY WIFE SAID, YOU LIKE TO SEE THE OUTLOOK CALENDAR.

COMPLETELY FAILED FOR THE LAST 6 YEARS.

I ENJOYED IT.

IT'S REALLY, REALLY BEEN MY PLEASURE.

IT IS A VERY, VERY UNIQUE JOB, AND IT IS VERY REWARDING WHILE BEING VERY FRUSTRATING AND I TRULY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT ONE MORE TIME.

SO THANK YOU.

>> YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ONLINE ABOUT ANDREW LANG AND HIS WEBSITE LANG FOR SENATE.COM.

LEARN MORE ABOUT VOTING, HOW TO REGISTER AND WHAT DISTRICT YOU LIVE IN 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.