A PRODUCTION OF TWIN CITIES PBS FOR THE STATIONS OF MINNESOTA PUBLIC TELEVISION ASSOCIATION.

>> Mary: ONE LEADER IS IN, ANOTHER IS OUT.

REDISTRICTING IS CAUSING A LOT OF CHANGE.

WE'LL TALK WITH POLITICAL REPORTERS ABOUT THAT AND PUBLIC SAFETY, COMING UP ON "ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL."

♪♪ "ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY... MANITOBA HYDRO: PROVIDING CLEAN, RENEWABLE ENERGY TO MINNESOTA UTILITIES FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS.

MANITOBAHYDROPOWER.COM.

ENBRIDGE: CONNECTING MINNESOTANS WITH ENERGY FOR OVER 70 YEARS.

MORE ON COMMUNITY IMPACT AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AT ENBRIDGE.COM/MINNESOTA.

MINNESOTA LOTTERY: PLAYING OUR PART BY GENERATING FUNDS FOR MINNESOTA.

IF YOU'RE GAME, JUST SAY I'M IN.

GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 28 MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

AND THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY: A TRIBAL NATION FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION, ESPECIALLY IN TIMES LIKE TODAY.

>> MARY: WELCOME BACK TO "ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL."

ON TONIGHT'S SHOW, A COUPLE OF MY CAPITOL PRESS CORPS COLLEAGUES ARE HERE.

WE'LL COVER BIG REDISTRICTING NEWS, INCLUDING A LEGISLATIVE LEADER WHO'S NOT RUNNING.

THIS WEEK'S RETIRING LAWMAKER TALKS ABOUT REACHING ACROSS THE AISLE.

I'LL TALK WITH AN ASSISTANT PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSIONER WHO IS ABOUT TO BECOME THE FIRST BLACK POLICE CHIEF IN BLOOMINGTON.

BUT FIRST, ADDRESSING PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS REMAINS A TOP PRIORITY FOR BOTH PARTIES AT THE LEGISLATURE, BUT DIFFERENCES ARE EMERGING WITHIN ONE PARTY AS VARIOUS CAUCUS PRIORITIES BECOME CLEAR.

AS LAWMAKERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE SCRAMBLE TO RESPOND TO PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS, A BILL ANNOUNCED BY THE D.F.L.

MAJORITY LEADER QUICKLY HIT A SNAG IN INTERNAL POLITICS, AND HAD A HEARING CANCELED AND THEN RESCHEDULED.

>> WE ARE ANNOUNCING TODAY LEGISLATION THAT IS DRIVEN BY THE NEED TO RECRUIT THE NEXT GENERATION OF POLICE OFFICERS.

POLICE OFFICERS WHO REFLECT THE VALUES OF THEIR COMMUNITY, WHO REFLECT OUR STATE'S GROWING DIVERSITY AND WHO HAVE THE COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE AND COMMUNITY SERVICE THAT WE ALL WANT TO SEE IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENTS.

>> Mary: IT'S ESTIMATED ONLY ABOUT 4% OF OFFICERS IN MINNESOTA ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR.

FAR SHORT OF THE 24% OF OUR POPULATION.

>> THAT IS 25% OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN THE STATE LOOKING FOR POLICE OFFICERS.

SO THAT VACANCY RATE RIGHT NOW, YOU'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT BETWEEN 1200 AND 1500 POLICE OFFICERS.

I CAN'T OVERSTRESS ENOUGH, THIS BILL, IF PASSED, IS A GENERATIONAL OPPORTUNITY HERE FOR THE STATE OF MINNESOTA AND, AGAIN, YOU EVER THESE THREE ENTITIES THAT AGREE THAT SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE, IT'S TIME TO PUT OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS.

>> HODGES IS ABOUT TO BECOME BLOOMINGTON'S NEW POLICE CHIEF AS SUBURBS ARE SEEING A SURGE IN RIME LIKE CAR-JACKINGS N EDINA.

>> WE HAVE HEARD FROM OUR SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES ALL OVER THAT THEY ARE HAVING A HARD TIME RECRUITING AND RETAINING POLICE OFFICERS.

>> I AM HONORED TO BE CARRYING THIS AS A CHIEF AUTHOR IN THE SENATE.

THIS IS A SOLID PLAN FOR ADDRESSING OUR RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT ISSUES THAT ARE REALLY FACING EVERY AREA OF OUR STATE.

>> Mary: SENATE REPUBLICANS HEARD A BILL THAT ESTABLISHES A PROGRAM TOWARD BONUSES TO PEACE OFFICERS FOR EXEMPLARY SERVES.

>> WE DO THAT I THINK AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME IN HISTORY BECAUSE GO I THINK WE ALL KNOW WHERE WE ARE WITH RESPECT TO ATTITUDES ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT, PERHAPS NOT SHARED BY THE MAJORITY BUT PERHAPS SHARED BY THE MINORITY AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT POLITICAL PARTIES, I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT POPULATION.

>> THANK YOU, SENATOR SENJEM, FOR BRINGING THE BILL FORWARD.

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO RECOGNIZE HIGH QUALITY, HIGH STANDARDS AND I THINK SOMETIMES WHAT YOU LARRY ABOUT ARE THE MISTAKES OR THINGS THAT WERE WRONGLY DONE BUT IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT FOR US TO RECOGNIZE HAT WHICH WAS ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY.

>> Mary: THE COMMITTEE ALSO HEARD THE FORMER MAJORITY LEADER'S BILL FOR BONUSES TO RETAIN POLICE OFFICERS.

>> SENATE FILE NUMBER 3328 IS ADDRESSING THE CONCERN THAT WHAT ARE WE DOING ABOUT THE POLICE OFFICERS AND RETENTION.

>> IT DOES ONCERN ME THAT THERE'S O CRITERIA THAT'S LISTED FOR THE AWARDING OF BONUSES AND MORE FREQUENTLY I WOULD THINK THAT BOW NEWSIST WOULD BE AWARDED FOR EXEMPLARY SERVICE.

>> MARY: JOINING ME NOW, SOMEONE YOU JUST SAW IN ACTION AT THE CAPITOL, ASSISTANT PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSIONER BOOKER HODGES.

WELCOME.

LET'S TALK THE ISSUE, RECRUITMENT, RETENTION.

YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED AS AN OFFICER, YOU HAVE AN EXPERIENCE IN STATE GOVERNMENT, YOU ARE ABOUT TO BE A POLICE CHIEF.

WHAT DO YOU THINK WORKS FOR RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION?

>> WELL, WHAT I FOUND TO BE SUCCESSFUL IS HAVING A VALUES-BASED ORGANIZATION AND PEOPLE COMING TO AN ORGANIZATION BELIEVING IN THE VALUES AND MISSION THAT THAT ORGANIZATION BRINGS FORTH.

BUT THAT'S THE -- THAT'S PART OF IT.

THE OTHER PART IS RESPECT FOR PUBLIC SERVICE AND WHEN PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY CAN JOIN A PROFESSION WHERE THEY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND THAT THE PUBLIC IS GOING TO APPRECIATE THEM, THAT HELPS WITH RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION.

>> Mary: DOES MONEY HELP?

THEY'RE TALKING CASH, THEY'RE TALKING BONUSES FORECOMING N BONUSES FOR STAYING IN.

WOULD THAT WORK?

>> I'M NOT TRYING TO TAKE MONEY OUT OF ANYBODY'S POCKET BUT IM SAY, THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY RESEARCH THAT'S INDICATED THAT FINANCIAL INCENTIVES TO, YOU KNOW, TO KEEP PEOPLE IN THE PROFESSION IS GOING TO WORK, BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE, THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF MEN AND WOMEN THAT GET INTO LAW ENFORCEMENT DO NOT DO THIS FOR MONEY.

AGAIN, I'M NOT TRYING TO TAKE MONEY OUT OF PEOPLE'S POCKETS -- >> Mary: YEAH, OU DON'T WANT TO UPSETS YOUR FUTURE OFFICERS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE IN CHARGE OF, RIGHT?

>> NO, I'M NOT TRYING TO TAKE ANY MONEY OUT OF ANYBODY'S POCKET BUT IT'S A PURPOSE-DRIVEN PROFESSION, RIGHT?

AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHEN A POLICE OFFICER PUTS ON A UNIFORM, THEY'RE TELLING THE PUBLIC THAT MY LIFE IS LESS IMPORTANT THAN YOURS, RIGHT?

AND YOU DON'T DO THAT FOR MONEY, RIGHT?

AND THAT MEANS -- SO IT'S THAT PURPOSE-DRIVEN PART THAT I BELIEVE PEOPLE DO GET INTO THE PROFESSION FOR.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT DRIVING MORE PEOPLE OF COLOR?

WE JUST SAW THE STATISTIC, 4% OF OFFICERS IN MINNESOTA, PEOPLE OF COLOR VERSUS 24% OF OUR POPULATION.

THAT SEEMS LIKE A PROBLEM.

>> YEAH, AND IT IS.

A LOT OF THIS HAS TO BE -- PEOPLE HAVE IS TO SEE SOMETHING TO BECOME IT, RIGHT?

AND I MEAN, I THINK IT'S IN CAN YOU BELIEVE BENT UPON PEOPLE LIKE ME AND OTHERS TO REALLY ENCOURAGE OUR YOUTH, THOSE PEOPLE GRADUATING FROM COLLEGE THAT THIS IS A GOOD PROFESSION DESPITE SOMETIMES WHAT THE MEDIA SAYS ABOUT THE PROFESSION, AND JUST TO TRY TO TELL PEOPLE WHAT I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT IF YOU REALLY WANT YOUR COMMUNITY TO BE SAFE, RIGHT, YOU HAVE TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT.

I MEAN, YOU THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH STUFF DO WE DEPEND ON FROM EVERYBODY ELSE.

RIGHT NOW, VAST MAJORITY OF US DEPEND ON OTHER PEOPLE FOR OUR FOOD, OUR EDICAL CARE, RIGHT, BUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO DEPEND ON PEOPLE FOR YOUR PUBLIC SAFETY, YOU NEED TO HAVE A SAY IN THAT ND THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT IS TO SIGN UP AND JOIN THE PROFESSION.

>> Mary: WHAT WORKED FOR YOU?

WHY DID YOU GET INTO LAW ENFORCEMENT?

>> I CAN'T REALLY ANSWER THAT QUESTION -- I'VE BEEN ASKED IT A LOT BUT I'M A REALLY SPIRITUAL PERSON, YOU KNOW, AND I BELIEVE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE LORD LED ME HERE BECAUSE MY LIFE GROWING UP WOULD NOT HAVE PUT ME HERE.

MY DAD ABSOLUTELY DESPISED POLICE OFFICERS.

HE WOULD NEVER WOULD SEE ME IN UNIFORM SO, I MEAN, IT'S SOMETHING JUST I THINK DRAWS PEOPLE TO THIS PROFESSION.

ULTIMATELY WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO IS, FOR ME, IS BEING THAT PROTECTOR AND I THINK FOR A LOT OF COPS THAT COME INTO THE PROFESSION, THAT'S WHAT IT'S ABOUT.

>> Mary: AND YOU'RE ABOUT TO TAKE THAT PROFESSION TO THE NEXT LEVEL, YOU'RE GOING TO BE BLOOMINGTON'S FIRST BLACK POLICE CHIEF.

WHY DO YOU WANT TO GO BACK INTO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND TAKE ON SUCH A HIGH PROFILE ROLE?

>> SO, FOR ME, IT'S -- THIS IS A POINT IN OUR PROFESSION WHERE WE REALLY NEED TO START STICKING UP FOR THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSION AND SHOWING PEOPLE WHAT WE'RE TRULY ABOUT, RIGHT?

I BELIEVE LAW ENFORCEMENT IS THE MOST NOBLE PROFESSION ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH.

I BELIEVE THIS PROFESSION NEEDS LEADERS AND I JOKINGLY SAY THIS AND THE CHIEF THAT SAID THIS QUOTE IS OUT OF A JOB BUT HE SAYS, DON'T WORRY ABOUT, I'M GOING TO DO MY JOB AS OPPOSED TO WORRYING ABOUT MY JOB AND THAT WAS ART OSSEVEDO, ABILITY HE GOT FIRED IN MIAMI BUT BEFORE THAT, HE WAS SUCCESSFUL.

BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT NOW IS -- WE NEED LEADERSHIP IN THESE ORGANIZATIONS.

I CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH BECAUSE THE WAY THE CHIEF CYCLE WORKS FOR MOST PEOPLE WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND, I'M JUST GONNA BREAK THIS DOWN FOR YOU REAL QUICK.

MOST PEOPLE GET THAT CHIEF'S JOB WHEN THEY'RE 50 YEARS OLD AND LOOKING AT RETIRING AT 55.

SO HOW MANY WAVES ARE YOU GOING IS TO ROCK WHEN YOU GOT FIVE YEARS TO GO BEFORE YOU GET THAT PENSION?

I'M NOT SAYING EVERYBODY'S LIKE THAT BUT THAT'S KIND OF THE RULES IN HOW IT'S PLAYED.

YOU WORK A WHOLE CAREER AND THAT LAST FIVE-YEAR CHIEF, HOW MUCH ARE YOU GOING TO BE WILLING TO CHANGE O PUT YOUR JOB AT RISK.

>> Mary: AND REAL QUICK, EMERGENCIES AND St. PAUL BOTH NEED CHIEFS, WHY IS IT SUCH A HARD JOB TO RECRUIT?

>> WELL, IN MINNESOTA, I THINK PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE, I'LL BREAK THIS DOWN FOR YOU, TOO, REAL QUICK.

MINNEAPOLIS AT ITS HEIGHT HAD 850 COPS.

THE CITY OF TLANTA ONLY HAS MR. 40,000 MORE PEOPLE, THEIR POLICE DEPARTMENT IS 2,000 COPS, SO MINNESOTA -- WE HAVE ONE OF THE LOW ESPER CAPITA POLICE RATIOS IN THE COUNTRY.

>> Mary: INTERESTING.

>> SO WHEN PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR THESE JOKES, RIGHT, AND FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE CHIEFS, THEY'RE LOOKING FOR BIGGER JOBS AND SO MINNEAPOLIS, ALTHOUGH A MAJOR CITY, IS NOT ONE OF THE BIGGER JOBS BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF OFFICERS THAT WE HAVE.

>> Mary: GREAT PERSPECTIVE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR SERVICE AT THE STATE AND GOOD LUCAS CHIEF.

>> THANKS.

THANKS.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >> MARY: ON THE HEELS OF LAST WEEK'S REDISTRICTING NEWS, MORE LAWMAKERS ANNOUNCED THEY ARE RETIRING, RUNNING FOR A DIFFERENT SEAT OR STILL DECIDING THEIR NEXT MOVE.

HERE TO HELP SORT OUT THE COMINGS AND GOINGS AT THE CAPITOL, TOM HAUSER, KSTP TV'S CHIEF POLTICAL REPORTER AND HOST OF "AT ISSUE."

DANA FERGUSON IS WITH THE FORUM NEWS SERVICE WHICH MEANS YOU CAN SEE HER BYLINE IN NEWSPAPERS ALL OVER GREATER MINNESOTA.

WELL, YOU TWO, LET'S START WITH THE SENATE.

THE MAJORITY LEADER, ALREADY LEFT, PAUL GAZELKA, THE SENATE PRESIDENT, DAVE OSMEK IS LEAVING AND NOW SENATE MAJORITY LEADER MELISSA LOPEZ FRANZEN, HUGE, HUGE CHANGE.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN GOING FORWARD?

DO YOU WANT TO START?

>> I WANT TO ANNOUNCE IT FIRST, I'M NOT RUNNING FOR ANYTHING NORRIE TIRING BUT SEEMS LIKE EVERYONE AT THE CAPITOL IS DOING ONE OR THE OTHER AND EVEN SOME MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA AS WE'VE NOTICED.

IT'S FAST FASCINATING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS BUT THIS HAPPENS EVERY TEN YEARS WHEN THERE'S REDISTRICTING, FORCES A LOT OF LAWMAKERS TO DO SOME SOCIETY SEARCHING AND DECIDE DO I REALLY WANT TO RUN IN A NEW DISTRICT AFTER I'VE BEEN REPRESENTING ONE DISTRICT FOR TEN YEARS, OR LONGER, AND THIS IS OFTEN THE DECIDING FACTOR ON WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO STAY OR NOT.

>> Mary: DANA, HOW ABOUT DIVERSITY AND ESPECIALLY WOMEN.

MELISSA LOPEZ FRANZEN, ONLY WOMAN IN LEADERSHIP IN THE SENATE AND WE'RE HEARING AS MANY AS EIGHT WOMEN ARE LEAVING THE SENATE?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF WOMEN WHO WERE IN THE SENATE FOR QUITE A BIT OF TIME DECIDING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO RETIRE AND THERE ARE INCUMBENTS WHO ARE MEN WHO ARE GOING TO BE IN THOSE DISTRICTS AND LIKELY WILL REPLACE THEM.

AND THESE ARE SOME BIG NAMES.

SENATOR ROSEN, SENATOR KIFFMEYER, COMMITTEE CHAIRS WHO HAVE BEEN THERE FOR QUITE A LONG TIME AND NOW THAT EXPERIENCE IS GOING TO BE GONE.

>> Mary: TOM, THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE, TOO, YOU MENTIONED, YEAH, SENATOR ROSEN, JULIE ROSEN, SENATORIAL NEWMAN, TRANSPORTATION CHAIRS, THESE WERE KIND OF THE GO-TO LAWMAKERS WHO COULD REACH ACROSS THE AISLE, COULD GET A BILL DONE.

THERE'S VALUE IN THAT AND THAT'S GOING TO BE EXPERIENCED LOST, ISN'T IT?

>> THERE'S ALSO JUST ALUE SIMPLY IN THE EXPERIENCE.

PEOPLE THAT KNOW HOW TO MOVE LEGISLATION THROUGH THE CAPITOL AND IT'S NOT EASY, AND YOU START TO LOSE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE AND THEN YOU'RE LOSING LEADERS, LIKE SENATOR FRANZEN, WHICH REALLY SURPRISED ME.

I KNEW WHEN SHE WAS COMBINED WITH RON LATZ, WHO'S ALSO BEEN THERE A LONG TIME, MUCH LONGER IN FACT THAN LOPEZ FRANZEN, BUT I THOUGHT MAYBE THEY WERE GOING TO WORK OUT SOME DEAL SINCE SHE'S IN LEADERSHIP, WHERE SHE WOULD RUN AGAIN AND MAYBE RON LATZ WOULD MOVE.

BUT I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED THERE BUT SHE HAS DECIDED TO STEP ASIDE FOR NOW BUT I THINK SHE HAS A BRIGHT POLITICAL FUTURE.

I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IT IS.

>> Mary: DANA, TAKE US OUT TO GREATER MINNESOTA.

OBVIOUSLY POPULATION LOST IN REDISTRICTING.

WHAT KIND OF MATCHUPS, WHAT ARE YOU SEEING OUT THERE?

>> WE'RE SEEING REALLY NEW DISTRICTS, OBVIOUSLY THE MORE RURAL DISTRICTS ARE GETTING BIGGER BECAUSE THEY NEED TO BRING IN MORE PEOPLE AFTER EXPERIENCING LOWER THAN AVERAGE POPULATION PICK U OF M COMPARED TO THE METRO REA.

LOOKING AT THE CONGRESSIONAL 8th DISTRICT, IT GREW QUITE A BIT ND IT NOW ENCOMPASSES ALL OF THE NORTHERN INDIGENOUS NATIONS UP THERE, THAT'S GOING TO BE A CHANGE.

IT'S JUST VAST.

THE 7th WAS VAST BEFORE BUT THEY'RE BOTH JUST PICKING UP SO MUCH ROOM, AND THERE COULD BE A CHANGE IN DYNAMIC IN TERMS OF YOU NOW HAVE DIFFERENT CONSTITUENCIES, DIFFERENT BIG CITIES LIKE BEMIDJI MOVING OVER AND FOLKS THAT MAYBE YOU HAVEN'T REPRESENTED BEFORE, EITHER IN YOUR STATE SENATE DISTRICT OR CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT THAT YOU HAVE TO GET TO KNOW AND TRY TO EPRESENT WELL IF YOU HAVEN'T REALLY KNOWN THEM BEFORE.

>> Mary: TOM, LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT'S BECOME THE BIGGEST ISSUE THIS SESSION AT THE CAPITOL, PUBLIC SAFETY.

SIX MONTHS AGO, WE WOULD NOT HAVE SEEN THIS COMING, IS THAT FAIR?

>> OH, YEAH, SIX MOMENTS AGO, I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE THE COVID ELECTION.

NOW IT'S A COUPLE OF SEASONS, COVID AND CRIME AND I THINK RIGHT NOW, CRIME IS AT THE FOREFRONT ECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THIS STATE IN PARTICULAR IN THE METRO AREA WHO ARE AFRAID TO WALK OUT TO THEIR CAR AT A DAY CARE OR AT A GROCERY STORE AND ARE LOOKING OVER THEIR SHOULDERS.

WE HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THAT IN MINNESOTA TO THE EXTENT WE ARE RIGHT NOW.

YOU CANNOT OVERESTIMATE HOW IMPORTANT THE CRIME ISSUE IS THIS YEAR.

>> Mary: AND STATEWIDE, YOU KNOW, TOM WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT THE SUBURBS, A LONG OF SWING SEATS IN THE SUBURBS, A POLITICALLY COMPETITIVE AREA, BUT OUTSTATE MINNESOTA BIG ON CRIME?

>> I THINK WE'RE SEEING IT QUITE A BIT OUT THERE, TOO, THE ROADS ARE TERRIBLE, FOLKS ARE DRIVING SO MUCH MORE REMEMBERING ISLESSLY THAN THEY HAVE BEEN BEFORE AND THIS IS A TALKING POINT THAT YOU HEAR CONSTANTLY FROM GREATER MINNESOTA LEGISLATORS THAT THE CRIME IN THE TWIN CITIES IS JUST SO DIRE, FOLKS ARE WORRIED ABOUT COMING HERE AND THEY'RE WILLING TO PUSH THAT POINT BECAUSE IT'S ADVANTAGEOUS TO THEM GOING INTO ELECT SEASON, SO I ANTICIPATE WE'LL HEAR QUITE A BIT MORE ABOUT THAT.

>> Mary: GOOD TRANSITION TO THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, TOM, THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT, CRIME AND ESPECIALLY LIKE PAUL GAZELKA IS REALLY RUNNING ON THAT.

THERE'S LAWMAKERS FROM OUTSIDE THE METRO ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE WHO ARE IN THE MIX.

WHO ISEE REALLY THE FRONT-RUINER AND WHAT'S REALLY THE ISSUE?

>> IT'S HARD TO SEE WHOA THE FRONT-RUNNER IS BUT I KNOW IN OUR KSTP-USA POLLING, ALL THE REPUBLICANS RUN FAIRLY COMPETITIVELY AGAINST GOVERNOR WALZ, EVEN THE ONES THAT ARE LESSER KNOWN.

GOVERNOR WALZ DOES NOT DO BETTER THAN 45% AGAINST ANY OF THEM BUT AMONG THE REPUBLICANS, FORMER SENATOR JENSEN POLES THE BEST WITH GAZELKA JUST BEHIND HIM.

SO AT THIS POINT I WOULD THINK JENSEN-GAZELKA MAYBE ONE ON TWO IN TERMS OF THE EARLY FAVORITES.

>> Mary: DAYNA, I NOTICE THE GOVERNOR'S SCHEDULE INCREASING ON EVENTS WITH PUBLIC SAFETY.

HE SEES THE ISSUE, TOO?

>> IT WOULD SEEM THAT WAY AND HE'S TAKING HIS TOUR, TALKING ABOUT MUST BE SAFETY OUT ON THE ROAD AND TALKING ABOUT SOLUTIONS AND I IMAGINE THAT'S SOMETHING HE'S AIMING TO GET AHEAD OF BEFORE IT PICKS UP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

>> Mary: THANK YOU SO MUCH, POLITICAL REPORTERS, CHECK THEM OUT, DANA FERGUSON, THE FORUM AND TOM HAUSER, KSTP.

THANKS NOR JOINING ME.

>> MARY: UP NEXT IS THIS WEEK'S INSTALLMENT OF OUR SERIES OF RETIRING LAWMAKER PROFILES.

REPUBLICAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE TIM MILLER IS ONE OF THE MORE CONSERVATIVE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE.

MILLER SAYS THAT REACHING ACROSS THE AISLE AND MAKING FRIENDS WITH POLITICAL OPPOSITES REMAINS KEY TO WORKING FOR THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA.

YOU'RE JOINING ONE OF MANY WHO ARE LEAVING THE LEGISLATURE.

TELL US WHY.

>> I'M NOT LEAVING SOMETHING, I'M GOING TO SOMETHING SO AT THE END OF THIS TERM, I WILL HAVE SERVED THE GREAT STATE OF MINNESOTA FOR EIGHT YEARS.

THAT'S FOUR TERMS, WHICH IS PLENTY OF TIME FOR ME TO TRY AND GET THE WORK DONE THAT I CAN, BUT I BELIEVE THAT GOD IS CALLING ME INTO A NEW DIRECTION.

PEOPLE THAT KNOW ME KNOW THAT MY NUMBER ONE ISSUE IS DEFENDING THE UNBORN.

>> Mary: DOES THAT MEAN YOU HAVE A NEW JOB?

>> ABSOLUTELY, MARY.

THERE IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR OVER 30 YEARS CALLED PRO LIFE ACTION MINISTRY.

WE ARE BEGINNING A NEW ORGANIZATION AFFILIATED COMPLETELY WITH PRO LIFE ACTION MINISTRIES AND I WILL BE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THAT.

>> Mary: LET'S TALK ABOUT OTHER ISSUES BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE LAST TIME WE SPOKE, AND WHAT WE'VE PROBABLY TALKED THE MOST ABOUT OVER THE YEARS IS THE APPLETON PRISON.

THAT IS IN YOUR DISTRICT AND IT'S SOMETHING YOU'VE WORKED REALLY HARD TO GET THAT UP AND RUNNING AGAIN.

TALK TO ME ABOUT THE FATE OF THAT ISSUE AS YOU DEPART HERE.

>> THE FATE OF THE APPLETON PRISON, PRAIRIE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES IS WHAT IT'S TECHNICALLY NAMED IS STILL UNKNOWN.

NOW, WHEN I FIRST CAME INTO OFFICE, THE STATE OFTEN MINNESOTA WAS SAYING, WE HAVE AN OVERCROWDING PROBLEM AND THEY WERE -- THE STATE AS GOING TO BUILD NEW FACILITIES AND REALLY, MY MESSAGE ALL ALONG WAS RATHER THAN BUILD NEW FACILITIES, USE WHAT'S OUT HERE IN APPLETON.

AND THE DEBATE ENSUED AFTER THAT AS TO WHAT THE PURPOSE AND WHAT THE REASONING BEHIND THIS WAS.

THE DIRECTION THAT THE DAYTON ADMINISTRATION AND NOW THE WALZ ADMINISTRATION HAS TAKEN HERE JUST RECENTLY, THE SENTENCING GUIDELINES COMMITTEE WAS GOING TO CHANGE THINGS WHICH HAS BEEN LOWERING THE POPULATION OF INMATES IN OUR PRISON SYSTEM.

>> Mary: LET'S TALK MORE ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY BECAUSE YOU MADE SOME NEWS AND SOME WAVES, REALLY, BY BEING OPEN ON SOME CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM ISSUES.

IT GOT YOU APPOINTED TO THE PUBLIC AFETY CONFERENCE COMMITTEE AS THEY WERE DEALING WITH THIS REAL RACIAL RECKONING AND POST-GEORGE FLOYD, AND YOU REACHED ACROSS THE AISLE.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT?

>> I REALLY BELIEVE THAT THE PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE IS FRONT AND CENTER IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

WE DON'T LIKE TALKING ABOUT IT, WE'VE GROWN A LITTLE BIT TIRED OF IT BUT IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND WHAT I SAID ON THE HOUSE FLOOR SIMPLY WAS PEOPLE FROM RURAL MINNESOTA WHERE I LIVE DON'T TRUST GOING INTO THE TWIN CITIES.

THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE TWIN CITIES THAT DON'T TRUST LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THE COMMON THREAD IN ALL THAT IS, THERE IS NOT TRUST.

THERE IS NOT RESPECT.

WE HAVE A PROBLEM HERE.

I ELLED AT BOTH SIDES AND SAID YOU'RE BOTH TO BLAME.

AND I QUIETLY RECEIVED A GREAT DEAL OF SUPPORT FROM PEOPLE WHO SAYING THANKS FOR SAYING THAT, NEEDED TO BE SAID.

I SAID I'M GOING INTO IT IS MIDDLE OF THE FIELD, HO'S GOING TO JOIN ME?

THE GOOD NEWS IS THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE.

NOT ENOUGH BUT WE'RE GOING TO KEEP PRESSING THIS.

>> Mary: YOU USED THE PHRASE THAT YOU MOVED TO THE MIDDLE, YOU TRIED TO GO TO THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD AND HAVE PEOPLE JOIN YOU WHICH IS EXTRA INTERESTING BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE REGULAR REPUBLICAN CAUCUS, YOU FORMED THE NEW HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS, WHICH I THINK THE SIMPLISTIC WAY TO LOOK AT IT WAS OH, THEY'RE FURTHER TO THE RIGHT.

BUT HERE'S AN ISSUE HERE YOU MOVED TO THE MIDDLE SO CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE NEW HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS AND WHY YOU WERE PART OF THAT AND HOW IT WAS EITHER GOOD OR BAD FOR YOUR CAREER?

>> AS YOU SAID, MOST PEOPLE PRESUME THAT IT WAS A CAUCUS MEANT TO MOVE FURTHER TO THE RIGHT.

I CAN TELL YOU THAT ALL FOUR OF US IN THE CAUCUS ARE VERY CONSERVATIVE.

WHY WE FORMED IS REALLY IN THE SAME SENSE OF WHAT I AS TRYING TO DO WITH PUBLIC SAFETY.

WE NEED TO BRING INTEGRITY, TRUTH, TRUST, COMMUNICATION BACK TO THE LEGISLATURE.

I GOT A GREAT DEAL DONE IN THE FOUR YEARS THAT I WAS IN THE NEW HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS, AND I WAS ON WAYS AND MEANS, TAX COMMITTEE AND THE AG COMMITTEE, ALL THE COMMITTEES I WOULD WANT TO BE ON.

SO, REALLY, WHERE DID I LOSE MY POWER OR OPPORTUNITY.

>> Mary: HOW ABOUT PARTING ADVICE FOR OTHER?

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?

>> THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT TRUSTING THEIR GOVERNMENT RIGHT NOW AND INSTEAD OF TAKING THE ROUTE OF, WELL, WE NEED TO TELL THEM HOW THEY SHOULD TRUST US, MAYBE IT'S INCUMBENT UPON US TO REBUILD THAT TRUST.

IF I HAVE SOMEONE THAT IS SO UNHAPPY WITH ME THAT THEY ARE STARTING TO THREATEN ME, SURE, WE NEED TO ADDRESS MAYBE A SECURITY ISSUE THERE.

MY RESPONSIBILITY IS TO LOOK AT MYSELF.

WHAT AM I DOING TO GET THEMSELVES -- OR WHAT AM NOT DOING THAT CAN SCALE THIS DOWN?

I THINK AS A STATE REPRESENTATIVE AISHA GOMEZ, COULD YOU HAVE ANYONE MORE POLITICALLY OPPOSITE THAN ME AN AIESHA.

AND WE'VE BECOME GOOD FRIENDS.

I'VE BEEN ABLE TO CALL HER, CAN YOU MAKE A CALL AND -- >> Mary: IS THE LEGISLATURE MISSING THOSE, MISSING THOSE FRIENDSHIPS ACROSS GEOGRAPHY, ACROSS CULTURES, ACROSS PARTIES?

>> YES.

AND IT'S BECAUSE IT'S NOT POLITICALLY EXPEDIENT TO BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS.

REPRESENTATIVE CEDRIC FRAZIER AND I AFTER HE SPOKE ON THE HOUSE, HE SAID YOU BLEW MY MIND AWAY BECAUSE HE KNOW HE HAD SOME PRESUMPTIONS ABOUT ME.

GUESS WHAT, RED CALL IDEA, SED RICK PHRASER AND I HAD BREAKFAST TOGETHER AND WE BOTH SURVIVED IT.

>> Mary: MINNEAPOLIS HAS BEEN THROUGH A LOT, A LOT OF SOUL-SEARCHING, QUESTIONING, ANGST.

WHAT DO YOU THINK WE'VE LEARNED FROM ITS?

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR COMMUNITY HAS LEARNED AND WHAT DIRECTION DO YOU THINK IT NEEDS TO GO?

>> YOU KNOW, AFTER THE POLICE MURDERED GEORGE FLOYD AND THE RESULTING CIVIL UNREST, AT THE WAS ENGAGED IN A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY, ONE ON ONES, SMALL GROUPS, LARGE GROUPS, WHERE I SAW PARTICULARLY MY WHITE NEIGHBORS MAKING THEMSELVES REMARKABLY VULNERABLE AROUND ISSUES OF RACE.

THEY HAD HAD AN AWAKENING TO THINGS THAT THEY AND -- I'M NO DIFFERENT, POWERFUL, POWERFUL CONVERSATIONS THAT I THINK CHANGED A LOT OF PEOPLE'S LIVES.

>> MARY: THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

WE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH THE LATEST FROM THE LEGISLATURE.

IF YOU MISSED PART OF TONIGHT'S SHOW OR WANT TO REWATCH ANY EPISODES FROM THE PAST, HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE, TPT.ORG/AATC.

DON'T FORGET TO FOLLOW "ALMANAC" ON FACEBOOK.

LOOK FOR SESSION UPDATES AND MORE FROM OUR TEAM ON TWITTER.

THAT'S ALL AT TPT.ORG/AATC.

WHEN THE LEGISLATURE IS IN SESSION, YOU CAN FOLLOW HOUSE AND SENATE FLOOR ACTION, COMMITTEE HEARINGS AND MORE ON THE PBS STATION YOU ARE WATCHING RIGHT NOW.

MAKE SURE TO TUNE IN TO "ALMANAC" ON FRIDAY NIGHT.

ERIC AND CATHY WILL HAVE THE LATEST ON THE FEDERAL TRIAL OF FORMER MINNEAPOLIS POLICE OFFICERS, A NURSING LICENSE DEBATE, AND KAOMI LEE LOOKS AT ANTI-ASIAN HATE ON THE RISE.

AND THAT'S OUR SHOW.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

GOOD NIGHT.

>> "ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL" IS Captioned by: Paradigm Reporting/Captioning www.paradigmreporting.com ♪♪ "ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY... MANITOBA HYDRO: PROVIDING CLEAN, RENEWABLE ENERGY TO MINNESOTA UTILITIES FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS.

MANITOBAHYDROPOWER.COM.

ENBRIDGE: CONNECTING MINNESOTANS WITH ENERGY FOR OVER 70 YEARS.

MORE ON COMMUNITY IMPACT AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AT ENBRIDGE.COM/MINNESOTA.

MINNESOTA LOTTERY: PLAYING OUR PART BY GENERATING FUNDS FOR MINNESOTA.

IF YOU'RE GAME, JUST SAY I'M IN.

GREAT RIVER ENERGY: POWERING WHAT'S POSSIBLE.

AND THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY: A TRIBAL NATION FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION, ESPECIALLY IN TIMES LIKE TODAY.

"ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL" IS A PRODUCTION OF TWIN CITIES PBS FOR THE STATIONS OF MINNESOTA PUBLIC TELEVISION ASSOCIATION.