Captioning Provided By AV Captioning www.avcaptioning.com >> Announcer: DEBATE NIGHT 2024 IS BROUGHT TO YOU IN PART BY: LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF MINNESOTA, EVOLVE CREATIVE, LINDA AND DAVID HOLMES, AND DAVID QUAM.

LAKELAND PBS, THE BEMIDJI PIONEER, BRAINERD DISPATCH, PARK RAPIDS ENTERPRISE AND KAXE/KBXE ARE PROUD TO PRESENT DEBATE NIGHT 2024, A LOOK AT OUR AREA LEGISLATIVE CANDIDATES.

YOUR MODERATOR TONIGHT IS RAY GILDOW, AND NOW THE MINNESOTA HOUSE DISTRICT 6B DEBATE.

>> Ray: GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

WELCOME TO OUR FOURTH NIGHT OF DEBATE NIGHT 2024 AT THE LAKELAND PBS STUDIO IN BRAINERD.

I'M RAY GILDOW, YOUR MODERATOR FOR THIS EVENING.

WE'RE WRAPPING UP AN EXCITING WEEK OF DEBATES COVERING TOPICS AND ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU AND YOUR COMMUNITIES.

OUR FIRST OF TWO DEBATES THIS EVENING, WE'LL BE HEARING FROM THREE CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR HOUSE DISTRICT 6B.

THE CANDIDATES ARE REPRESENTATIVE JOSH HEINTZEMAN, TO MY RIGHT, AND EMILY LeCLAIRE, THE DEMOCRATIC-FARMER-LABOR PARTY, AND TO HER RIGHT, TROY SCHEFFLER FROM THE AMERICANS FIRST PARTY.

WE HAVE THREE PANELISTS TONIGHT ASKING QUESTIONS OF THE CANDIDATES.

DENNIS WEIMANN IS THE NEWS DIRECTOR AT LAKELAND PBS.

MEGAN BUFFINGTON IS A REPORTER AT KAXE/KBXE PUBLIC RADIO, AND TERESA BURKE IS A REPORTER AT THE BRAINERD DISPATCH.

NOW THE RULES FOR TONIGHT'S DEBATE.

EACH CANDIDATE WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES FOR OPENING COMMENTS.

THE PANEL WILL THEN BE ASKING QUESTIONS, SOME WILL BE THEIR OWN QUESTIONS AND OTHERS MAY BE FROM THE PUBLIC.

CANDIDATES WILL ROTATE THEIR ORDER OF SPEAK, BEGINNING WITH OPENING COMMENTS AND FINISHING REQUEST ENDING COMMENTS.

EACH CANDIDATE WILL HAVE TWO MINUTE TOO MUCH ANSWER THE QUESTIONS.

EACH CANDIDATE WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A ONE-MINUTE REBUTTAL.

CANDIDATES WILL HAVE THE OPTION OF USING ONE MINUTE OF BONUS TIME TO ADD TO ANY ONE OF THEIR ANSWERS TONIGHT.

THIS CAN BE USED DURING THE ANSWER TO THE INITIAL QUESTION OR DURING THE REBUTTAL, BUT IT ONLY CAN BE USED ONE TIME.

QUESTIONS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL WE REACH THE 50-MINUTE MARK, AT WHICH TIME WE WILL MOVE TO CLOSING COMMENTS.

CANDIDATES WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR CLOSING COMMENTS.

OKAY, LET'S GET STARTED.

OUR FIRST -- OPENING COMMENTS WILL COME FROM JOSH AND IT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY EMILY AND FOLLOWED BY TROY.

SO JOSH, YOU'RE ON.

>> Heintzeman: YOU BET.

THANK YOU, RAY, AND THANKS TO OUR PANEL FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK LAKELAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, I THINK THAT THIS FORMAT IS GREAT FOR THE VIEWERS AND FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS.

THEY GET TO SEE OUR INTERACTIONS TOGETHER AND OUR ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS.

AND I JUST WANT TO MOVE ON FROM THAT AND SAY HOW THANKFUL I AM TO HAVE BEEN HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THE DISTRICT, DISTRICT 6B, THE LAKES AREA, FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS, AND THAT THE PEOPLE OF MY DISTRICT HAVE ENTRUSTED ME WITH THAT RESPONSIBILITY OF REPRESENTING THEM.

MY WIFE KERI AND I HAVE SIX CHILDREN.

WE'VE LIVED IN THE LAKES AREA ALL OF OUR MARRIED LIFE, AND WE WORK HERE AS WELL AS PLAY HERE.

OUR BUSINESS IS AROUND THE FOREST PRODUCTS INDUSTRY AND SERVICES, AND WE ALSO HAVE SOME RENTAL PROPERTY, SO WE'RE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS.

WHEN I FIRST RAN IN 2014, AND I'M GOING TO GET RIGHT TO IT IN MY OPENING COMMENTS, THAT WAS THE LAST TIME DEMOCRATS HAD WHAT IS KNOWN AS A TRIFECTA.

THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, CONTROL OF THE HOUSE, AND CONTROL OF THE SENATE.

AND JUST LIKE A DECADE AGO, WHEN THAT WAS THE SCENARIO, THEY OVERREACHED.

I THINK THAT TONIGHT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A GOOD ROBUST DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED OVER THE COURSE OF THIS LAST SESSION, ABOUT A SQUANDERED $18 BILLION SURPLUS, ABOUT AN INCREASE IN $9 BILLION IN TAXES, AND WHAT THAT IMPACT WAS TO MINNESOTA FAMILIES, ALONG WITH UNDER THE WALZ AND HARRIS ADMINISTRATIONS, $11,300 INCREASED COST FOR MINNESOTA FAMILIES IN THESE LAST TWO YEARS.

IT HAS BEEN A REAL CHALLENGE SERVING AS THE GOP LEAD IN THE ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE AND THEN ALSO AS A SENIOR MEMBER ON THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE, WATCHING AS THIS LEGISLATION HAS COME TO OUR CHAMBER, THE MINNESOTA HOUSE, AND WE'VE HAD TO DEBATE THESE BILLS AND THE IMPACTS OF WHAT MANY RECOGNIZE AS AN EXTREME LEFT AGENDA.

I'M RUNNING AGAIN TO MAKE SURE THAT I CONTINUE TO HAVE A VOICE FOR MY COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO TO WORK TOWARDS BRINGING BACK A BIPARTISAN LEGISLATURE WHERE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS HAVE TO TALK TO EACH OTHER AS OPPOSED TO WHAT WE HAVE NOW, WHICH IS A SCENARIO UNDER WHICH THERE'S ZERO BIPARTISANSHIP AND WE'VE WATCHED THE TRIFECTA RUN ROUGH SHED OVER THE MINORITY.

THANK YOU.

>> Ray: THANK YOU, JOSH.

EMILY.

>> LeClaire: THANK YOU.

FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO THANK LAKELAND PBS AND EVERYONE ELSE THAT HAD A ROLE IN PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.

IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO GET TO KNOW THE CANDIDATES AND WHAT EACH OF US REPRESENT AND WHERE WE COME FROM.

I MYSELF COME FROM THE BRAINERD LAKES AREA RIGHT HERE IN BRAINERD WHERE I WAS BORN AND RAISED.

CURRENTLY I'M RAISING MY OWN FAMILY HERE.

AS A SINGLE MOM TO JUDE, LUCY, PRUDENCE, AND MICHELLE, ALL OF WHOM ARE PROBABLY BEING FORCED BY MY PARENTS TO WATCH AT LEAST THE INTRODUCTION OF THIS DEBATE.

I HAVE A HEART OF SERVICE AND I'VE SPENT MOST OF MY CAREER IN DIRECT CARE, MENTAL HEALTH AND MINISTRY.

CURRENTLY I VOLUNTEER AT THE BREAD SOUP KITCHEN RIGHT HERE IN BRAINERD AND I HELP OUT WITH MY CHILDREN.

I'VE ENJOYED A LOT OF EXPERIENCE ADVOCATING FOR LOWER INCOME FAMILIES WITH TCC, HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START AS PART OF THE POLICY COUNCIL AND PARENT COMMITTEE.

I WAS ALSO ELECTED FROM THERE AS AN MASA PARENT AND BOARD MEMBER.

I LOVE WORKING IN PUBLIC SERVICE AND THAT'S WHAT BROUGHT ME TO THE POINT OF RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

A LITTLE BIT NERVOUS.

THIS IS MY FIRST TELEVISED DEBATE IF YOU CAN'T REALLY TELL.

I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO SAY THAT -- THANK YOU.

I'D ALSO LIKE TO SAY THAT I'M, YOU KNOW, HERE FOR THE LITTLE GUY.

I'M HERE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO FEEL THEY HAVEN'T BEEN REPRESENTED BY THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DOWN IN THE CITIES AS OUR REPRESENTATIVES, AND I FEEL LIKE TOO OFTEN, PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN POVERTY OR PEOPLE WHO FEEL LIKE THEY'RE ON THE OUTSKIRTS DON'T REALLY FEEL LIKE THEIR NEEDS ARE BEING NET AND THEIR VOICES ARE HEARD.

THAT'S WHAT I HOPE TO DO AS YOUR NEXT REPRESENTATIVE.

THANK YOU.

>> Ray: THANK YOU, EMILY.

TROY.

>> Scheffler: THANKS, TROY SCHEFFLER.

I'M RUNNING AS AMERICANS FIRST CANDIDATE.

HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET A THIRD PARTY GOING IN THIS STATE.

I HAVE TO APOLOGIZE FOR THE PHONE GOING ON.

APPARENTLY "DO NOT DISTURB" WITH ANDROID IS DISTURB RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THANKS.

BUT APOLOGIES TO JOSH AND THE INTERRUPTION, ALTHOUGH THAT'S ABOUT AS MUCH CORDIALNESS AS HE'S GOING TO GET IN THIS DEBATE.

I DO HAVE TO SAY, THERE'S A LOT OF TALK ABOUT HISTORY AND FAMILY AND WORK AND WHATNOT, BUT I DON'T REALLY HEAR ANY SUBSTANCE ON ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

THAT'S KIND OF -- I'VE BEEN AROUND THE SUN 48 TIMES, AND IT'S ALWAYS THE SAME RHETORIC.

SAME CANNED STUFF.

NOW, WE'LL GET INTO ACTUAL COMPARISONS AND MAYBE I'LL TOUCH UPON IT A LITTLE BIT, BUT I WILL HAVE TO TALK ABOUT BIPARTISANSHIP.

I THINK IT'S THE MOST NONSENSICAL TERM THAT'S EVER BEEN.

WE ARE ABSOLUTELY DIVIDED ON CERTAIN THINGS, AND IT'S REALLY FUNNY BECAUSE THE THIRD PARTY WOULD ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO GUIDE PEOPLE AND BE AN IMPORTANT VOICE TO GET THESE PEOPLE TO BE HONEST FOR ONCE AND FORCE THEM INTO GETTING THINGS DONE FOR THE AMERICAN PUBLIC AND MINNESOTA IN GENERAL.

BIPARTISANSHIP IS OTHERWISE LUDICROUS.

THAT'S ONE OF THE SAME PIECES OF RHETORIC THAT WE'VE HEARD SINCE, AGAIN, 48 YEARS AGO, I'M SURE LONG BEFORE THAT.

IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN UNLESS WE HAVE A THIRD PARTY.

NOW, AS FAR AS MY PARTY ITSELF, MY POSITION IS THAT I'M A NATIONALIST.

I'M NOT A GLOBALIST.

I HATE GLOBALISTS.

AS FAR AS THE TWO PARTIES ARE CONCERNED, THEY'RE VERY GLOBALIST, AND WE SEE THIS TIME AND TIME AGAIN WITH FOREIGN POLICY, DOMESTIC POLICY, ETCETERA.

I'M SICK AND TIRED OF THIS STATE LOOKING -- HERE'S SOMETHING THAT'S INTERESTING AND CHEW ON THIS A LITTLE BIT.

THAT I SEE MY STATE BEING INVADED, AND INSTEAD OF CALLING IT AN INVASION, WE'RE NOW CALLING IT DIVERSITY AND MULTICULTURALISM AND EVERYTHING ELSE, AND EVERYONE SEEMS, ESPECIALLY IN THIS AREA, TO COMPLAIN ABOUT A FLAG BEING PLANTED AFTER OUR FLAG THAT HAS BEEN STANDING FOR QUITE SOME TIME WAS REPLACED.

WELL, WHY DID THAT HAPPEN?

WELL, IT'S CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS THAT FORCED THAT TO HAPPEN.

AND WHAT I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM EITHER PARTY IS ANYTHING TO STOP IT.

I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING AS FAR AS THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEMS.

I HEAR ONLY JUST ROUND AND ROUND CIRCULAR ARGUMENTS ON SOLUTIONS.

WE'LL GET INTO A LOT OF CONSTITUTIONAL CONSIDERATIONS AND THE LACK OF RESPECT OF THE CONSTITUTION AND MY HISTORY AND FIGHTING TO UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION.

AS FAR AS WHO I AM, IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHO I AM AFTER THE PAST FOUR YEARS, YOU HAVEN'T BEEN PAYING ATTENTION.

THANK YOU.

>> Ray: THANK YOU, TROY.

THE FIRST QUESTION WILL BE COMING FROM MEGAN AND THE ORDER OF ANSWERING WILL BE EMILY, TROY, AND JOSH.

SO MEGAN.

>> Megan: WHAT CHALLENGES DO YOU THINK ARE UNIQUE TO DISTRICT 6B AND HOW WOULD YOU ADVOCATE FOR SOLUTIONS TO THOSE CHALLENGES?

>> LeClaire: THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.

FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD SAY A LOT OF THE CHALLENGES WE CURRENTLY FACE AREN'T AS UNIQUE TO DISTRICT 6B AS THEY ARE ISSUES BEING FACED ACROSS THE STATE.

ONE OF THE MAIN ISSUES I'VE BEEN HEARING FROM A LOT OF CONSTITUENTS ABOUT IS HOUSING, BOTH AFFORDABILITY AND AVAILABILITY OF HOUSING.

FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN ALSO, WE NEED TO BOLSTER OUR CHILDCARE SYSTEM AND I STAND ON THE AVAILABILITY OF CHILDCARE IN THE AREA.

OBVIOUSLY THOSE THINGS BOTH AFFECT THE ECONOMY, WHICH IS WHAT IT ALL KIND OF POINTS TO FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE IS THAT WE NEED AN AREA WHERE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO WANT TO COME HERE AND WORK.

PEOPLE AREN'T GOING TO WORK WHERE THEY CAN'T LIVE, AND PEOPLE AREN'T GOING TO WANT TO WORK WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE CHILDCARE IF THEY WANT TO RAISE A FAMILY HERE.

JOSH AND I HAVE BOAST BEEN BLESSED TO SAY -- BOTH BEEN BLESSED TO SAY WE'VE RAISED OUR FAMILIES HERE AND I'D LOVE TO SEE NEW WORKERS COME IN AND RAISE FAMILIES HERE AND SEE THE BEAUTY IN THE BRAINERD LAKES AREA THAT WE'VE BEEN BLESSED TO ENJOY.

>> Ray: THANK YOU, EMILY.

TROY.

>> Scheffler: FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO KIND OF PIGGYBACK ON THE WHOLE FAMILY THING AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

ON THE ONE HAND, I SAYOFF A FAMILY -- I SAY I DON'T HAVE A FAMILY SO THERE'S NOTHING I'M COMPROMISED WITH, I DON'T HAVE TO SPLIT LOYALTIES.

IT'S UTTER SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY, I CAN'T BE BOUGHT OFF.

AS FAR AS RAISING FAMILIES, ETCETERA, WHAT I HAVE NOTICED IS THAT CROW WING HAS A REALLY, REALLY POOR HISTORY OF ACTUALLY RAE TANK THE KIDS THAT WE RAISE -- RETAINING THE KIDS THAT WE RAISE IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.

THEY END UP LEAVING THE COUNTY AND GOING TO THE CITIES OR ELSEWHERE BEEN THAT'S A HUGE PROBLEM.

AS FAR AS THE BIGGEST CONCERN FOR CROW WING COUNTY AND, IN FACT, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, IS THIS GUY RIGHT OVER HERE.

IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN, JOSH, FOR THE SECOND TIME THIS WEEK, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE A JUDGE THIS TIME TO PLEAD FOR MERCY AND ASK FOR HELP.

THAT WAS ACTUALLY KIND OF COMICAL.

IN ANY EVENT, WE'LL FOLLOW UP THAT AND IT'S ON THE RECORD, BUT HERE'S THE THING IS THAT IN COURT, I HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR THE PUBLIC'S RIGHTS AND MY LAWSUITS HAVE BEEN PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES.

LIKE SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, THE FIRST AMENDMENT.

JUST ENTERED A CONSENT DECREE WITH CROW WING COUNTY BECAUSE THEY WERE DELETING FACEBOOK COMMENTS OFF THEIR COUNTY WEBSITE IN OPPOSITE TO THE FIRST AMENDMENT, MUCH LIKE MR. HEINTZEMAN HERE WAS DOING ON HIS REPRESENTATIVE PAGE, WHICH IS WHY HE DELETED IT.

HE'S ALSO BEING SUED.

I'M NOT EVEN DOING THAT.

I WILL.

BUT WHILE HE ACTUALLY IS LITERALLY ON HIS FACEBOOK SAYING THAT FREE SPEECH IS THE BEDROCK OF THE UNITED STATES AND AMERICAN FREEDOM AND EVERYTHING ELSE, HE'S LITERALLY DELETING HIS OWN CONSTITUENTS' FACEBOOK COMMENTS.

SO THAT IS IRONIC.

I'M GOING TO TAKE MY EXTRA MINUTE WITH THIS ANSWER BECAUSE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

SO THERE'S THAT WITH REGARD TO THE FIRST AMENDMENT.

NOW, WITH REGARD TO THE SECOND AMENDMENT, MR. HEINTZEMAN, HE TOUTS HIS MPTOA ENDORSEMENT AND THE MPTOA, THE MINNESOTA POLICE AND PEACE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, NOT REALLY ALL THAT PRO COP OR PRO MINNESOTAN.

IN FACT, THEY SUPPORTED DRIVER'S LICENSES FOR ILLEGALS AND HAS GIVEN JOSH'S HRCC $55,000 IN JUST ONE DONATION, WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE.

AND WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND IS YOU GOT TO FOLLOW THE MONEY.

A VOTE FOR HEINTZEMAN IS LITERALLY A VOTE FOR DEMOCRATS.

HE'S BEEN USING THIS MONEY FROM THE HRCC TO UNDERMINE OTHER ACTUAL REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES AND INSTALL RINOS LIKE, SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, RON KRESHA WHO WILL BE ON LATER.

HE TOUTS AN SCIU ENDORSEMENT.

THAT'S A FAR LEFT LABOR ORGANIZATION WHO IS PRO ABORTION.

SO IS THE AFL/CIO WHICH GAVE JOSH'S HRCC OVER $100,000 IN JUST ONE DONATION.

IT'S ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE.

YOU NEED TO ACTUALLY VET YOUR POLITICIANS.

IT'S NOT ENOUGH JUST TO PUT ON THE LITTLE STICKER AND SAY THAT YOU VOTED.

YOU GOT TO DO SOME WORK AND I DOESN'T END AT THE BALLOT BOX.

>> Ray: THANK YOU, TROY.

JOSH.

>> Heintzeman: THANK YOU, RAY.

AND FIRST I'LL ANSWER THE QUESTION AND THEN I'LL COVER SOME OF THE ACCUSATIONS THAT WERE JUST MADE, WHICH SEEMS TO BE A CONSTANT BARRAGE FROM MR. SCHEFFLER.

WE'LL ADDRESS THAT, LIKE I SAID, IN A MOMENT.

BUT FIRST OF ALL, AS WE'RE OUT AND ABOUT AND EVEN THIS MORNING, I'M HAVING BREAKFAST WITH LOCAL FOLKS AND I'LL JUST MENTION I WAS VISITING WITH JOE AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT OUR ECONOMY IN CROW WING COUNTY.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT CHILDCARE.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE UNENDING LIST OF RULES AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER THAT HE FACES ON A DAILY BASIS IN CROW WING COUNTY.

NOT SOMETHING LEVIED BY LOCAL FOLKS, BUT FOLKS IN ST. PAUL.

SPECIFICALLY, NEW RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT OUR BUSINESSES ARE FORCED TO COMPLY WITH AND OUR SCHOOLS ARE FORCED TO TRY TO ADMINISTER.

CROW WING COUNTY IS A 75% SERVICE-BASED INDUSTRY ECONOMY.

THAT'S A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESSES.

IN FACT, OUR CHAMBER, THE BRAINERD CHAMBER, IS ONE OF THE LARGEST CHAMBERS IN THE ENTIRE STATE WITH OVER A THOUSAND MEMBERS.

THOSE FOLKS NEED SUPPORT, AND THEY HAVEN'T BEEN GETTING IT.

I MENTIONED IN MY OPENING MONOLOGUE THE DISCUSSION AROUND $9 BILLION IN NEW TAXES.

AND THE COMMENT IS ALWAYS, WELL, THOSE TAXES, YOU KNOW, ARE GOING TO BE LEVIED AGAINST THE RICH.

IT'S AMAZING HOW OFTEN THAT'S YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS WHO HAVE SMALL BUSINESSES AND DESPERATELY NEED TAX RELIEF.

BUSINESSES NEED RELIEF WITH STATEWIDE BUSINESS PROPERTY TAXES.

DAYCARES NEED SUPPORT FROM THE STATE, NOT MORE REGULATION THAT PUTS GRANDMA'S AND GRANDPAS AND AUDIENCES AND UNCLES OUT OF THE CHILDCARE BUSINESS BECAUSE THEY'RE SO HEAVILY REGULATED, AND OUR RESORT INDUSTRY NEEDS TO HAVE SUPPORT WHEN MPCA IS COMING DOWN ON THEM WITH RIDICULOUS RULES THAT REQUIRE THAT THEIR SEPTIC SYSTEMS BE BUILT FOR 100% OCCUPANCY 365 DAYS OF THE YEAR.

IT'S RIDICULOUS.

AND THAT'S WHAT I OFFER IS THAT KNOWLEDGE BASE COMING TO THE LEGISLATURE.

>> Ray: THANK YOU, JOSH.

NOW YOU'LL EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE REBUTTAL PERIOD AND WE'LL GO THROUGH THE SAME SEQUENCE.

FIRST EMILY, THEN TROY, AND THEN JOSH.

SO EMILY, YOU'RE UP FIRST IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO REBUT ANYTHING.

>> LeClaire: YEAH, THANK YOU.

I'LL JUST TAKE ONE SECOND QUICK TO ADDRESS WHAT TROY SAID ABOUT HAVING SPLIT LOYALTY, IMPLYING THAT HAVING A FAMILY MEANS YOUR LOYALTY IS SPLIT BETWEEN SERVING AND HAVING FAMILY.

I WOULD ONLY SAY THAT I'VE WORKED MULTIPLE JOBS WHILE RAISING CHILDREN.

I'M FULLY DEDICATED TO BOTH, AND THE FACT THAT I'M A MOTHER IS WHAT WILL MAKE ME WORK HARDER AS A REPRESENTATIVE.

THANK YOU.

>> Ray: THANK YOU.

TROY.

>> Scheffler: THANK YOU.

ACTUALLY, I HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR EMILY.

SHE PUT ON A NICE LITTLE THING LAST WEEKEND FOR VETERANS AND EVERYONE WAS INVITED.

I SHOWED.

THE REPUBLICANS DIDN'T.

I HAVE NO PROBLEM, I GUESS, GETTING ALONG WITH OTHER PEOPLE AND OTHER PEOPLE'S OPINIONS, EVEN IF THEY'RE WRONG, BUT AS LONG AS THEY HAVE GOOD INTENTIONS, THAT'S GREAT.

AS FAR AS REBUTTING MR. HEINTZEMAN AND THE UNENDING RULES, YOU'RE ON RECORDING, JOSH, COMPLAINING ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION BEING RULED AS JUST SOMETHING YOU GOT TO WORK AROUND AND THE STATE CONSTITUTION IS SOMETHING YOU GOT TO BE ABLE TO WORK AROUND.

IT WAS THE SAME CONVERSATION THAT YOU HAD WITH THE PUBLIC OFFICIAL WHERE YOU COMPLAINED ABOUT ME SPLITTING THE VOTE AS AN INDEPENDENT, AND HOW ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE A LIVING?

AND THIS IS WHY WE NEED TERM LIMITS.

EVERYONE COMPLAINS ABOUT TERM LIMITS.

WE GET SWAMP MONSTERS PUT IN HERE AND YOU CAN NEVER GET RID OF THEM.

THEY, AGAIN, WILL WANDER DEMOCRAT, PROGRESSIVE LABOR UNION MONEY TO STAY IN POWER AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT.

PEOPLE NEED TO START FOLLOWING THE MONEY, AND NO OFFENSE TO YOUR FAMILY, THAT'S GREAT, BUT -- AND I HOPE YOU DO WELL FOR THEM, BUT THERE'S ALWAYS A MATTER OF SPLIT LOYALTY WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO THE MEDIA OR OTHER POLITICIANS COMING AFTER YOUR FAMILY.

>> Ray: THANK YOU, TROY.

THE NEXT QUESTION WILL BE -- >> Heintzeman: I GET A REBUTTAL.

>> Ray: OH, I'M SORRY.

SORRY, JOSH.

>> Josh: THAT'S OKAY.

I'VE BEEN WARMING UP FOR IT.

I WILL JOIN EMILY IN POINTING OUT NA YOUR ASSESSMENT, TROY, OF FAMILY BEING, I THINK YOU DESCRIBED IT VERY DEROGATORILY AS AN OBSTACLE IN SOME WAY IS ENTIRELY INAPPROPRIATE.

I WOULD ARGUE IN FACT THAT OUR FAMILIES, EMILY, GIVE US A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE, THAT THOSE FOLKS THAT DO NOT HAVE FAMILY WILL NOT UNDERSTAND.

I'VE HAD TO BE THERE AT THE TIMES WHEN MY KIDS HAVE NEEDED A PARENT MOST AND BEEN THERE, WHEN WE'RE GOING THROUGH A PROCESS OF DECISION-MAKING IN EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, INSURANCE, TRYING TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE, THOSE THINGS THAT AVERAGE FOLKS IN THIS DISTRICT ARE CONSTANTLY DEALING WITH ON A DAILY BASIS.

AND AS FOR, YOU KNOW, YOUR ACCUSATIONS, I'M GLAD I'M HERE WITH STRONG ENOUGH SHOULDERS TO TAKE THE BARRAGE OF LAWSUITS THAT YOU HAVE LEVIED AGAINST ME AND AGAINST MY FAMILY, AND IN EACH CASE, THOSE THINGS HAVE BEEN DISMISSED AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE BECAUSE THEY'RE ENTIRELY BASELESS.

THANK YOU.

>> Ray: THANK YOU, JOSH.

TERESA WILL BE ASKING QUESTION NUMBER TWO AND WE'LL START WITH TROY AND THEN JOSH AND THEN EMILY.

GO AHEAD, TERESA TOP.

>> Teresa: MANY LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE FACING BUDGET SHORTFALLS.

BRAINERD, FOR INSTANCE, IS LOOKING AT A DEFICIT ROUGHLY $3 MILLION FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR.

WHAT DO YOU FEEL IS THE LEGISLATURE'S ROLE IN EDUCATION FUNDING, AND DO YOU FEEL LIKE ANY CHANGES NEED TO BE MADE?

>> Scheffler: SURE, YEAH, THERE'S A LOT OF CHANGE THAT NEED TO BE MADE, ESPECIALLY WITH STATE LEGISLATORS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

I DO HAVE TO CORRECT SOMETHING WITH JOSH.

YOU LOOK AT THE RECORD, NOT ONE THING HAS BEEN DISMISSED AGAINST YOU, JOSH.

SO YET ANOTHER LIE.

AS FAR AS HELPING THE KIDS, HELPING THE SCHOOLS, THERE DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE A READJUSTMENT AS FAR AS HOW WE'RE MOVING FUNDS AROUND.

THERE'S FISCAL DISPARITY LAWS, THERE'S THESE RIDICULOUS LEVIES, THERE'S CONSTANT BICKERING AND BATTLING BETWEEN DIFFERENT PARTIES THAT ARE TRYING TO TAKE A PIECE OF THE PIE BETWEEN THE CITIES, THE COUNTY, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, ETCETERA.

AND IT SEEMS LIKE THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS SEEM MORE INTERESTED IN THEIR ADMINISTRATION AND TRYING TO FINAGLE FUNDS TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE GETTING PAID AND IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY GO DOWN TO THE CHILDREN.

WHEN I WAS A KID, I'M SURE THE SCHOOLS WERE OPERATING ON A SHOESTRING BUDGET, AND WE CAME OUT ALL RIGHT.

I SEE KIDS NOWADAYS, THEY'RE FOCUSED ON LAPTOPS WHICH ARE EXPENSIVE, AND I UNDERSTAND THE IDEA OF IMPLEMENTING THAT, BUT IF I WAS GOING TO ACTUALLY INJECT ANY MONEY -- AND THIS IS KIND OF GOING A LITTLE BIT OUT THERE, BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF SCHOOL SAFETY AND I THINK IT'S MORE INTERESTING WITH REGARD TO KIND OF A VAGUE QUESTION GAUSS I'M NOT SURE IF -- BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ACTUALLY IMPROVING ACADEMICS OR NOT, BUT ACADEMICS SHOULD JUST START FOCUSING MORE ON STEM.

SO I'LL JUST ANSWER A QUESTION THAT'S ALREADY ON EVERYONE'S MINDS INSTEAD OF A BUNCH OF SOCIAL JUSTICE TYPE NONSENSE.

I THINK PARENTS CAN EDUCATE THEIR OWN CHILDREN WITH REGARD TO THAT.

BUT AS FAR AS MAKING OUR SCHOOLS SAFER, WHICH IS OF COURSE, ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS, IS -- I WAS LITERALLY ON FOX NEWS 15 YEARS AGO SAYING, HEY, LET'S DO SOMETHING LIKE ARM TEACHERS IN THE SCHOOLS OR LET'S PUT CAMERAS IN THE SCHOOL.

NOT ONLY WOULD PARENTS KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN THEIR CLASSROOMS, BUT THE POLICE WOULD HAVE A NICE TOOL TO KNOW IF ANYTHING THAT WAS GOING AWRY AND HOW TO RESPOND.

>> Ray: THANK YOU, TROY.

JOSH.

>> Heintzeman: THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A VERY HUGE IMPACTFUL SUBJECT AREA, AND THERE'S A LOT OF DISCUSSION THAT HAS BEEN HAD AND A LOT OF BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN PASSED OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.

I'M GOING TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE ISSUES I'VE HEARD ABOUT FROM MY SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND WHAT I THINK SOME OF THE SOLUTIONS MIGHT BE.

NUMBER ONE, YOU'VE HEARD TOUTED THAT THERE WAS HISTORIC INVESTMENTS MADE IN EDUCATION, AND WHILE IT'S TRUE THAT THERE WAS A HISTORICALLY LARGE AMOUNT OF FUNDING ALLOCATED, THE UNFORTUNATE REALITY IS THAT WHAT WE ALSO GOT WITH THAT FUNDING WERE 65 UNFUNDED MANDATES.

AND SO IF YOU'VE BEEN HEARING IN THE NEWS RECENTLY THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS LOCALLY AND AROUND THE STATE ARE STRUGGLING AND ARE FACING DEFICITS, YOU'VE HEARD A LOT OF REASONS FOR THAT, BUT ONE OF THE PRIMARY REASONS THAT I'M BEING TOLD BY MY SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS IS THESE MANDATES.

IT IS ABSURD TO SEND ALL OF THESE RULES AND REQUIREMENTS TO OUR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

THEY SHOULD BE THE DECISION MAKERS, NOT DEMOCRATS IN ST. PAUL OR FOLKS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OR EDUCATION MINNESOTA.

THAT SHOULDN'T BE THE CASE.

IT SHOULD BE OUR LOCAL DECISION MAKERS, OUR LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS DECIDING WHAT SHOULD BE IN THE LIBRARIES, WHAT KIND OF CONTENT SHOULD BE THERE FOR KIDS, AND PARENTS SHOULD BE HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE CLOSELY CONNECTED TO THOSE MEMBERS OF OUR SCHOOL BOARDS.

ADDITIONALLY, I MENTIONED THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT PART OF THOSE DOLLARS THAT WERE, QUOTE-UNQUOTE, HISTORICALLY MADE AVAILABLE FOR OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM BY THE DFL TRIFECTA WENT TO GROWING THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION BY 21%.

THAT'S NOT HELPING THE KIDS.

THAT'S NOT MAKING ITS WAY TO THE CLASSROOM.

THOSE MANDATES AND THOSE FUNDING REQUIREMENTS MUST BE REVERSED.

>> Ray: THANK YOU, JOSH.

WE NOW HAVE ONE MINUTE FOR REBUTTAL AND TROY, YOU'RE UP -- >> LeClaire: MAY I ANSWER THE QUESTION?

>> Ray: OH, SURE, DID I MISS YOU?

>> LeClaire: YES.

>> Ray: OH FOR CRYING OUT LOUD.

I'M SORRY, LAEMG.

>> LeClaire: IT'S A DIFFERENT SETUP.

I THINK ONE THING I'VE HEARD FROM SOME EDUCATORS IS THE WORRY THAT CLASSROOMS CONTINUE TO HAVE MORE RULES THAN THEY SHOULD HAVE BECAUSE OF FUNDING IN PART, BUT ANOTHER THING WE SHOULD LOOK AT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SPECIAL EDUCATION NEEDS AND MAINSTREAM EDUCATION KNEESES.

I HAVE STUDENTS IN MY HOUSEHOLD THAT ARE BOTH MAINSTREAM EDUCATION AND SPECIAL NEEDS EDUCATION.

MY SON IS ON AN IEP AND HE HAS BEEN SINCE HE WAS 4.

I'VE BEEN REALLY LUCKY THAT IN BRAINERD, WE HAVE SUCH STRONG EDUCATORS AND DEDICATED PEOPLE IN BOTH OF THOSE AREAS, BUT I THINK IT DOES PLAY A ROLE IN THE MENTAL HEALTH OF OUR EDUCATORS.

WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE FACT THAT WORKING IN THE EDUCATION FIELD, WORKING IN MENTAL HEALTH, WORKING ESPECIALLY WITH SPEDS CAN SOMETIMES BE REALLY TRYING ON PEOPLE AND THEY NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR OWN MENTAL HEALTH AS WELL.

SO I WANT TO FOCUS ON MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS FOR ALL OF THOSE EDUCATORS ACROSS THE BOARD.

AND -- JUST CHECKING MY NOTES.

AND YEAH, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD THAT I'M SO SUPPORTIVE OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF STUDENTS GETTING FREE LUNCH AND BREAKFAST AT SCHOOL.

AS A SINGLE MOM, THAT SAVES ME PERSONALLY A HUGE AMOUNT, AND FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND TALKING TO SOME ADMINISTRATORS, IT SAVES ON ADMINISTRATION COSTS AS WELL.

THANK YOU.

>> Ray: THANK YOU, EMILY.

TROY, YOU HAVE A ONE-MINUTE REBUTTAL IF YOU LIKE?

>> Scheffler: THAT SHOULD BE PLENTY.

I HAVE TO GO BACK TO JOSH'S COMMENT ABOUT TAX RELIEF.

THIS IS ALWAYS KIND OF FUNNY WITH THE TWO PARTIES.

THEY TALK ABOUT, REPUBLICANS IT'S TAX RELIEF AND DEMOCRATS IT'S JUST OUTRIGHT TAXES, AND YOU GOT TO UNDERSTAND, YOUR SPENDING IS THE PROBLEM AND IT'S JUST A LOT, A LOT, A LOT OF SPENDING.

AND WE'RE RUNNING A $35 TRILLION DEFICIT, AND IF EITHER PARTY ACTUALLY GAVE A DAMN ABOUT THEIR CHILDREN, THEY WOULDN'T BE DUMPING OFF A $35 TRILLION DEBT ON TO THEM THAT, OF COURSE, THEY CAN'T PAY.

AS FAR AS UNFUNDED MANDATES, THIS IS ANOTHER KINARD THAT JOSH IS COMING UP WITH.

WE HAVE TONS OF MANDATES HAPPENING.

QUIT MAKING THEM WITH THE STATE AND IF YOU CAN'T FIGHT THE MANDATES, THEN MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE TERM LIMITS AND GET RID OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN THERE FOR A DECADE THAT HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY LIMP-WRISTED IN THEIR OPPOSITION TO THESE MANDATES.

AS FAR AS FUNDING IS CONCERNED, WE HAVE HAD RECORD FUNDING FOR EDUCATION AND WE'RE GETTING ZERO RESULTS.

ARE WE GOING TO EVER START FOCUSING ON THAT?

IT'S ABSOLUTELY ABSURD.

WE HAVE TO DUMP THE ESTABLISHMENT.

THIS IS RIDICULOUS.

ALWAYS EXCUSES, ALWAYS FINGER POINTING.

>> Ray: THANK YOU, TROY.

>> Heintzeman: JUST WANT TO CORRECT A STATEMENT THAT WAS MADE BY TROY.

YOU MIGHT BE REFERRING TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, I THINK.

IN MINNESOTA, WE CANNOT BORROW TO PAY OFF GENERAL FUND OBLIGATIONS, SO WE HAVE TO BALANCE OUR BUDGET IN MINNESOTA.

IT'S REQUIRED.

THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT THERE ARE SOME SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES IN EDUCATION, AND TROY, YOU AND I WOULD AGREE ON THAT.

BUT ONE OF THE REAL BOONDOGGLES THAT CAME THROUGH THIS LAST CYCLE, AND EMILY, I'M GOING TO TAKE ISSUE WITH THE LUNCH FOR ALL PROGRAM, UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A HALF A BILLION DOLLAR PROGRAM OVER THE BIENNIUM.

THAT IS A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY.

YOU ADD TO THAT A $730 MILLION PALLETS TO POLITICIANS, ALL THE MONEY THAT HAS BEEN WASTED BY DEMOCRATS CHANNELING MONEY INTO THE FEEDING OUR FUTURES PROGRAM AND THE DAYCARE FRAUD SCANDAL, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MONEY THAT IS ABSOLUTELY BLEEDING OUT OF MINNESOTA'S BUDGET.

WE HAVE TO RESTORE ACCOUNTABILITY.

>> Ray: THANK YOU, JOSH.

EMILY.

>> LeClaire: WELL, I WOULD SAY, LIKE I SPOKE EARLIER, MINNESOTANS I'VE TALKED TO SAID THAT WE'VE GOT A LOT OF SAVINGS AS FAR AS ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.

FOR EXAMPLE, WE DON'T HAVE PEOPLE CHASING DOWN KIDS AND THEIR PARENTS WHO OWE LUNCH MONEY.

ANOTHER THING IS THAT A LOT OF THE FUNDING DOES COME FROM THE FEDERAL FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH PROGRAM AS IT IS.

>> Ray: THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT QUESTION IS COMING FROM DENNIS AND THE ORDER OF ANSWERING WILL BE JOSH, EMILY, AND TROY.

>> Dennis: COULD YOU ASSESS THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY IN THE STATE AND YOUR DISTRICT AND ANY IDEAS YOU HAVE FOR HELPING TO SPUR THE ECONOMY?

>> Heintzeman: WOW, YES, ABSOLUTELY.

THAT'S A QUESTION THAT I'M SUPER GLAD CAME UP TONIGHT.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE STATE OF MINNESOTA'S ECONOMY IS BEING MASSIVELY AFFECTED, NOT JUST BY THE SPENDING THAT I'VE MENTIONED ALREADY AND THE WASTE AND THE FRAUD, BUT ALSO BY A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS THAT ARE ON THEIR WAY AND ABOUT TO IMPACT OUR JOB CREATORS ACROSS THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

ON THE SURFACE, THINGS LIKE PAID FAMILY LEAVE SOUNDS REALLY GOOD.

AND YOU ADD UP THE WEEKS, AND IT CUMULATIVELILY IS GOING TO UNFORTUNATELY HAVE A DEVASTATING IMPACT.

REPUBLICANS PROPOSED LEGISLATION IN THE FORM OF AMENDMENTS THAT WOULD HAVE WORK WITH SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AND HELPED THEM IF THEY DIDN'T ALREADY HAVE THESE KINDS OF BENEFITS IN PLACE.

AND ALL THOSE ATTEMPTS TO PUT SOME GUARDRAILS ON THIS PROGRAM WERE IGNORED.

THAT'S GOING TO BE A HUGE NEGATIVE IMPACT TO MINNESOTA'S ECONOMY.

IN ADDITION TO INCREASING THE BUDGET OVER A TWO-YEAR PERIOD BY 41%.

YOU TALK ABOUT RECKLESS SPENDING THAT IS UNSUSTAINABLE THAT WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY PUT US IN A DEFICIT IN THE COMING 2025 BUDGET CYCLE.

THESE KINDS OF THINGS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED IN ORDER FOR MINNESOTA'S ECONOMY TO THRIVE.

I MENTIONED EARLIER WHERE 25 -- EXCUSE ME A 75% SERVICE-BASED INDUSTRY IN THIS AREA.

WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO SUPPORT THOSE WORKERS AND THOSE SMALL BUSINESSES.

>> Ray: THANK YOU, JOSH.

EMILY.

>> LeClaire: THANK YOU.

I WOULD AGREE WITH JOSH IN THAT WE DO NEED TO SUPPORT OUR SPAUBS.

I KNOW SEVERAL PEOPLE IN MY PERSONAL LIFE, AND RELATIVES INCLUDED, WHO ARE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, AND ABSOLUTELY WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE WHAT THEY NEED TO CONDUCT BUSINESS.

WE DO HAVE A STRONG SERVICE-DRIVEN ECONOMY, BUT THAT'S NOT ALL WE NEED TO GET BY.

I THINK WE NEED TO DIVERSIFY OUR ECONOMY IN THE FUTURE, AND WE CAN DO THINGS LIKE BRINGING IN OPERATIONS THAT WILL WORK ON MAKING GREEN ENERGY MORE ACCESSIBLE, MAKING IT MORE AFFORDABLE IF WE PRODUCE THINGS HERE, THEN WE CAN BECOME A LEADER IN ENERGY INSTEAD OF CONTINUOUSLY SAYING WE'VE GOT A 75% SERVICE-DRIVEN ECONOMY.

EVENTUALLY IF WE CONTINUE ON THE WAY WE ARE, WE WON'T BE ABLE TO OFFER THOSE SERVICE.

WE DON'T HAVE A GREEN, CLEAN ECONOMY TO DO IT IN.

ENVIRONMENT, RATHER.

>> Ray: THANK YOU, EMILY.

TROY.

>> Scheffler: I'M GOING TO BE HONEST BECAUSE THIS IS LIKE A BUNCH OF NOTHING.

SO WHAT WAS THE QUESTION AGAIN?

I LOST TRACK.

>> Dennis: THE QUESTION BASICALLY IS COULD YOU ASSESS HOW YOU FEEL THE STATE'S ECONOMY IS DOING AND THE DISTRICT ECONOMY AND DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING THAT WOULD SPUR THE ECONOMY.

>> Scheffler: RIGHT ON, SURE.

I DIDN'T HEAR ANY SUBSTANCE IN THOSE ANSWERS, SO I FORGOT.

MY APOLOGIES.

LET'S GET TO THE BRASS TACKS HERE.

WE WENT THROUGH TWO YEARS OF LOCKDOWNS FROM THE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS.

AS FAR AS THE STATE CONCERNED, REPUBLICANS GAVE THE MOST LIMPWRISTED EFFORT INTO GETTING THE ECONOMY GOING, GETTING PEOPLE BACK TO WORK.

THERE WAS ZERO FIGHT.

IN HEINTZEMAN IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF DOING LITERALLY NOTHING.

WHILE I WAS GETTING BASHED BY HIM FOR GOING TO THE CROW WING COUNTY BOARD, I ENDED UP GOING INTO A LAWSUIT WITH THEM WITH REGARD TO THEIR RIDICULOUS COVID POLICIES AND SHUTDOWNS, HE BASHED ME FOR DOING THAT.

YOU MIGHT REMEMBER ME GOING THIS AS THE CROW WING CLOWN TO MAKE FUN OF THEM AND HOPEFULLY GET SOME ATTENTION ON THE INSANITY THAT THEY WERE PUSHING THERE.

YOU DON'T THINK THAT COST A LOT OF MONEY, DESTROYED TONS OF BUSINESSES?

IF THESE GUYS ARE AT ALL INTERESTED IN SMALL BUSINESS, THAT WOULDN'T HAPPEN.

I'M ACTUALLY IN A CURRENT LAWSUIT WITH COSTCO OF ALL PLACES BECAUSE OF THEIR NONSENSE COVID POLICIES AND IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE THEY'RE A MEMBERSHIP-ONLY COMPANY.

WELL, IT DOESN'T SCREAM ESSENTIAL BUSINESS IF YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR A MEMBERSHIP.

BUT ALL THESE COMPANIES MADE BILLION AND BILLIONS AND BILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND NOTHING WAS SAID.

IF I WAS EVER ELECTED, AND GOD WILLING I AM, AND I'LL DO IT IF I'M NOT ELECTED BECAUSE I LIVE ON PRINCIPLES, NOT BECAUSE I HAVE AN R OR D NEXT TO MY NAME, BUT I WILL.

I WILL GO AFTER THE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES AS JOSH CAN ATTEST TO THAT I'M WELL VERSED IN THE COURTS, BUT THEY MAY HAVE IMMUNITY, THEY MAY HAVE IMMUNITY FROM ADVERSE REACTIONS, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE IMMUNITY FROM FRAUD.

AND I THINK AT THIS POINT, IF YOU DON'T KNOW THAT THAT VACCINE WAS FAKE AS ALL HELL, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO TELL YOU.

MAYBE YOU'VE HAD TOO MANY BOOSTERS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

BUT THAT IS THE REASON THAT WE ARE SUFFERING RIGHT NOW AND THE OTHER REASON THAT WE ARE SUFFERING WITH REGARD TO THIS ECONOMY AND HOUSING AND EVERYTHING ELSE IS THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WE JUST KEEP DUMPING INTO MINNESOTA.

AGAIN, WE TOOK FOREIGN NATIONS, HMONGS, SOMALIANS, WE ARE THE LARGEST DUMP.

WHO IS PAYING FOR THAT?

YOU ARE.

>> Ray: THANK YOU.

JOSH, ANY REBUTTAL?

>> Heintzeman: I THINK I'LL PASS.

>> Ray: OKAY.

EMILY.

>> LeClaire: I'LL PASS ALSO.

>> Ray: ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS, TROY?

>> Scheffler: WELL, THEY HAVE ZERO IDEAS BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY'RE AT FAULT.

YOU KEEP VOTING FOR THESE TWO PARTIES.

YOU END UP WITH THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, BEEN AROUND THE SUN 48 YEARS.

OTHER PEOPLE HERE HAVE BEEN LESS, MORE, AND IF YOU CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT AFTER JUST TWO ELECTION CYCLES THAT THEY'RE A DIFFERENT WING OF THE SAME BIRD OR DIFFERENT SIDE OF THE SAME KOIRNTION MAYBE YOU SHOULDN'T VOTE.

>> Heintzeman: I'LL TAKE THAT.

I'M JUST GOING TO POINT OUT THE OBVIOUS HERE.

THIS FIGHT IS BECOMING VERY PERSONAL.

IT HAS BEEN SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING WHEN THE FIRST EFFORT BY MR. SCHEFFLER AND HIS FRIEND WAS TO HAVE ME THROWN OFF THE BALLOT, NOT VERY MUCH DIFFERENT THAN WHAT DEMOCRATS ATTEMPTED TO DO TO DONALD TRUMP.

I'M NOT SAYING I'M DONALD TRUMP.

I'M SAYING IT'S AN INTERESTING TACTIC.

SO HERE WE ARE, THE FIRST EFFORT FAILED.

THAT WAS THE DISMISSAL THAT I WAS REFERRING TO, MR. SCHEFFLER.

AND NOW WE'RE HAVING A DISCUSSION -- >> Scheffler: QUIT LYING TO THE PEOPLE.

>> Heintzeman: RAY, CAN I TALK?

>> Ray: PLEASE LET HIM FINISH, TROY.

>> Heintzeman: I'M GOING TO FINISH BY SAYING, IF YOU THINK FOR A SECOND THAT ST. PAUL WORKS AS A DICTATORSHIP, MR. SCHEFFLER, YOU'RE WRONG.

YOU HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER WITH PEOPLE.

AND YOU HAVE TO PUT PERSONAL DIFFERENCES ASIDE AND YOU HAVE TO TRY TO FIND A WAY TO BUILD COMMON GROUND WITH PEOPLE THAT YOU MIGHT NOT ALWAYS GET ALONG WITH.

AND THAT IS MY COMMITMENT TO THE VOTERS.

I WILL DO THAT.

>> Ray: YES NUMBER FOUR IS COMING FROM MEGAN AND WE'LL START WITH EMILY AND THEN TROY AND THEN JOSH.

>> Megan: ACCORDING TO FIRST CHILDREN'S FINANCE, FINANCES NEED SUMMARY FROM LAST YEAR, DISTRICT 6B NEEDS ROUGHLY 1200 CHILDCARE SLOTS.

WHAT LEGISLATION DO YOU SUPPORT TO MAKE CHILDCARE MORE AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS?

>> LeClaire: THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.

YOU KNOW, AS A MOM, I LOOK FOR CHILDCARE MANY DIFFERENT TIMES THROUGH THE MY CAREER AND THERE WERE TYPES WHEN THERE WASN'T AVAILABLE CHILDCARE AND I WAS LUCKILY ENOUGH TO HAVE A BROAD SUPPORT SYSTEM IN MY FAMILY AND THEY WERE ABLE TO PICK UP THE SLACK WHEN THAT WAS NECESSARY.

HOWEVER, NOT EVERYBODY HAS THAT BLESSING.

ONE THING THAT I'M A HUGE SUPPORTER OF IS HEAD START AND EARLY HEADSTART PROGRAMMING, NOT JUST BECAUSE THEY BENEFIT THE CHIDE AND THE CHILDREN IN THE FAMILY, BUT THEY OFFER A BRIDE VARIETY OF TRAINING AND EDUCATION COURSES FOR PARENTS AND FAMILIES THAT I THINK ANYONE CAN BENEFIT FROM.

IT'S NOT JUST LOWER INCOME PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW HOW TO PARENT WHEN THEY'RE NEW PARENTS.

ANYONE WHO'S A NEW PARENT CAN BENEFIT FROM THAT.

I WOULD SUPPORT EXPANDING THAT PROGRAM, EXPANDING CHILDCARE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS WHICH WORK WITH CHILDCARE PROGRAMS IN THE HOME, SO HOME-BASED CHILDCARE PROVIDERS COULD THEN GIVE THE SAME BENEFITS THAT HEADSTART AND EARLY HEADSTART PROVIDERS HAVE IN A CENTER IN A HOME PROGRAM AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GREAT WAY TO FILL SOME OF SHOWS SLOTS.

>> Ray: TROY.

>> Scheffler: I HAVE TO FOLLOW UP ON THE LAST ONE, THIS IDEA OF WORKING TOGETHER FROM MR. HEINTZEMAN, THAT'S PRICELESS.

IS WORKING TOGETHER LAUNDERING DEMOCRAT MONEY THROUGH THE HRCC, JOSH?

IS THAT WORKING TOGETHER?

THAT'S A HELL OF A THING.

YEAH, YOU CAN REBUT ME, RIGHT.

AS FAR AS HEADSTART IS CONCERNED, THAT'S JUST A DISASTER PROGRAM SINCE THE INCEPTION.

I MEAN, IT'S INSANE.

IT'S INCREDIBLY DISCRIMINATORY AND THERE'S ZERO RESULTS BEHIND IT.

IT'S AN ASTRONOMICAL MONEY SINK.

REALLY, LET'S GET DOWN TO THE NITTY-GRITTY.

NOBODY REALLY WANTS TO EVER TALK ABOUT IT.

LET'S START TALKING ABOUT FAMILY.

THIS IS FAMILY.

THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW THEY HAVE THEIR FAMILIES AND HOW IMPORTANT FAMILY IS.

WELL, LET'S BREAK THAT DOWN.

NOW, IF WE ACTUALLY HAD TRADITIONAL FAMILIES ANYMORE, AND PEOPLE ACTUALLY LAID IT OUT AND THE BENEFITS OF A NUCLEAR FAMILY, WE WOULDN'T HAVE A DAYCARE OR A CHILDCARE PROBLEM.

WE WOULDN'T HAVE THESE KIDS STRUGGLING TO GET FREE LUNCHES AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

I HAD A MOTHER.

SHE WAS A SINGLE MOTHER, AND I REMEMBER HAVING TO GO GET THE LITTLE STAMPED LUNCH CARD EVERY DAY I WENT TO SCHOOL.

SHE WAS ABLE TO BUST HER ASS AND ACCOMPLISH THINGS.

SHE SHOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO.

WE SHOULD HAVE HAD A CULTURE THAT ACTUALLY ENCOURAGES PEOPLE AND FAMILIES TO STAY TOGETHER, AND WE WANT HAVE THESE PROBLEMS.

THIS IS WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT EARLIER IN THE INTRODUCTION, THAT WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING AT CHASING OUR TAIL, TRYING TO FIX ALL THE SYMPTOMS OF THE PROBLEM RATHER THAN ADDRESSING THE SOURCE.

AND NOBODY SEEMS TO EVER WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT BECAUSE, OH MY GOD, IT'S ONE WOMEN OR ONE MEN AND ALL THIS AND THAT.

THE INTERESTING PART ABOUT THAT IS WE BOTH NEED EACH OTHER.

WE NEED TO START COMING TOGETHER AS A FAMILY AND NOT ONLY A FAMILY DIRECTLY BY BLOOD, BUT A FAMILY AS A NATION.

>> Ray: THANK YOU, TROY.

JOSH.

>> Heintzeman: THANK YOU, RAY.

A FAMILY IS SOMETHING I CERTAINLY FAD.

I'VE BEEN MARRIED TO MY WIFE KERI, I THINK I SAID EARLIER, FOR 25 YEARS AND WITH SIX CHILDREN, THERE'S ALWAYS -- THERE'S ALWAYS A PULL ON YOU TO TAKE AND DIVIDE YOUR ATTENTION AND WE HAVE TO ABSOLUTELY WORK ON MAKING SURE THAT WE SUPPORT THE FAMILY.

ONE OF THE WAYS WE CAN DO IT RELATED TO THE QUESTION, AND I MENTIONED IT EARLIER, I'M GOING TO TOUCH ON IT AGAIN, HAVING SERVED FOR TWO YEARS ON THE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION COMMITTEE WHICH COVERS CHILDCARE, IS ADDRESSING THE ISSUE OF ALL OF THIS REGULATION.

AND IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING THAT MIGHT BE A THEME OR REPETITIVE OR MAYBE BORING TO SOME, BUT WHEN I FIRST CAME TO OFFICE IF 2014, IT WAS AN ISSUE THEN AND WE'VE WORKED TOWARDS GETTING AT THE PROBLEM OF OVERBURDENSOME REGULATION, BUT AT THAT TIME, WE HAD LOST ALMOST HALF AND NOW WE'RE WELL OVER HALF OF OUR CHILDCARE CAPACITY IN CROW WING COUNTY.

AND WHEN WE WENT TO DOORS AND WE WERE VISITING WITH PEOPLE THAT HAD OFFERED CHILDCARE SERVICES, THE PRIMARY ISSUE THAT THEY MENTIONED WAS THE CONSTANT INCREASE IN MORE AND MORE RULES.

I INTRODUCED LEGISLATION, CO-AUTHORED LEGISLATION TO GET AT THAT ISSUE.

I'M PROUD OF THAT, ALONG WITH REPRESENTATIVE MARY FRANZEN, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT QUITE HONESTLY, WE HAVEN'T SEEN TAKEN UP, AND DESPITE THE AMENDMENTS AND DESPITE THE EFFORT.

AND OUR REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IN THE MINNESOTA HOUSE WOULD AT LEAST GIVE US THAT OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THOSE BILLS HEARD AND HAVE BILLS PLACED IN FRONT OF THE SENATE.

SHOULD THE SENATE IN THIS ELECTION CYCLE, THERE'S ONE RACE, MORRISON'S SEAT IS BEING VACATED DUE TO HER RUN FOR CONGRESS, THERE'S A CHANCE WE MIGHT HAVE A REPUBLICAN SENATE AS WELL.

THEN WE'D PUT THOSE BILLS ON THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.

SO YOU HAVE TO CUT THE REGULATIONS.

>> Ray: THANK YOU, JOSH.

ANY REBUTTAL, EMILY?

>> LeClaire: YEAH, THANK YOU.

FIRSTLY IN REGARD TO REGULATION, I THINK THERE'S GOT TO BE A BALANCE BETWEEN -- ESPECIALLY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CHILDCARE -- WHAT IS THE THRESHOLD FOR SAFETY FOR CHILDREN IN THAT CARE.

THAT'S GOT TO BE OUR PRIORITY, AND ONCE WE DEAL WITH THE SAFETY ISSUES, THEN WE NEED TO LOOK AT ALL THOSE OTHER REGULATIONS THAT MAY NOT BE BENEFITING THE CHILDCARE PROGRAM, BUT MAYBE THEY ARE A HINDRANCE, AS JOSH SAID.

THAT'S REALLY SOMETHING THAT AS A REPRESENTATIVE I WOULD BE WILLING TO LOOK AT AND WORK ACROSS THE AISLE AS NEEDED BECAUSE I DON'T FEEL CHILDCARE SHOULD BE -- IT SHOULDN'T BE A PARTISAN ISSUE.

IT SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE ALL CAN SUPPORT.

AS FAR AS THE NUCLEAR FAMILY, OBVIOUSLY AS A SINGLE MOTHER, I AM NOT THE HEAD OF A NUCLEAR FAMILY, BUT I AM THE HEAD OF A FAMILY, AND I FEEL THAT, YES, A MARRIED COUPLE WITH CHILDREN IS OBVIOUSLY THE BEST WAY TO GO FINANCIALLY, BUT IT'S NOT ALWAYS AN OPTION FOR EVERYONE AND WE CAN'T AFFORD LEAVE PEOPLE BEHIND BECAUSE WE DON'T FIT THAT.

THANK YOU.

>> Ray: TROY, ANY REBUTTAL?

>> Scheffler: ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY, AND I'LL FOCUS ON JOSH BECAUSE HE'S BEEN HERE FOR TEN YEARS AND HE TALKS ABOUT ALL THIS LEGISLATION.

YOU CAN HOP ON HIS WEBSITE AND HE AMPS UP ALL THIS STUFF ABOUT HOW HE'S INVOLVED OR HE HELPED PASS THIS AND THAT.

HE VOTED FOR CERTAIN THINGS.

HE DOESN'T EVER PIONEER ANYTHING.

AS FAR AS THE TIGHT FAMILY WITH HIM, I WOULD HAVE TO AGREE, YOUR FAMILY IS REALLY TIGHT.

YOU SHOULD LOOK AT YOUR PROPERTY RECORDS THROUGH THE COUNTY IN HOW YOU SEEM TO MOVE YOUR PROPERTY AROUND TO DIFFERENT FAMILY MEMBERS AND THEN BACK AGAIN INTO YOUR NAME AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

WONDER WHAT'S GOING ON THERE, JOSH?

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT FRAUD AND THE WHOLE FOOD DEBACLE WITHIN THE STATE, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I THINK THAT'S PRICELESS.

AS FAR AS YOUR ATTEMPT AT, YOU KNOW, TEAM HEINTZEMAN'S ATTEMPT AT TRYING TO GET ME PUT IN PRISON FOR FRAUD, THAT FAILED HARD.

AND BY THE WAY, THANKS, TAXPAYERS, AND THANKS, MR. HEINTZEMAN.

JUST IN THE LAST MONTH FROM YOURS AND MS. FRANZEN'S ANTICS, I MADE $10,000, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.

SO KEEP IT UP, JOSH, KEEP YOUR NONSENSE COMING AT ME AND KEEP PLAYING THE VICTIM BECAUSE IT'S BECOMING PROFITABLE.

NOT SO MUCH FOR THE TAXPAYERS, THOUGH.

AS FAR AS, AGAIN, FAILED LEGISLATION, THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE BRAGGING ABOUT.

YOU'RE LITERALLY BRAGGING ABOUT BEING A LOSER.

>> Heintzeman: I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT UP IT'S BECOME PROFITABLE, TROY, BECAUSE I DID A RECORDS SEARCH AND IN MY RECORDS SEARCH, I FOUND OVER 100 LAWSUITS.

YEAH.

IT'S AMAZING HOW MANY OF THOSE LAWSUITS CERTAINLY HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE PRICES THAT WE PAY EVERY DAY.

I SAW JUST A LIST HERE, A SHORT ONE, MISSION TAVERN, ZORNTIONZ LAKE EDWARD TOWNSHIP, COSTCO, HOME DEPOT, MENARD'S, BRAINERD MEDICAL CENTER, CROW WING COUNTY, CITY OF BLAINE, PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE, COMMUNITY BANK, FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF OMAHA, U-HAUL, NORTHERN STATES POWER COMPANY, MINNESOTA STATE PATROL, BEST BUY, AND I COULD GO ON AND ON AND ON.

AND YOU PROFIT FROM THOSE.

PRESUMABLY.

IT'S UTTER LUN NANCY TO BE ATTACK -- LUNACY TO BE ATTACKING ME AS SOMEHOW I'M THE ISSUE IN THE ROOM WHEN IN FACT THE PROBLEM IS THE DFL TRIFECTA THAT SLAM MANDATES DOWN OUR THROATS AND COMPLETELY BLEW A SURPLUS AND RAISED TAXES.

>> Ray: BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THE DEBATE IS COMING TO AN END.

WE ARE REACHING THE CLOSING COMMENT SECTION AND FIRST IT WILL BE EMILY FOR TWO MINUTES AND THEN TROY AND THEN IT WILL BE JOSH.

SO EMILY, YOU GOT THE FLOOR.

>> LeClaire: THANK YOU.

I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO WAS ABLE TO WATCH THIS DEBATE.

IT IS A DIG BIG PART AS OUR DUTY AS A CITIZEN OF OUR DISTRICT TO GET TO KNOW OUR CANDIDATES.

OBVIOUSLY THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TENSION HERE TONIGHT.

BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHO I AM AS A PERSON.

I AM A SERVICE-DRIVEN PERSON.

I'M INTENT ON SERVING ALL OF MY CONSTITUENTS HERE IN 6B REGARDLESS OF PARTY LOYALTY OR IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A HOME IN A PARTY.

I'M SOMEWHAT NEW TO PARTY POLITICS MYSELF, BUT I FEEL I'VE FOUND A HOME IN THE CURRENT COUNTY DFL WHERE THEY'VE BEEN SUPPORTIVE AND FILLED ME WITH A SENSE OF HOPE FOR OUR AREA, AND I HOPE NOTHING BUT BEST FOR OUR FUTURE AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> Ray: THANK YOU, EMILY.

TROY.

>> Scheffler: WELL, THANKS FOR HAVING ME, AND THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING, FOLKS.

YOU ACTUALLY LITERALLY NEED TO LOOK INTO THINGS, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, SPREAD THE WORD INSTEAD OF VETTING MR. HEINTZEMAN HERE AND ACTUALLY LOOK INTO THESE CASES.

IN FACT, ONE OF THE LATEST ONES THAT WAS BROUGHT AGAINST MR. HEINTZEMAN IS VOTER INTIMIDATING A POLICE CHIEF IN PE QUOT WHILE HE'S TAUGHTING TO BE SUCH A LAW ENFORCEMENT CHAMPION.

AND AGAIN, THIS MPTOA THAT HE'S ENDORSED BY IS PLAYING ALONG WITH IT, AND I THINK THAT'S A REALLY TRAVESTY THAT YOU WOULD ATTACK YOUR OWN IN YOUR OWN COMMUNITY.

LAW ENFORCEMENT DOES A GOOD JOB IN THIS COUNTY.

IT'S ACTUALLY REALLY DISGUSTING, BUT PEOPLE SHOULD ACTUALLY FOLLOW THAT.

STAR TRIBUNE DID AN ARTICLE ON IT, THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE ARTICLES COMING OUT SHORTLY WHEN YOU LOSE THE PROBABLE CAUSE HEARING ON THE 15th AND I'LL CERTAINLY LET PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THAT.

THE MTPOA, AND AGAIN, YOU GOT TO LOOK INTO THESE ENDORSEMENTS.

MPPOA ACTUALLY SUPPORTED DRIVER'S LICENSES FOR ILLEGALS.

THEY SUPPORTED GUN REGULATION.

AND THESE ARE THE TYPE OF ENDORSEMENT THAT MR. HEINTZEMAN TOUTS.

YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW THE MONEY.

OTHERWISE, YOU'RE GOING TO BE LOST AND NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON.

SEE, HERE'S THE GIG.

YOU THINK YOUR VOTE COUNTS RIGHT NOW AND THAT HE'S REPRESENTING YOU AND HE'S A LEADER.

HE'S NOT A LEADER.

HE IS A PERSON THAT PAYS SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GIVING HIM THE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS UNDER THE TABLE, OVER THE TABLE, AND USING THE ESTABLISHMENT SETUP -- IT'S ACTUALLY A HELL OF A THING, TO SUPPORT HIM.

HE'S GOT AMBITIONS.

LIKE I SAID, HE'S ON RECORDING SAYING HOW AM I GOING TO MAKE A LIVING IF I'M NOT A POLITICIAN FM I'VE BEEN A POLITICIAN FOR TEN YEARS.

THERE NEEDS TO BE TERM LIMITS AND THIS IDEA THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE ANY DIFFERENT AFTER TEN YEARS OF ACCOMPLISHING ABSOLUTELY NOTHING BUT GUTTING THE FIRST AMENDMENT BY PASSING A BILL -- IN FACT, THAT IS ONE THING YOU GOT DONE AND AUTHORED A BILL.

IT WAS TO ALLOW THE BOYCOTT OF MINNESOTA RESIDENTS, THE BOYCOTT OF THE UNITED STATES, BUT NOT THE BOYCOTT OF A FOREIGN NATION.

THAT IS A HELL OF A THING FOR THE FIRST AMENDMENT.

AND IT'S SO FUNNY THAT YOU ACTUALLY WRITE INTO THAT LAW THAT IT DOESN'T VIOLATE THE FIRST AMENDMENT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> LeClaire: I MAY PLEASE HAVE -- >> Ray: CAN WE USE HER -- GO AHEAD.

>> LeClaire: I KNOW IT'S A LITTLE UNORTHODOX AFTER MY CLOSING COMMENTS, BUT I WANT TO SAY I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO A LOT OF DEBATES OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS AND JUST THIS MORNING I WAS LISTENING TO JOHN WARD AND JOSH HEINTZEMAN'S DEBATE AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STUCK OUT TO ME WAS THERE WAS A SENSE OF RESPECT AND I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IF WE CAN GET BACK TO THAT IN FUTURE DEBATES.

THANK YOU.

>> Ray: THANK YOU.

JOSH, YOUR CLOSING STATEMENT.

>> Heintzeman: THANK YOU, RAY.

I DO WANT TO THANK THOSE WATCHING THIS DEBATE TONIGHT AND THOSE THAT MIGHT WATCH IT IN THE COMING DAYS AND WEEKS.

EVEN THOUGH IT HAS BEEN CONTENTIOUS, I WANT TO CLOSE BY FIRST THANKING THOSE THAT ARE INTERESTED ENOUGH IN LEARNING ABOUT THEIR CANDIDATES, BOTH ELECTED AND UNELECTED.

ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN IN AN ELECTION AND IN AN ELECTION CYCLE, AND I'M ALSO VERY THANKFUL FOR RESPECTFUL CONVERSATION AND I'M GLAD FOR THE REFERENCE TO MR. WARD, FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE WARD, WORKED HARD FOR THIS DISTRICT BUSINESS AND OVER THESE LAST YEARS, IN SPITE OF SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT YOU'VE HEARD, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF GREAT OPPORTUNITIES FOR ME TO WORK FOR MY DISTRICT.

ONE OF THE VERY FIRST BILLS I CARRIED AND CHIEF AUTHORED WAS THE VETERANS PENSION EXEMPTION.

I WAS THE ONLY AUTHOR OF THAT LANGUAGE IN THE HOUSE AND WAS VERY HONORED TO BE THE LEGISLATOR WHO WAS THERE AT THE END OF THIS CYCLE GETTING THAT DONE IN MY VERY FIRST TERM.

AND THEN I WENT ON TO WORK ON LOTS OF LOCAL PROJECTS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE MIGHT NOT KNOW THIS BUT I'M ON THE LCCMR, PREVIOUSLY SERVED ON THE LESARD PLANNING COUNCIL.

I SERVED ON THE CLEAN WATER COUNCIL AND CONTINUE TO SERVE THERE AND PROJECTS ALL THE WAY FROM THE LITTLE THEATER DOWN BY THE HIGH SCHOOL TO CYPRUS DRIVE, THE LOON CENTER AND THE DOCK SYSTEM THAT'S THERE.

THOSE ARE THINGS THAT I CHAMPIONED AND WORKED ON FOR MY DISTRICT AS WELL AS JOINING WITH MY COLLEAGUES AND MAKE SURE THAT WE GOT TAX CUTS PASSED, THAT WE DEFENDED THE UNBORN WITH LEGISLATION, AND THAT WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PRESERVED THE SECOND AMENDMENT.

THOSE ARE THINGS I DID AND I'M PROUD OF AND THAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD, IF GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY, TO ONCE AGAIN SERVE THE PEOPLE OF CROW WING COUNTY.

SO I'M JUST GOING TO END IT THERE AND ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND FOR YOUR VOTE, AND THANK LAKELAND PUBLIC TELEVISION FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TONIGHT.

THANK YOU.

>> Ray: THANK YOU, JOSH.

THANK YOU TO ALL YOU CANDIDATES FOR TAKING THE TIME OUT THIS EVENING TO SHARE YOUR VIEWS WITH US.

THANK YOU TO THE PANELIST UPON YOUR QUESTIONS AND THANK YOU ALL FOR TUNING IN.

IF YOU MISSED ANY PORTION OF TONIGHT'S DEBATE OR WOULD LIKE TO WATCH IT AGAIN, IT WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THE LAKELAND NEWS PBS WEBSITE AND THE PBS APP WITHIN 24 HOURS.

FIND MORE LOCAL AND NATIONAL ELECTION COVERAGE AND SPECIALS ON THE LAKELAND VOTES PORTAL AT LPTV.ORG.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE BRAINERD DISPATCH FOR COVERAGE OF THESE DEBATES AND OTHER STORIES ON THE UPCOMING NOVEMBER 5th GENERAL ELECTION.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, BRAINERD LAKES AREA CANDIDATES AND ELECTION INFORMATION, VISIT LAKESAREA.VOTE FOR YOUR NONPARTISAN GUIDE TO THIS ELECTION SEASON.

YOU CAN HEAR THE UP NORTH REPORT NEWSCAST ON 91.7 KAXE, 90.5 KBXE, AND 89.9 IN BRAINERD OR YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST APP.

FIND MORE LOCAL NEWS AND ELECTION COVERAGE ON KAXE.ORG AND FOLLOW KAXE/KBXE ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM.

STAY TUNED -- THIS HAS BEEN LONGER.

WE NOW HAVE A DEBATE COMING UP AT 8 P.M. FOR DISTRICT 10A.

THANK YOU AND GOOD EVENING.