Captioning Provided By AV Captioning www.avcaptioning.com >> DEBATE NIGHT 2026 IS BROUGHT TO YOU IN PART BY: LAKELAND PBS, THE BEMIDJI PIONEER, BRAINERD DISPATCH, PARK RAPIDS ENTERPRISE AND KAEX ARE PRUDE TO PRESENT, DEBATE NIGHT 2026, A LOOK AT OUR AREA LEGISLATIVE CANDIDATES.

YOUR MODERATOR TONIGHT IS BETHANY WESLEY.

AND NOW THE MINNESOTA HOUSE DISTRICT 6 B DEBATE.

>> BETHANY: GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO DEBATE NIGHT 2026 AT THE LAKELAND PBS STUDIO IN BEMIDJI.

I'M BETHANY WESLEY, YOUR MODERATOR TONIGHT.

WE'RE FINISHING THE WEEK WITH TWO STATE LEGISLATIVE DEBATES TONIGHT, COVERING TOPICS AND ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU AND YOUR COMMUNITIES.

IN OUR FIRST DEBATE, WE WILL HEAR FROM TWO CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR HOUSE DISTRICT 6B.

THE CANDIDATES ARE: REP.

JOSH HEINTZEMAN FROM THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND NICKY HARDY, FROM THE DEMOCRATIC-FARMER-LABOR PARTY.

OUR PANELISTS TONIGHT ARE: DENNIS WEIMANN, THE NEWS DIRECTOR AT LAKELAND PBS.

LARISSA DONOVAN, THE NORTHWEST MINNESOTA REPORTER FOR KAXE.

AND ME.

DUE TO THE CHANGE IN OUR FILMING LOCATION, I WILL BE ASKING QUESTIONS ON BEHALF OF THE BRAINERD DISPATCH.

NOW THE RULES FOR TONIGHT'S DEBATE: EACH CANDIDATE WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES FOR OPENING COMMENTS.

THE PANEL WILL THEN BEGIN ASKING QUESTIONS.

SOME WILL BE THEIR OWN QUESTIONS, OTHERS MAY BE FROM THE PUBLIC.

CANDIDATES WILL ROTATE THE ORDER THEY SPEAK, BEGINNING WITH OPENING COMMENTS AND FINISHING WITH CLOSING COMMENTS.

EACH CANDIDATE WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS.

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

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

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

WE'LL CONTINUE WITH QUESTIONS UNTIL WE REACH ABOUT THE 50-MINUTE MARK, AT WHICH TIME WE'LL MOVE ON TO CLOSING COMMENTS.

CANDIDATES WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR CLOSING COMMENTS.

WITH THAT, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED WITH THE THREE MINUTES FOR OPENING COMMENTS, AND JOSH, YOU'LL GO FIRST.

>> Heintzeman: FIRST, I JUST WANT TO THANK LAKELAND PUBLIC TELEVISION FOR DOING THIS.

A DEBATE IS A TERRIFIC OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE IN A COMMUNITY TO GET TO KNOW A CANDIDATE.

YOU GET THE BACK AND FORTH AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO REBUT, AND I KNOW IT'S A LOT TO ORGANIZE AND IT CAN BE A CHALLENGE AND EVEN TECHNICAL CHALLENGES CAN POP UP LIKE THEY DID LAST NIGHT.

BUT IT'S REALLY GREAT TO BE ABLE HERE TONIGHT AND ENGAGE IN THIS PROCESS.

FOR ANYONE THAT DOESN'T KNOW ME, AGAIN, JOSH HEINTZEMAN.

I HAVE REPRESENTED HOUSE DISTRICT 6B AND PREVIOUSLY IT WAS HOUSE DISTRICT 10A FOR A SNUB OF YEARS NOW.

AND -- A NUMBER OF YEARS NOW.

I'VE HAD A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN ABOUT THE AREA.

MY WIFE CARRI IS THE SENATOR IN DISTRICT 6.

WE'RE MARRIED FOR 28 YEARS AND WE HAVE SIX CHILDREN.

THEY RANGE IN AGE FROM 25 DOWN TO 10, SO WE HAVE A LOT OF THOSE SIMILAR SHARED EXPERIENCES AND CHALLENGES IN LIFE THAT YOU MAY HAVE AND HAVE GONE THROUGH A LOT OF THOSE THINGS JUST LIKE I'M SURE THOSE OF YOU WHO LIVE IN MY DISTRICT ARE GOING THROUGH.

WE'VE HEARD IT SAID THAT AN ELECTION IS THE MOST IMPORTANT OF YOUR LIFETIME, AND I THINK THIS ELECTION CYCLE IS NO DIFFERENT EXCEPT THAT I WOULD ARGUE THIS ONE MAY BE THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL OF MY LIFETIME.

YOU HAVE A VERY SIGNIFICANT CHOICE AHEAD OF YOU AS A VOTER, AND THIS PROCESS OF EDUCATING YOURSELF IS SO CRITICAL TO KNOW WHAT THE ISSUES MIGHT BE AND TO BE THINKING ABOUT WHO'S GOING TO BEST REPRESENT YOU AND YOUR VALUES.

I WOULD ARGUE, HAVING SERVED, AS I SAID, FOR QUITE SOME TIME, THAT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE PARTIES HAS WIDENED DRASTICALLY.

I WOULD ARGUE TO THAT POINT THAT THE DFL HAS, AT THIS POINT, GRAVITATED TOWARDS A MORE METRO-CENTRIC APPROACH TO JUST ABOUT EVERY ISSUE.

FROM GUNS TO LIFE, EDUCATION, ALL KINDS OF ECONOMIC POLICY, VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING HAS SHIFTED IN MINNESOTA TO THE LEFT, AND REALLY THE MOST PRECIPITOUS SHIFT BEGAN DURING A TRIFECTA WHICH DEMOCRATS ENJOYED JUST FOUR YEARS AGO, JUST UNDER.

AND IT WAS DURING THAT TIME A LOT OF CHALLENGES WE FACE NOW HAVE NOW BEEN MANIFEST.

ENACTMENT DATES DON'T FOLLOW IMMEDIATELY AFTER A PIECE OF LEGISLATION PASSES.

IT IS OFTENTIMES A YEAR OR TWO YEARS, AND YOU WONDER HOW DID THIS HAPPEN.

WELL, THAT'S HOW IT HAPPENS, IS UNDER ONE-PARTY RULE, MINNESOTA SAW A TREMENDOUS SHIFT TO THE LEFT AND I'M GLAD WE CAN TALK ABOUT THOSE ISSUES TONIGHT, AND I ENJOY, AGAIN, THE OPPORTUNITY.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

OPENING COMMENTS FROM NICKY.

>> Hardy: THANK YOU.

FIRST, GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

THANK YOU, VIEWERS, FOR TUNING IN TONIGHT.

THANK YOU, LAKELAND PBS, KAXE, AND THE BRAINERD DISPATCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TONIGHT.

MY NAME IS NICKY HARDY AND I'M A SCIENTIST WITH A PhD IN PHARMACOLOGY AND EXPERIMENTAL NEUROSCIENCE.

SPENT YEARS IN THE BIOMEDICAL FIELD STUDYING BIOMARKERS AND HELPING PROGRESS THE FIELD OF PERSONALIZED MEDICINE.

EVENTUALLY MY PATH LED ME BACK TO MINNESOTA TO PEQUOT LAKES WHERE I'M A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER AND COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER.

ALL THOSE EXPERIENCES HAVE SHAPED THE WAY I VIEW THE WORLD.

SCIENCE HAS TAUGHT ME TO ASK QUESTIONS, LOOK AT THE EVIDENCE AND ADMIT WHEN I DON'T KNOW SOMETHING.

TEACHING HAS REMINDED ME THAT PEOPLE CAN ACHIEVE GREAT THINGS WHEN THEY FEEL SUPPORTED, ACCEPTED, AND PROVIDED WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.

AND VOLUNTEERING HAS SHOWN ME JUST HOW MUCH OUR COMMUNITIES DEPEND ON HAVING PEOPLE SHOW UP AND HELP.

I LOVE RURAL MINNESOTA.

I WAS BORN THERE AND AFTER MANY ADVENTURES IN MANY DIFFERENT LOCATIONS, MY HUSBAND AND I CHOSE TO SETTLE BACK IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA TO RAISE OUR THREE LITTLE BOYS, A DOG, A CAT, AND SOME CHICKENS.

WE CAME BACK TO THE LAKES, THE LAND, AND THE AMAZING PEOPLE.

RURAL MINNESOTANS WORK HARD AND THEY DESERVE A LEGISLATOR WHO WILL WORK JUST AS HARD FOR THEM.

TONIGHT, WE MAY HEAR A LOT ABOUT WASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE, AND SQUANDERED SURPLUSES, BUT WITHOUT SPECIFICS, JUST REMEMBER IT'S ALL NOISE.

IT'S JUST A DISTRACTION.

AND I NEED TO GET THIS OUT THERE.

I AM NEW TO THE DFL.

IN FACT, MY FIRST TRIP EVER TO AN ORGANIZING UNIT WAS BACK IN MARCH 1st, 2025, WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT HOW TO MAKE SURE WE WERE WARMING A WELCOMING AND WE WOULD ENGAGE WITH PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE AISLE, ESPECIALLY WITH THOSE ASSOCIATED WITH THE MAGA MOVEMENT THAT REGRETTED THEIR ASSOCIATION.

I'M PROUD TO BE RUNNING AS THE ENDORSED CANDIDATE OF THE DFL AND THE FORWARD INDEPENDENCE PARTY.

I I BELIEVE IN BUILDING BRIDGES, WELCOMING PEOPLE AND FINDING COMMON GROUND.

I'M NOT A PARTY LACKEY AND UNITY IS THE MESSAGE OF MY CAMPAIGN.

WE DO HAVE SERIOUS PROBLEMS RIGHT NEAR IN MINNESOTA AND WE REQUIRE SERIOUS LEGISLATORS.

WE NEED TO FOCUS ON HEALTHCARE, RURAL ECONOMICS, SMALL BUSINESSES, AND CONSERVATION.

WE NEED TO NOT BE DISTRACTED BY THOSE WEDGE ISSUES, AND WE NEED STRONG NEGOTIATORS WHO WILL FIGHT FOR RURAL MINNESOTA AND COMMUNICATE HONESTLY WITH THEIR CONSTITUENTS.

WE ALSO COULD USE SOME CAMPAIGN REFORM.

I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE MORE ALIKE THAN WE ARE DIFFERENT.

WE ALL WANT OUR FAMILIES TO BE SAFE, WE WANT OUR COMMUNITIES TO THRIVE, AND WE WANT OUR CHILDREN AND OUR GRANDCHILDREN TO HAVE A FUTURE THAT IS FULL OF POSSIBILITIES.

AS SENATOR PAUL WELLSTONE ONCE SAID, WE ALL DO BETTER WHEN WE ALL DO BETTER.

THANK YOU.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

WE WILL NOW MOVE INTO THE QUESTIONS AND OUR FIRST QUESTION WILL COME FROM DENNIS AND THEN NICKY, YOU WILL ANSWER FIRST.

>> Dennis: FIRST OFF, WELCOME TO BOTH OF YOU.

THANKS FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

DO YOU BELIEVE THE CENTRALIZATION OF POLITICAL POWER IN THE TWIN CITIES METRO AREA HAS STRUCTURALLY NEGLECTED THE NEEDS OF GREATER MINNESOTA, AND IF SO, WHAT WOULD YOU WORK TOWARDS IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO CHANGE THAT?

>> Hardy: THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION, AND I DO.

LIKE I MENTIONED, I GREW UP IN RURAL MINNESOTA AND I HAVE NOT BEEN BORN INTO THE PARTISANSHIP AND THE RURAL VERSUS METRO DIVIDE.

AND AS A LEGISLATOR, I WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH PEOPLE TO BUILD THOSE BRIDGES IN ORDER TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU'RE FROM THE METRO OR IF YOU'RE RURAL OR IF SUBURBAN, WE'RE ALL MINNESOTANS AND WE ARE REALLY GENUINELY BETTER TOGETHER.

IN ORDER TO DO THAT, THOUGH, WE NEED PEOPLE THAT ARE WILLING TO COME TOGETHER, THAT ARE WILLING TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS, AND WILLING TO FIND DIFFERENT WAYS THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY BETTER SUPPORT AND REPRESENT OUR RURAL MINNESOTANS.

THANK YOU.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

JOSH?

>> Heintzeman: I ALLUDED TO IT IN MY OPENING COMMENTS BECAUSE THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT THAT DIVIDE, AS I SUGGESTED EARLIER, HAS WIDENED, AND HAVING BEEN HERE BEFORE AND WATCHING CAMPAIGN CYCLE AFTER CAMPAIGN CYCLE, IT'S NOT ANY KIND OF A SURPRISE, AND IT'S NO OFFENSE TO ANY CANDIDATE BECAUSE IT'S ALL ACROSS GREATER MINNESOTA.

DFL CANDIDATES HAVE TO RUN TO THE CENTER IN ORDER TO BE SUCCESSFUL OR HAVE ANY KIND OF A CHANCE, AND THAT'S FINE IF THAT CARRIED OVER INTO ACTUAL POLICY AND WILLINGNESS TO GO AGAINST THE PARTY, AND I'VE HEARD IT MENTIONED MANY, MANY TIMES BY MANY CANDIDATES DURING DEBATES AND FORUMS AND SO ON, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO ACTUAL PRACTICE, I'LL JUST USE FOR EXAMPLE GRANT ROTHCHILD, A VERY NORTHERN MINNESOTA DFL LEGISLATOR.

HE HAS THOSE VALUES, AT LEAST ESPOUSED THEM, AND THEN WHEN IT COMES TO BIG VOTING LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, THE VOTER ROLLS, SHOULD WE PURGE VOTER ROLLS IN MINNESOTA OF THOSE THAT HAVE PASSED.

THE VOTE WAS "NO."

OR IF YOU HAVE, SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, VERY EGREGIOUS GUN HEARINGS THAT WOULD MAKE MINNESOTANS FELONS, HIS VOTE WAS AGAIN TO VOTE WITH HIS PARTY.

UNFORTUNATELY, WHILE IT MAY BE A TALKING POINT, IT VERY RARELY MANIFESTS AS THE GRIP OF DSA DEMOCRATS IN SAINT PAUL HAVE TIGHTENED AND CONTINUES TO BE ABLE TO PUSH THAT AGENDA FORWARD IN SPITE OF THE OBJECTIONS OF GREATER MINNESOTA LEGISLATORS, BOTH WHO HAVE ESPOUSED VALUES THAT ARE MORE CONSERVATIVE AND THOSE THAT HAVEN'T.

SO IN PRACTICE, IT'S UNFORTUNATELY BECOME A SERIOUS, SERIOUS PROBLEM.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU, JOSH.

FLICK CAN I, DO YOU HAVE A REBUTTAL?

>> Hardy: I DO.

I'D LIKE TO LEAN ON MY OWN PERSONAL UPBRINGING HERE.

I AM PROUD TO BE THE D ST L-ENFORCED CANDIDATE AND I DO VIEW MYSELF AS A BIT OF A MODERATE AND TO UNDERSTAND THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE, YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHO I WAS.

I WAS RAISED IN A VERY CONSERVATIVE HOME.

I WAS A REPUBLICAN.

I IDENTIFIED AS A REPUBLICAN WHEN I GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL AND THEN I WENT OFF AND I HAD MY OWN LIFE ADVENTURES AND ENDED UP REALLY VIEWING MYSELF AS AN INDEPENDENT AND THEN FOR A REALLY LONG TIME I DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH POLITICS.

I JUST WANTED IT TO LEAVE ME ALONE.

AND THAT DOESN'T WORK.

AND SO EVENTUALLY, I SAW MYSELF GRAPH TATING TOWARDING THE DFL AND SO MANY OF THE MAJOR PRINCIPLES THAT THEY STAND ON.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WELCOMING AND INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT.

AND SO THAT IS THE REASON WHY I'M A DFL-ER, BUT I DO NOT LEAVE BEHIND ANY OF THE PEOPLE I HAVE METBEFRIENDED, MY FAMILY.

MANY, MANY PEOPLE WITHIN MY LIFE ARE, ACROSS THE BOARD, IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THEY'RE REPUBLICAN, INDEPENDENT OR DEMOCRAT, I HAVE A COLLECTION OF ALL OF THEM.

>> Bethany: JOSH, REBUTTAL?

>> Heintzeman: OFTENTIMES FOLKS THAT RUN FOR PUBLIC OFFICE, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT WOULD RUN FOR A STATE HOUSE POSITION OR STATE SENATE POSITION, HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PREVIOUSLY MAYBE RUN AS A CITY COUNCIL PERSON OR WHAT HAVE YOU OR OTHER POSITIONS WHERE YOU HAVE A VOTING RECORD.

IN CASES WHERE THERE ARE EXAMPLES OF FOLKS THAT HAVE THAT TRACK RECORD, THAT'S ONE THING AND IT'S GREAT TO BE ABLE TO LEAN ON THOSE ACTUAL VOTES TO GIVE THE PUBLIC AN EXAMPLE OF THAT, BUT IN THIS CASE, WE DON'T HAVE THAT.

YOU DO, THOUGH, HAVE MY VOTE AND MY CONSISTENCY ON PROTECTING YOUR SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS, PROTECTING THE UNBORN.

MY PHILOSOPHY IS FROM CONCEPTION TO NATURAL DEATH, PROTECT LIFE.

AND ALSO MY TRACK RECORD WORKING TO STOP FRAUD, TO BRING FRAUD TO THE FOREFRONT AS FAR BACK AS 2019, AND TRY TO GET THE ATTENTION OF THE DFL TRIFECTA OR IN THAT CASE WHILE IN THE MINORITY.

AND THOSE WARNINGS WENT UNHEARD AND THE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD OTHERWISE MOVE FORWARD TO STOP FRAUD WERE ALSO IGNORED.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

WITH THAT, WE'LL MOVE TO OUR NEXT QUESTION, WHICH WILL COME FROM LARISSA AND THEN, JOSH, YOU'LL ANSWER FIRST.

>> Larissa: ALL RIGHT.

MR.

HEINTZEMAN, DO YOU SUPPORT PROVIDING INCENTIVES TO COMPANIES LOOKING TO BUILD AND OPERATE IN MINNESOTA?

WHY OR WHY NOT?

>> Heintzeman: THIS IS A, I THINK, AN INTERESTING QUESTION BECAUSE JUST RECENTLY, WE SAW THAT DUE TO THE CHALLENGES WITH PERMITTING IN MINNESOTA, A $15 BILLION STEEL MILL IS NOW BEING BUILT IN IOWA.

THAT RAISES A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

THAT RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT PERMITTING, LIKE I JUST MENTIONED.

WHAT ARE THE OBSTACLES TO THAT MINNESOTA PUTTING 1700 JOBS HERE IN MINNESOTA IN AN AREA WHERE WE'RE DESPERATE FOR MORE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY?

AND INCENTIVES OF ONE KIND OR ANOTHER, I THINK, SHOULD CERTAINLY BE A PART OF THE DISCUSSION.

WE ALSO SAW IN THE CASE OF COPPER NICKEL MINING, THAT THERE'S A HUGE INVESTMENT YEARS AGO, EVEN THAT WAS UNDER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION THAT INSTEAD OF BEING RIGHT HERE WHERE THE RESOURCES ARE, THAT FACILITY IS BEING BUILT ON A GRANT IN NORTH DAKOTA.

SO I THINK THAT IT MAKES SENSE TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS, GET THE INPUT OF THE PUBLIC, AND SEE WHAT CAN COME OF THAT AND IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR BUSINESS OR INDUSTRY TO GROW IN MINNESOTA, IT WOULD BE GREAT.

UNFORTUNATELY, OVER THE LAST SOME YEARS, WE'VE SEEN INDUSTRY LEAVING MINNESOTA JUST LIKE THE STEEL MILL THAT I JUST MENTIONED.

THAT'S HAPPENING UNDER GOVERNOR WALZ, AND I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE ANY DIFFERENT IF WE HAPPENED TO HAVE AMY KLOBUCHAR, FOR EXAMPLE.

THAT EXPECTATION, I THINK, SHOULD BE THERE THAT IF YOU HAVE CONTINUED DFL LEADERSHIP, YOU'RE GOING TO GET CONTINUED DFL RESULTS.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

NICKY.

>> Hardy: I DO.

I DO BELIEVE THAT PROVIDING INCENTIVES FOR BUSINESSES TO COME, ESPECIALLY TO RURAL MINNESOTA, IS ESPECIALLY BENEFICIAL BECAUSE SO MANY OF OUR ECONOMIES IN RURAL MINNESOTA ARE NOT VERY DIVERSE.

AND SO WHEN SOMETHING IS IMPACTED, MANY PEOPLE CAN SUFFER, AND SO WE HAD THE CLOSURE OF THE MINE NORTH OF HERE.

ACTUALLY, NOT FROM HERE, WE'RE IN BEMIDJI TODAY, BUT WHEN WE HAVE BUSINESSES CLOSE LOOK LIKE THAT, WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE LEFT UNEMPLOYED, AND SO I DO BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD HELP OUR BUSINESSES GET STARTED AND THAT INCLUDES INCENTIVIZING, AND ESPECIALLY IN THE EFFORT TO HAVE A MORE DIVERSE ASSORTMENT OF TRADES THAT ARE AVAILABLE OR BUSINESSES.

AND SO YEAH, I DO SUPPORT HAVING INCENTIVES BE PUT IN PLACE, AND I ALSO THINK THAT IT ALSO NEEDS TO BE DONE WITH THE OKAY OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT COULD BE IMPACTED BY THOSE BUSINESSES BECAUSE NOT ALL BUSINESSES ARE COMPLETELY INNOCENT EITHER, RIGHT?

SOME COME WITH RISKS, AND SO I THINK THAT THE COMMUNITIES NEED TO HAVE THE FINAL SAY.

THANK YOU.

>> Bethany: JOSH, RESPONSE?

>> Heintzeman: YEAH, I NEED TO ADDRESS SOME OF THAT.

COMMUNITIES ABSOLUTELY NEED TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN A PROCESS AND TO HAVE THEIR VOICE HEARD.

ONE OF THE MAJOR CHALLENGES THAT BUSINESSES FACE IN MINNESOTA IS PERMITTING.

IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S AN AIR PERMIT OR A WATER PERMIT OR WHAT HAVE YOU.

STATES LIKE COLORADO, A VERY SIMILAR STATE DEMOGRAPHICALLY AND POLITICALLY, IS LITERALLY HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF DAYS AHEAD OF MINNESOTA.

THAT'S WHY I WORKED TO PASS PERMITTING REFORM JUST TWO YEARS AGO AS CHAIR OF THE ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE.

WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE THE NEEDLE, BUT EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, THERE WAS FOLKS WORKING AGAINST MAKING MINNESOTA'S PROCESS SOMETHING THAT COULD BE CERTAIN AT ANY LEVEL, AND CONSTANTLY WE HAVE INDUSTRY THAT GOES ELSEWHERE.

AND IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S A WOOD PROCESSING FACILITY OR IF IT'S A STEEL MILL LIKE I MENTIONED A WHILE AGO, THOSE JOBS ARE LEAVING MINNESOTA AND THERE HAS TO BE A DIFFERENT GROUP LEADING IN SAINT PAUL TO FIX MINNESOTA'S ECONOMY.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU, JOSH.

NICKY, A RESPONSE?

>> Hardy: YOU BET.

SO YEAH, PERMITTING, THAT'S AN ISSUE.

AN ALTERNATIVE TO HAVING A WHOLE BUNCH OF NEW REGULATIONS THAT HAVE TO BE LEARNED AND PROCESSED, I PROPOSE THAT WE JUST HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE EMPLOYED TO BE ABLE TO DO THE JOB AND DO THE JOB EFFECT TIFL.

THANKS.

>> Heintzeman: I'LL TAKE MY MINUTE.

>> Bethany: ONE MINUTE OF BONUS TIME, GO AHEAD.

>> Heintzeman: UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S INCREDIBLY NAIVE.

YES, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND YOU COULD ADD ALL THE EMPLOYEES THAT MPCA COULD IMAGINE TO ADD, BUT UNLESS YOU ACTUALLY CHANGE THE PROCESS, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO CHANGE ANYTHING.

IT IS NOT JUST A HUMAN RESOURCES PROBLEM.

IT'S A STATUTORY PROBLEM, AND WHEN THERE IS STATUTORY PROCESSES THAT PROHIBIT INDUSTRIES FROM MOVING FORWARD WITH THEIR PROJECT, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO CHANGE THAT SIMPLY BY INCREASING AN MPCA BUDGET AND ADDING FOLKS TO THE PROCESS.

IN SOME CASES, THE PERMITTING WORK THAT I DID TWO YEARS AGO DID ADD FOLKS, BUT WE ALSO ADDED PEOPLE AT DEED AND OTHER PLACES, BUT THE STATUTORY PROCESS IS BROKEN IN MINNESOTA.

THE BAR ENGINEERING REPORT WOULD BE A GREAT PLACE TO START IF YOU WANT TO SEE EXACTLY HOW MINNESOTA'S FAILING AND IT IS A STATUTORY PROBLEM.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

AGAIN, WE WANT TO SAY THAT WE APPRECIATE THE BRAINERD DISPATCH'S WILLINGNESS TO PARTICIPATE TODAY AND WHILE THEY COULDN'T BE HERE, WE'RE HAPPY THEY SENT THE QUESTIONS ALONG AND I'M PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO ASK THEM ON THEIR BEHALF.

HEALTHCARE COSTS ARE ON THE RISE.

SHOULD THE STATE BE DOING MORE TO HELP EASE THAT FINANCIAL BURDEN FOR RESIDENTS?

NICKY.

>> Hardy: YES, AND ACTUALLY, JUST YESTERDAY, I WAS SITTING IN THE DFL OFFICE AND I HAD A REALLY GREAT CONVERSATION WITH A RETIRED MEDICARE AGENT, AND HE INFORMED ME EXACTLY HOW SERIOUS THIS ISSUE IS.

AND SO RIGHT HERE IN CROW WING COUNTY, WE HAVE NEARLY 16,000 RESIDENTS THAT ARE 65 OR OLDER AND ABOUT 10,000 OF THEM WILL LOSE ACCESS TO THEIR MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN AT THE END OF YEAR.

THEIR CHOICES ARE TO PAY OVER $400 A MONTH PER PERSON FOR SUPPLEMENTAL COVERAGE THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE DENTAL, VISION, OR HEARING, OR GO WITHOUT THAT SUPPLEMENTAL COVERAGE OR CONSIDER MOVING OUT OF COUNTY BECAUSE THOSE PLANS STILL REMAIN IN THE NEIGHBORING COUNTIES, JUST ACROSS COUNTY LINES.

WE HAVE PLACES LIKE CASS, ITASCA, MORRISON COUNTIES, THEY ALL ARE RETAINING SOME OF THOSE MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS.

AND WITH ESSENTIA HEALTH'S PLANNED MERGER WITH HEALTH PARTNERS, WE ALSO NEED ANSWERS FOR WHAT THAT MEANS WITH SENIORS AND OTHER PATIENTS THAT DEPEND ON LOCAL PROVIDERS.

CONTRAST THAT TO THE MINNESOTA HEALTH PLAN, AND THAT OFFERS A MUCH DIFFERENT VISION.

THAT'S COVERAGE FOR ALL MINNESOTANS WITH COSTS TIED TO INCOME RATHER THAN EMPLOYMENT OR THE PAST WORK OF INSURANCE PLANS OR THE COMPLEXITY OF MEDICARE ADVANTAGE AND MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT TANS.

SO IMAGINE OUR SENIORS BEING ABLE TO HAVE STABLE, AFFORDABLE COVERAGE, WORKERS THAT ARE FREE TO CHANGE CAREERS OR START BUSINESSES WITHOUT RISKING THEIR INSURANCE, FARMERS AND SMALL BUSINESSES AND SELF-EMPLOYED MINNESOTANS WITH A GREATER SECURITY ALL WITH THEIR HEALTHCARE.

AND EVERY CHILD COVERED REGARDLESS OF THEIR PARENTS' INCOME, AND YES, DENY TAM, VISION AND HEARING WOULD ALSO BE INCLUDED AND ANOTHER THING, EVERYONE WOULD HAVE SOME SKIN IN THE GAME.

SO EVERYONE DESERVES ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE, RELIABLE HEALTHCARE AND WE ALL WILL BENEFIT WITH A HEALTHIER COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU.

>> Bethany: JOSH.

>> Heintzeman: HERE WE GO AGAIN.

A BIG GOVERNMENT SOLUTION TO A PROBLEM THAT WAS CREATED BY GOVERNMENT.

I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY THESE LAST TWO YEARS TO SERVE ON THE COMMERCE COMMITTEE, WHICH IS THE COMMITTEE WHERE MANY OF THE INSURANCE-RELATED ISSUES COME TO US, AND I MENTIONED IN A PREVIOUS ANSWER THAT IT'S ENACTMENT DATES THAT CAN SOMETIMES CONFUSE HOW A PROBLEM CAME INTO BEING, AND ONE OF THE HUGE CHALLENGES THAT OUR INSURANCE MARKET IS DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW AND COSTS ARE GOING UP, IS BECAUSE OF 14 NEW MANDATED PASSED BY THE DFL TRIFECTA THAT ARE JUST NOW COMING INTO THEIR OWN AND BEING ENACTED AND WHAT DOES THAT DO?

THAT INCREASES COSTS.

I'M JUST MENTION A FEW OF THEM AND YOU CAN THINK OF YOURSELF AND YOUR OWN SITUATION AND IF THESE COVERAGES MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO ACCESS OR MIGHT NOT.

IN MANY CASES, THESE ARE THINGS THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO PAY FOR AS A COVERAGE, BUT ARE REQUIRED TO UNDER STATUTORY RULES CREATED FOR THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY.

OVER-THE-COUNTER CONTRAEXCEPT TIFRS, A NEW MANDATE.

ABORTION AND REPRODUCTIVE CARE COVERAGE.

A NEW MANDATE.

GENDER AFFIRMING CARE, A NEW MANDATE.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT EVERYBODY IS NOW BEING FORCED TO PAY FOR REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU WANT THAT COVERAGE OR NOT.

AND SO IN ADDITION TO THAT, I SHOULD ALSO MENTION THAT WHILE WE'RE SEEING INCREASES BECAUSE OF THESE MANDATES, IT WAS SOMETHING WE SAW COMING, AND SO OUR WORK ON THE COMMERCE COMMITTEE INCLUDED REINSURANCE, WHICH TECHNICALLY THOSE ARE TAXPAYER DOLLARS, BUT IN ORDER TO STABILIZE THE MARKET AND REDUCE THE NUMBER OF COMPANIES THAT WOULD OTHERWISE LEAVE, REPUBLICANS WERE ABLE TO WORK ACROSS THE AISLE AND GET REINSURANCE DONE TO AVOID INCREASING COSTS WELL OVER 50%, POTENTIALLY MORE.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

NICKY, A REBUTTAL?

>> Hardy: YES.

WE ARE RIGHT, THIS WAS A PROBLEM CREATED BY GOVERNMENT, AND WHAT WE ARE SEEING WITH THE MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS BEING LOST IS A CONSEQUENCE OF THE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL, AND OUR INSURANCE PREMIUMS DEEP ON GOING UP, NOT BECAUSE OF THE DFL TRIFECTA.

IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR A REALLY LONG TIME AND THAT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT INSURANCE WAS ALLOWED TO BE PRIVATIZED.

IT USED TO BE NONPROFIT.

SO WE HAVE OPTIONS.

INSURANCE DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THIS HARD, AND THERE ARE PRETTY MUCH EVERY OTHER DEVELOPED NATION OUT THERE THAT HAS FIGURED IT OUT.

U TRUST THAT WE MINNESOTANS CAN DO IT TOO.

THANK YOU.

>> Bethany: JOSH.

>> Heintzeman: YES, THANK YOU.

AGAIN, THIS IS, I THINK, SOME MISSING INFORMATION THAT NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT UP BECAUSE MY OPPONENT'S UNINFORMED.

THE COMPANIES THAT ARE INCREASING COSTS RIGHT NOW ARE ALL NONPROFIT COMPANIES.

THESE ARE COMPANIES OPERATING IN MINNESOTA, NOT AS A BUSINESS, BUT AS A NONPROFIT.

AND IT IS A DFL PROBLEM.

WE'VE HAD 16 YEARS OF DFL GOVERNORS AND AGENCIES RUN BY DEMOCRATS WHICH HAS LED TO FRAUD, LED TO WASTE, $9 BILLION GONE.

WE HAD AN $18 BILLION SURPLUS.

THAT WAS SQUANDERED.

WE HAD $10 BILLION KFR INCREASED TAXES THANKS TO DEMOCRATS UNDER THE DFL TRIFECTA.

IF YOU DON'T THINK THAT HAS CONTRIBUTED TO RISING COSTS, THEN I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE I CAN SAY TO TRY TO EXPLAIN IT.

>> Hardy: I'LL TAKE MY MINUTE, PLEASE.

>> Bethany: ONE-MINUTE BONUS TIME.

GO AHEAD.

>> Hardy: WONDERFUL.

WITH RESPECT TO INSURANCE COSTS WHAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT HERE IN MINNESOTA IS NOT UNIQUE TO MINNESOTA.

WE HAVE INSURANCE COSTS GOING UNNATIONWIDE AND IT'S NOT BECAUSE OF -- GOING UP NATIONWIDE AND IT'S NOT BECAUSE OF A MINNESOTA TRIFECTA.

AND I DID MENTION WE WERE GOING TO HEAR ABOUT PERIOD OF TIME DEMOCRATIC TRIFECTA AND A SURPLUS SQUANDERED.

I WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT.

>> Bethany: OUR NEXT QUESTION WILL COME FROM DENNIS AND JOSH WILL ANSWER FIRST.

>> Dennis: AS WE ALWAYS DO WITH OUR DEBATES, WE ASK OUR VIEWERS TO SUBMIT QUESTIONS AND WE HAD QUITE A FEW FROM ALL THE DISTRICTS AND SOME FROM DISTRICT 6.

THIS QUESTION REGARDS SCHOOL FUNDING FROM JOHN IN THE BRAINERD LAKES AREA.

ON THE BALLOT THIS YEAR, THERE'S A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO INCREASE FUNDING FROM THE PERMANENT SCHOOL PUBLIC TRUST FUND TO ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS THE STATE.

ARE YOU IN FAVOR OF THIS, WHICH WOULD PROVIDE NEW FINANCIAL RESOURCES FOR OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS?

>> Heintzeman: WELL, I VOTED IN FAVOR OF PUTTING THIS BALLOT AMENDMENT BEFORE THE VOTERS, AND PART OF THE REASON IS MY EXPERIENCE SERVING, AGAIN, ON THE ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE AND WORKING AT ONE POINT AS CHAIR OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCE TRUST FUND COUNCIL, WHICH IS OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LCCMR.

AND IT'S A VERY INTERESTING GROUP BECAUSE THE WAY IT WORKS IS INSTEAD OF SPENDING TAX DOLLARS, THE DOLLARS ARE SPENT OUT OF A TRUST.

SO YOU'RE NOT SPENDING OUT OF A TRUST, YOU'RE SPENDING MORE SPECIFICALLY THE INTEREST THAT IS EARNED THERE, AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE A MODEL FOR MORE PRIORITIES THAT I KNOW MOST MINNESOTANS CAN GENERALLY SUPPORT.

IN THIS CASE, IT'S EDUCATION FUNDING.

CURRENTLY, THE SCHOOL TRUST FUND PROPERTIES HAVE GENERATED A TRUST WITH A CURRENT BALANCE OF $2.3 BILLION.

AND THAT $2.3 BILLION IS INVESTED, AND THAT INVESTMENT PRODUCES, I BELIEVE, $68 PER KID IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WAS DONE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE STATE'S FOUNDING TO FUND PUBLIC EDUCATION, AND WE NOW HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY WITH THIS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF DOLLARS THAT HAVE BEEN GENERATED BY THE TRUST THAT CAN BE APPROPRIATED, SO IT WOULD RISE FROM $68 TO I BELIEVE 103 PER KID, AT NO INCREASED TAXPAYER EXPENSE.

SO I THOUGHT I WOULD CONSIDER, AND I DID, VOTING FOR THAT BILL TO LET THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA WEIGH IT OUT AND SEE IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO PASS.

AND I THINK THAT IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE THE RESULTS, AND IF THAT'S THE WAY MOST PEOPLE THINK, BUT THAT WAS MY PERSPECTIVE WHEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON THE ISSUE.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

NICKY.

>> Hardy: YES, I DO SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, AND IT WAS A REALLY GREAT EXPLANATION THERE.

SO WITH THE INTEREST THAT IS GENERATED FROM THAT TRUST, THAT IS WHERE THESE FUNDS WILL BE COMING FROM, AND IT WAS -- THIS NEW AMOUNT WAS ESTABLISHED USING PROFESSIONALS, ECONOMISTS THAT SAID THAT THIS WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD NOT NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE BALANCE OF THE TRUST AND WOULD BE PULLED OUT OF THE TRUST, AND SO WITH THAT, I REALLY DO.

I SUPPORT THIS AND I THINK THAT IT'S A GREAT START.

BUT OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS NEED MORE, AND SO WE ACTUALLY NEED TO SPEND SOME TIME FOCUSED ON OTHER WAYS THAT WE CAN ALSO HELP OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS, AND SO SOME OF THAT INCLUDES MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE FUNDING THE MANDATES THAT ARE COMING FROM SAINT PAUL TO ALL OF OUR RURAL SCHOOLS BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE BEING DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY SOME OF THE UNFUNDED MANDATES.

SO WE NEED BETTER SUPPORT FOR THAT.

FOR THAT, I PROPOSE HAVING IT COME FROM THE GENERAL FUND.

I ALSO SUPPORT THINGS THAT WOULD STABILIZE OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT BUDGET, THINGS LIKE A UNIVERSAL POOL FOR OUR TEACHER STAFF AND OTHERS, FACULTY MEMBERS WITHIN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND WE ALSO NEED TO FIGURE OUT THE DIFFERENT THINGS WE NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO MAKE OUR PLACES OF EDUCATION IDEAL PLACES OF EDUCATION FOR EVERYONE.

AND SO THAT INCLUDES THINGS LIKE ADDRESSING CLASS SIZES AND SUPPORT STAFF, MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE APPROPRIATE NUMBERS OF COUNSELING STAFF THAT ARE EFFECTIVE AT, YOU KNOW, GETTING TO ALL OF THE KIDS THAT NEED THAT HELP, AS WELL AS FULL STATE FUNDING.

SO WE NEED TO NOT ONLY BE CONSIDERING THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN THAT ARE AT A SCHOOL, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO CONSIDER THINGS LIKE THE TRANSPORTATION COSTS BECAUSE IT IS VERY COSTLY TO TRANSPORT CHILDREN IN RURAL MINNESOTA, AND WE ALSO NEED TO TALK ABOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE BECAUSE WE NEED SCHOOLS, AND THERE IS A CERTAIN COST NO MATTER THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT GO TO THAT SCHOOL.

THAT SCHOOL STILL NEEDS TO BE MAINTAINED.

SO THANK YOU.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

JOSH, A REBUTTAL?

>> Heintzeman: YEAH, I'M GLAD THAT NICKY BROUGHT UP UNFUNDED MANDATES.

HOW ABOUT REPEAL THE MANDATES?

IT'S NOT THAT HARD TO RECOGNIZE THAT, AGAIN, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS MADE INTO AN APPARENTLY SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULDN'T TALK ABOUT, A DFL TRIFECTA WHICH PASSED ALMOST 70-PLUS MANDATES, MANY OF THOSE IMPACTING HEALTHCARE, 14 SPECIFICALLY, AND NUMEROUS MANDATES AFFECTING PUBLIC EDUCATION.

I SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS TALKING TO MY SCHOOL DISTRICTS ABOUT HOW THESE UNFUNDED MANDATES HAVE IMPACTED THEIR BOTTOM LINE AND ALMOST EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE STATE, OR VERY MANY, ARE ASKING FOR MONEY IN A REFERENDUM BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT.

TO THE POINT OF FULLY FUND, I'VE ASKED DEMOCRATS BEFORE, WHAT IS FULLY FUND AND I NEVER GET AN ANSWER.

WITH 5 AND 5 ON THE FORMULA THIS PAST CYCLE, IT WASN'T ENOUGH BECAUSE MANDATES COMPLETELY CONSUMED IT, SO LET'S REPEAL THEM.

>> Bethany: REBUTTAL?

>> Hardy: YEAH, SOME MANDATES WE CAN'T REPEAL.

SOME ARE PASSED DOWN FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THOSE ARE SOME OF THE ONES THAT CONSUME A LOT OF RESOURCES AT A SCHOOL DISTRICT, SO WE CAN'T REPEL THINGS LIKE SPECIAL EDUCATION AND THOSE ARE SOME VERY LARGE EXPENSES DEPENDING ON THE NEEDS OF A PARTICULAR CHILD.

BUT WE CAN DISCUSS SOME OF THE OTHER ONES.

I PERSONALLY AM VERY MUCH IN SUPPORT OF HAVING UNIVERSAL LUNCHES AND BREAKFAST FOR OUR KIDS BECAUSE AS A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER, I HAVE SEEN THE IMPACT OF HAVING HUNGRY KIDS, AND THEY DON'T LEARN WELL AND THERE ARE BEHAVIOR ISSUES, AND SO MAKING SURE THAT OUR KIDS ARE WELL-FED AND READY TO LEARN, I THINK, IS A REALLY IMPORTANT ONE.

AND ONE THAT I WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

QUESTION FROM LARISSA, AND FLICK CAN I, YOOURL ANSWER FIRST.

>> Larissa: MS.

HARDY, RENTS ARE RISING AND HOMEOWNERSHIP FEELS INCREASINGLY OUT OF REACH FOR MANY.

WHAT LEGISLATION DO YOU SUPPORT TO MAKE RENT MORE AFFORDABLE AND HOMEOWNERSHIP MORE ACCESSIBLE?

>> Hardy: GREAT.

WITH RESPECT TO HOMES, WE WERE VERY LUCKY.

WE MOVED TO THE PEQUOT LAKES IN 2018 BEFORE THERE WAS THIS REALLY BIG HOME PRICE BOOM, AND SO I RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE AT A BIT OF AN ADVANTAGE, AND I ALSO HAVE HAD SO MANY CONVERSATIONS WITH YOUNG PEOPLE WHO JUST CAN'T AFFORD TO GET INTO HOMES.

AND SO WE NEED TO FIND WAYS THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO HAVE NEW TRAINING FOR OUR GENERAL CONTRACTORS AND SPECIALISTS, OUR SECOND CARRY -- SECONDARY CONTRACTORS.

WE NEED TO TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT THE REGULATIONS BECAUSE I REALLY DON'T FEEL LIKE A HOUSE THAT IS BUILT IN RURAL MINNESOTA ON TEN ACRES OF LAND NECESSARILY NEEDS THE SAME TYPES OF REGULATIONS AS AN INNER CITY HOUSE THAT, YOU KNOW, IS TEN FOOT AWAY FROM ITS NEIGHBOR.

SO THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS I THINK WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB OF LOOKING AT, BUT IT REALLY REQUIRES A LOT OF EFFORT AND BEING ABLE TO GO LINE BY LINE.

AND SO I THINK THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT WE CAN PUSH THOSE TYPES OF THINGS FORWARD.

SOMETHING THAT I THOUGHT WAS REALLY EXCITING IS WHEN WE LIVED DOWN IN ARIZONA, I WAS LISTENING TO THE NEWS AND THEY WERE WORKING ON -- THEY HAD A CONTEST OF SORTZS.

SO IN THIS CONTEST, THEY REACHED OUT TO ARCHITECTS AND ASKED ARCHITECTS TO SUBMIT A BLUEPRINT FOR A NET-ZERO HOME AND, OF COURSE, THIS IS ARIZONA, VERY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO DO UP HERE IN MINNESOTA, BUT IT GOT ME THINKING AND WHAT ENDED UP HANG IS WHEN THEY STHRECTED THAT BLUEPRINT, THAT ONE GLUPT WAS MADE FREELY AVAILABLE TO ANY DEVELOPER TO USE.

I JUST REALLY THOUGHT THAT WAS A BEAUTIFUL IDEA AND THE COLLECT WAS AWARDED SOME MONEY, BUT IT WAS A REALLY COOL CONCEPT THAT I THINK WE COULD DO SOMETHING VERY SIMILAR AND ALSO WE NEED TO HAVE SOME REAL DISCUSSIONS ABOUT MANUFACTURED HOMES AND THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN BRINGING DOWN HOME PRICES OVERALL.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

JOSH?

>> Heintzeman: THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT NICKY AND I AGREE ON MOSTLY.

I THINK THOSE IDEAS ABOUT ADDRESSING SOME OF THE PROBLEMS IN A MORE CASE-BY-CASE OR CITY-BY-CITY, REGION-BY-REGION BASIS MAKES SENSE.

THE RULES THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE IN COMMUNITIES WHERE HOUSES ARE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO EACH OTHER ARE GOING TO BE DIFFERENT.

I'M A BUILDER MYSELF.

I'VE BUILT OUR OWN HOME AND A NUMBER OF OTHER HOMES, AND I'M VERY FORTUNATE TO LIVE IN A TOWNSHIP WHICH GIVES ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO A LOT OF THAT WORK MYSELF.

WHERE INSPECTIONS ARE A NECESSITY FOR EITHER PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT OR, SAY FOR EXAMPLE, AN ELECTRICAL INSPECTION, YEAH, YOU ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO HAVE IT.

BUT YOU GO INTO OTHER PARTS OF THE COMMUNITY WHERE YOU HAVE MORE REGULATION, SOME OF IT MAKES SENSE, BUT A LOT OF IT IS BURDENSOME.

SPENCER IGO, THE CHAIR OF THE HOUSING COMMITTEE, DID A FANTASTIC QUESTION.

HIS BILL, AS THE CHAIR OF THE HOUSING COMMITTEE, A CO-CHAIR WAS EXCELLENT AND REALLY GOT AT THE ISSUE OF MANUFACTURED HOUSING, OVERBURDENSOME REGULATION.

I HAPPENED TO REALLY LIKE A SLAB ON GRADE DESIGN.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I HAVE DONE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND THERE'S COMMUNITIES THAT ACTUALLY PROHIBIT THAT.

AND THOSE KINDS OF RULES MAKE IT INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT AND MORE EXPENSIVE FOR THOSE TRYING TO GET INTO A STARTER HOUSE OR MAYBE DOWN THE ROAD AS FOLKS ARE RETIRING, THEY DON'T NEED SOMETHING AS BIG, AND COSTS HAVE GONE JUST ABSOLUTELY CRAZY.

THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT COIN IS YOU NEED AN ECONOMY THAT PAYS THE SALARIES THAT ARE NECESSARY FOR PEOPLE TO MOVE BEYOND ENTRY-LEVEL WORK AND THEN BE ABLE TO AFFORD HOMES.

ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL FOR MINNESOTA'S ECONOMY TO HAVE THE SUPPORT IT NEED.

AGAIN, ANOTHER ISSUE THAT HAS TO BE CONSIDERED AS YOU'RE GOING TO THE POLLS.

>> Bethany: NICKY, A RESPONSE?

>> Hardy: I AGREE WITH MUCH OF THAT AND I HAD A COUPLE OF ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS THAT I NEEDED TO ALSO SHARE.

AND THAT IS AN ENTHUSIASM FOR WORKING WITH PLANNING AND ZONING FOR OUR OTHER COMMUNITIES AS WELL, AND DISCUSSING DIFFERENT TYPES OF RESTRICTIONS ON HOME BUILDS.

SO A LITTLE PERSONAL STORY ABOUT MYSELF, I BOUGHT MY FIST HOME AT 24 DOWN IN OMAHA, AND MY HOME WAS 700-SQUARE-FOOT WITH THE THREE-SEASON PORCH.

YOU DON'T FIND HOMES LIKE THAT ANYMORE, AND I THINK THAT THAT IS ALSO CONTRIBUTING TO THE AFFORDABILITY ISSUE.

ANOTHER THING IS THAT WE DO HAVE AN ISSUE WITH AGES AND IN MANY INSTANCES WE HAVE PEOPLE IN MULTI-GENERATIONAL HOMES, BUT MAYBE NOT WITH SEPARATE SPACES.

ANOTHER THING I REALLY AM A PROPONENT OF IS ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS AND TRYING TO WORK WITH DIFFERENT CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES ABOUT HAVING ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS BECOME PART OF THE CONVERSATION.

>> Bethany: JOSH, A RESPONSE?

>> Heintzeman: NO, I THINK THAT WE COVERED IT WELL.

>> Bethany: ALL RIGHT.

WHAT ONE ISSUE DO YOU BELIEVE MATTERS MOST TO RURAL MINNESOTA, AND WHAT WOULD YOU DO AS A LEGISLATOR TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE?

AND JOSH, YOU'RE FIRST.

>> Heintzeman: I THINK FREEDOM IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS, IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, A GREAT WAY TO SUM UP GREATER MINNESOTA.

WE VALUE OUR RIGHTS, OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.

WE VALUE OUR ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES, AND OUR FAMILIES, ABLE TO WORSHIP AND PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES AS THEY SEE FIT, AS FIT THEIR LIVES.

IT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION AND ONE THAT I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE.

THERE'S OTHER WAYS THAT YOU COULD PROBABLY GO IN TO ADDRESS THAT, BUT ULTIMATELY, FREEDOM I THINK IS AT THAT CORE OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN AMERICAN, WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A PERSON THAT CAN CONTRIBUTE AND PARTICIPATE AS YOU SEE FIT AND FITS YOUR VALUES AND YOUR LIFE, AND PART OF WHAT I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT I FIGHT FOR FOR YOU, WHETHER IT IS YOUR -- AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, YOUR SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS, THE LIVES OF THE UNBORN, FOR YOUR ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES AROUND OUR STATE, AND MAKING SURE THAT YOUR DOLLARS, THOSE THAT ARE TAKEN FROM YOU IN THE FORM OF TAX, ARE PROTECTED FROM THOSE THAT WOULD ABUSE THOSE DOLLARS AND FRAUD HAS BEEN PROBABLY THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE, AS I AT DOORS AND TALKING TO THOSE IN MY COMMUNITY, WONDERING HOW DID THAT HAPPEN AND WE'VE KIND OF TALKED ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT TONIGHT.

AGAIN, A FAILURE OF OUR GOVERNOR AND OF HIS AGENCIES TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR TAX DOLLARS ARE SACRED AND PROTECTED AND THAT THEY'RE GOING TO THOSE THAT NEED IT MOST AS OPPOSED TO FRAUDSTERS.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

NICKY.

>> Hardy: MAY I HAVE THE QUESTION REPEATED, PLEASE?

>> Bethany: OF COURSE.

WHAT ONE ISSUE DO YOU BELIEVE MATTERS MOST TO RURAL MINNESOTANS AND WHAT WOULD YOU DO AS A LEGISLATOR TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE?

>> Hardy: I THINK THAT IT IS OUR COMMUNITIES, AND SO MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE RESILIENT AND ROBUST COMMUNITIES AND WITH THAT COMES A SENSE OF.

>> Bethany: LONGING, HAVING PEOPLE BEAL LIKE THEY BELONG WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITY AND PROTECTING OUR NATURAL SPACES.

LIKE I MENTIONED, I LEFT THE STATE, AND SO I LEFT THE STATE IN 2009, CAME BACK IN 2018.

I HAD MANY ADVENTURES IN LOTS OF DIFFERENT STATES, AND WE CAME BACK TO MINNESOTA FOR THE LAKES AND THE LAND, LIKE I MENTIONED, AND I THINK THAT THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE WORTH CONSERVING.

MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE LAKES, FRESH WATER LAKES, NON-POLLUTED LAKES AS BEST WE CAN FOR OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

SO MAKING SURE THAT ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE BEING PROPERLY TAKEN CARE OF.

THAT WAY, WE DON'T HAVE SUCH GREAT DIVISION, AND SO MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO SHELTER, WATER, AND FOOD.

AND SO COMMUNITY AND A SENSE OF BE LONGING I THINK ARE MAYBE ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES FOR RURAL MINNESOTA.

THANK YOU.

>> Bethany: JOSH, ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS, REBUTTAL?

>> Heintzeman: NO, I THINK THAT'S GOOD.

>> Bethany: NEXT QUESTION WILL COME FROM DENNIS.

>> Dennis: WELL, SOCIAL ISSUES ARE DEFINITELY IMPORTANT TO A SEGMENT OF THE VOTERS OUT THERE.

WHAT SOCIAL ISSUES ARE MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU AND WHY?

>> Bethany: NICKY.

>> Hardy: THAT'S A TOUGH QUESTION BECAUSE THERE'S LOTS OF SOCIAL ISSUES THAT I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, THOUGH, FOR ME, IT ALL COMES DOWN TO ARE PEOPLE FEELING INCLUDED AND WELCOMED, AND SO I TRY AND MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT THIS -- THAT PEOPLE ARE FEELING GOOD ABOUT BEING WHERE THEY ARE AND THAT COMES DOWN TO THINGS LIKE SOCIAL MEDIA AND BULLYING.

AND SO SOCIAL MEDIA AND BULLINGLY IS SOMETHING THAT IS -- BULLYING IS SOMETHING TALKED ABOUT A LOT IN THE BRAINERD LAKES AREA AND WE HAVE ALL THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF DISCRIMINATION TAKING PLACE, BE IT WORKPLACE, SO AS A WOMAN, THAT'S A REAL THING, RIGHT?

AN EMPLOYER THAT MAY BE DOESN'T WANT TO GO THROUGH AND HIRE A PREGNANT WOMAN BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT IN JUST A LITTLE BIT, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A BABY AND THEY'LL BE GONE FOR A WHILE.

AND SO MAKING SURE THAT DIFFERENT SCHOOL POLICIES ARE BUILT FOR EVERYONE AND MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO GO, ESPECIALLY OUR KIDS.

AND SO MAKING SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS, WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE QUIRKY OR SOMETHING ELSE -- SOMETHING THAT MAKES THEM DIFFERENT SO THEY DON'T FIT NEATLY IN SOMEBODY ELSE'S BOX, MAKING SURE THAT THEY FEEL ACCEPTED AND LOVED.

I THINK THAT'S ONE OF MY BIGGEST THINGS IS JUST MAKING SURE THAT THE KIDS, THAT THE KIDS FEEL LOVED.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

JOSH?

>> Heintzeman: THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING QUESTIONS OF THE DEBATE TONIGHT, AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF EXTREMELY HOT BUTTON SOCIAL ISSUES THAT CERTAINLY ARE THINGS THAT I'M HEARING ABOUT.

I MENTIONED EARLIER SENATOR HEINTZEMAN AND I HAVE SIX CHILDREN, THREE BOYS, THREE GIRLS, AND I CAN TELL YOU MY KIDS ARE TALKING A LOT ABOUT, ESPECIALLY MY GIRLS, GIRLS SPORTS, AND THE CHALLENGES THAT THEY COULD FACE PARTICIPATING SHOULD THEY SO CHOOSE OF WALKING INTO A PROGRAM AND BEING FORCED TO PARTICIPATE WITH A BIOLOGICAL MALE.

SUPER CONTROVERSIAL IN SOME PARS OF THE STATE, BUT IN GREATER MINNESOTA, I THINK PEOPLE ARE PRETTY CLEAR.

THEY'RE OPPOSED TO THOSE KINDS OF SCENARIOS AND WHILE THE ISSUE HAS BEEN FRAMED UP IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WAYS, NOT HERE TONIGHT IN THIS DEBATE, BUT CERTAINLY ACROSS THE STATE AND NATIONALLY, THAT WOULD PIT PEOPLE AGAINST PEOPLE, I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE ISSUE.

IT'S ABOUT PRESERVING AND PROTECTING GIRLS SPORTS, MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE SAFE, AND AS LEGISLATORS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, I'M QUITE CONCERN, IN THE COMING BIENNIUM TO ADDRESS THAT HERE IN MINNESOTA AS THE STATE HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE I THINK HAS MADE A MISTAKE IN PERMITTING THIS TO CONTINUE TO TAKE PLACE IN MINNESOTA.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT A FEW OTHER ISSUES LIKE LIFE AND ABOUT HOW THAT IS IMPACTING NOT JUST AT THE BEGINNING STAGES, BUT THEN THERE'S TALK MORE AND MORE ABOUT END OF LIFE, AND WE HAVE WHOLE COUNTRIES THAT ARE LOOKING AT ELDERLY AND SAYING, WELL, WE'RE NOT SURE HOW W FEEL ABOUT THIS.

MAYBE IF THEY WANT TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT, END THEIR OWN LIFE, THAT SHOULD BE OKAY.

COMPLETELY DISAGREE WITH THAT AND I WOULD MAKE SURE IF WE VOTE ON THAT ISSUE, I WOULD PROTECT LIFE FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE END.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

NICKY, RESPONSE?

>> Hardy: I DO.

LIKE I MENTIONED, I'M FOR PROTECTING ALL KIDS, INCLUDING ONES THAT DON'T FIT NEATLY IN SOMEBODY'S BOX.

I WANT TO GO ON RECORD THAT KIDS IN SPORTS IS A THE NEW HOT BUTTON ISSUE, BEING CATS AND DOGS AND KIDS GOING TO SCHOOL AND COMING HOME A DIFFERENT GENDER AND PEOPLE NEED TO TAKE A BREATH AND THINK DOES THAT MAKE SENSE OR IS IT MADE UP?

LISTENING TO OUR GOVERNMENT, YOU THINK EVERY SKILL HAS ROSTERS FULL OF TRANSGENDER KIDS AND THAT'S NOT THE REALITY, AND SO PEOPLE MISTAKE IT FOR AN ACTUAL CRISIS.

MEAN KYLE IN HOUSE 6B, WE DO HAVE A REAL CRISIS, THE HEALTHCARE CRISIS I MENTIONED EARLIER.

WE NEED TO STOP WITH THE DISTRACTIONS, STOP GIVING IN TO THESE ISSUES AND LET THE KIDS BE KIDS AND FOR THE TO MENTION THAT THE MINUTE HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE HAS ALSO ALLOWED TRANSGENDER KIDS TO COMPETE SINCE BEFORE 2014 BUT THIS HAS ONLY BECOME A THING RECENTLY, SO WHERE WAS THIS SUPPOSED EMERGENCY A DECADE BEFORE THIS BECAME A POLITICAL TALKING POINT.

>> Bethany: JOSH?

>> Heintzeman: YES, THANK YOU.

I THINK MY OPPONENT HAD A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THE ISSUE OF LIFE AND I'M NOT HEARING ANY KIND OF COMMITMENT TO PROTECT THE UNBORN.

I WANT TO GIVE THAT OPPORTUNITY, BUT ALSO RECOMMIT TO PROTECT THE UNBORN, AND IT'S CERTAINLY A SOCIAL ISSUE.

I THINK THAT WAS THE QUESTION, AND THERE'S MAYBE SOME DIFFERENCES AMONGST POLITICIANS, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT I THINK THE PUBLIC KNOWS OUR POSITIONS.

>> Bethany: OKAY.

WITH THAT, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO ONE FINAL QUESTION.

THERE'S NO TIME FOR REBUTTAL WITH THIS ONE.

LARISSA.

>> Larissa: ALL RIGHT, MR.

HEINTZEMAN, WE'LL START WITH YOU.

SOME OF THIS ELECTION'S BIGGEST ISSUES INCLUDE AFFORDABILITY, FRAUD, AND TAX BASIS.

ASIDE FROM THESE, WHAT IS ONE ISSUE YOU WISH YOU COULD TALK ABOUT MORE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL?

>> Heintzeman: FISHING.

I HAPPEN TO SERVE AS -- IT HAS COME UP A NUMBER OF TIMES -- AS THE CO-CHAIR OF THE ENVIRONMENT POLICY FINANCE COMMITTEE, AND A LOT OF THINGS THERE, WE'RE ABLE TO HAVE SOME FUN ON MY COMMITTEE.

WE WORKED ON ISSUES LIKE MAKING BASS AN ALL-SEASON PASTIME OR OPPORTUNITY FOR MINNESOTAN.

WAS PROUD TO WORK ON THAT BILL AND GET THAT PASSED OUT, SIGNED INTO LAW.

ALSO WORKED ON FULLY LEGALIZING CROSSBOWS.

CROSSBOWS HAVE BEEN IN USE IN MINNESOTA FOR SOME TIME NOW LEGALLY, AND I WAS ABLE TO CARRY THAT BILL AND GET THAT BILL DONE SO THAT THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE OUT IN THE WOODS AND WOULD PREFER THE USE OF A CROSSBOW, I'M GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE VICTORY LAP ON THAT.

DOWN THE ROAD, IT WILL BE INTERESTING AND THEN IF PEOPLE WANT TO OFFER FEEDBACK, I'D LOVE TO HEAR HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT TWO LINES, IF THEY ARE, AGAIN, OUT IN THE BOAT AND MIGHT ENJOY THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT, THERE'S BEEN A FEW PROPOSALS SUBMITTED, INCLUDING MY OWN THAT MIGHT ASK YOU TO KICK IN A FEW MORE BUCKS TO WORK ON THINGS LIKE HATCHERIES SO WE CONTINUE TO GROW THE RESOURCE AND HAVE ACCESSIBILITY AND OPPORTUNITY GOING FORWARD, MAYBE LIKE WHAT YOU REMEMBER WHEN GRAND PA TOOK YOU FISHING AND NOT THE MOST RECENT TRIP.

IT DEPENDS ON THE DAY SOMETIMES.

BUT IF WE'RE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT DIDN'T COME UP, I MIGHT LIKE TO SPEND MY TIME WITH THAT.

THERE'S GOING TO BE A ROBUST DISCUSSION, I THINK, IN THE ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE ON ISSUES THAT ARE MORE FUN AND NOT NECESSARILY SUPER CONTROVERSIAL, AND I ALWAYS INVITE PEOPLE TO SHARE THAT WITH ME AND IF THEY HAVE IDEAS THAT MIGHT BE FEASIBLE, LET'S TALK ABOUT IT.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

NICKY.

>> Hardy: I'M SORRY, I'M GOING TO NEED THAT REPEATED ONE MORE TIME, THANK YOU.

>> Larissa: SURE, NO PROBLEM.

SO ASIDE FROM AFFORDABILITY, FRAUD AND TAX BASIS, WHAT IS ONE ISSUE YOU WISH YOU COULD TALK MORE ABOUT ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL?

>> Hardy: ELECTION AND CAMPAIGN REFORM.

MINE ISN'T QUITE AS MUCH FUN AS FISHING, BUT I THINK IT'S ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL.

WE NEED TO FIND WAYS TO GET BIG MONEY OUT OF POLITICS, AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IS HOW OTHER STATES ARE HANDLING THE FOLLOW-UP OF THE CITIZENS UNITED RULING AND THAT INCLUDES MONTANA LEADING THE WAY WITH MONTANA PLAN WHICH WOULD REMOVE CORPORATE AND DARK MONEY FROM ELECTIONS.

I THINK WE CAN DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN MINNESOTA.

ANOTHER THING I'M REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT IS RANKED CHOICE VOTING.

I THINK WE NEED PEOPLE TO HAVE SOMEONE TO VOTE FOR, NOT SOMEONE TO VOTE AGAINST AND I THINK HAVING A RANKED CHOICE VOTING WILL HELP ALLEVIATE SOME OF THOSE ISSUES BECAUSE IT WOULD ALSO SEE THE ELEVATION OF SOME OF OUR MINORS PARTIES INTO A LITTLE BIT MORE SERIOUS POSITION.

SO ALSO, FINDING WAYS TO QUIT THE INFIGHTING.

SO THIS PRIMARY SEASON WAS PARTICULARLY UGLY IN THE DFL AS WELL AS IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

AND FOR THAT, I PROPOSE MOVING THE PRIMARY TO THE END OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN MAY RATHER THAN IN AUGUST.

THAT WAY, WE -- MINNESOTANS DON'T HAVE TO FEEL WITH ALL OF THAT INFIGHTING FOR SUCH A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.

AND ONE MORE THING IS KNOCKING OUT ALL OF THE FUNDS THAT GO TOWARDS THE COMMERCIALS THAT ARE ON TV.

SO THOSE ARE THE INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES.

THAT'S NOT FROM ANY CAMPAIGN, ACTUALLY DONE WITHOUT THE CANDIDATES INPUT, SO IF WE COULD GET RID OF THOSE OUTSIDE EXPENDITURES, I THINK OUR WHOLE POLITICAL SEASON WOULD BE A HAPPIER TIME AND WE'D BE ABLE TO HAVE MORE CONVERSATIONS, SO ELECTION REFORM.

THANK YOU.

>> Bethany: WITH, THAT WE WILL MOVE INTO CLOSING COMMENTS.

SO TWO MINUTES FOR NICKY.

>> Hardy: SO ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU, EVERYBODY, FOR TUNING IN.

I JUST -- THE REASON THAT I AM HERE, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WE DIDN'T GET WAS WHY ARE YOU RUNNING, RIGHT?

AND ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I AM RUNNING IS BECAUSE I REALLY DO WANT TO SEE UNIFIED MINNESOTA.

I THINK WE'VE SPEND TOO MUCH TIME LETTING PARTY LINES AND ISSUES DIVIDE US WHILE THE REALLY CHALLENGES THAT ARE FACING OUR NEIGHBORS KEEP ON GETTING HARDER AND WE CAN DISAGREE WITH POLICY AND STILL RECOGNIZE WE ARE IN ALL OF THIS TOGETHER.

WE CAN ASK TOUGH QUESTIONS AND EXPECT ACCOUNTABILITY.

LOOK AT THE EVIDENCE AND TREAT PEOPLE WITH RESPECT.

THROUGHOUT THERE CAMPAIGN, I DEVELOPED FRIENDSHIPS WITH STRONG REPUBLICANS AND STRONG DEMOCRATS AND EVERYONE IN BETWEEN, AND THAT HAS REINFORCED ISSING THAT I BELIEVE.

A PARTY DOESN'T DEFINE WHETHER OR NOT SOMEBODY IS A GOOD PERSON.

OUR ACTIONS AND OUR WORDS MATTER MORE.

AND I'M NOT GOING TO PRETEND LIKE I KNOW EVERYTHING.

I AM NEW.

I'M NEW TO POLITICS, I'M NEW TO ALL OF THIS, BUT I WILL LISTEN AND ASK QUESTIONS AND DO THE HOMEWORK AND I WILL WORK WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO DO THE SAME.

IN MANY WAYS, I AM ACTUALLY UNIQUELY QUALIFIED FOR THAT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO DO AS SCIENTISTS AS WELL.

I WANT TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO FIND PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS TO THINGS LIKE HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION, AFFORDABILITY IN THE FUTURE OF MINNESOTA.

UNITED WE STAND.

WE ALL HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE DOWN THE WALLS THAT DIVIDE US AND FOCUS ON THE THANKS THAT REALLY MATTER TO OUR FAMILIES, OUR FRIENDS AND OUR NEIGHBORS.

AND I'LL CLOSE THE SAME WAY I STARTED WITH THE WORD OF SENATOR PAUL WELLSTONE.

WE ALL DO BETTER WHEN WE ALL DO BER.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

>> Bethany: THANK YOU.

AND JOSH.

>> Heintzeman: I WANT TO START OUT BY THANKING MY OPPONENT FOR A VERY GOOD DISCUSSION.

I THINK THAT HAVING A RESPECTFUL DEBATE IS FOUNDATIONAL FOR OUR CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC AND THAT YOU GET TO SEE BOTH SIDES.

WE CERTAINLY DISAGREE ON THE ISSUES.

WE SEE THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE VERY DIFFERENTLY, BUT THAT'S OKAY.

AND THAT'S PART OF HOW YOU FORMULATE A CHOICE.

I WOULD ARGUE THAT THERE ARE BIG ISSUES FACING NOT JUST OUR STATE, BUT OUR NATION, AND THERE HAS BEEN A TAKEOVER OF POLITICS, DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM SEEMS TO BE A BIG THEME IN PARTY POLITICS ON THE LEFT TODAY.

AND WHILE WE CAN HAVE A VERY GOOD DISCUSSION, I THINK, HERE TONIGHT, THERE ARE PLACES AROUND THE COUNTRY WHERE THOSE ARE NOT -- THOSE KIPES KINDS OF FOLKS ARE NOW BEING ELECTED AND IT'S NOT JUST AN INDIVIDUAL CANDIDATE, IT'S ABOUT HOW DOES A PARTY RESPOND TO ISSUES AND HOW IS THAT POLICY GOING TO BE ENFORCED AROUND THE STATE.

WE COULD BE LOOKING IN THE COMING WEEKS AT ANOTHER DFL TRIFECTA, AND IN SPITE OF GREAT INTENTIONS, RURAL LEGISLATORS OFTENTIMES ARE THE DECIDING VOTES ON THE ISSUES THAT MATTER TO YOU MOST.

YOU'RE RIGHTS WHEN IT COMES TO GUNS, WHEN IT COMES TO LIFE, WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR TAXES, AFFORDABILITY.

THOSE ARE THE ISSUES THAT ARE ON THE LINE.

UPS NOT JUST A RELATIONSHIP THAT I MIGHT HAVE OR A QUICK CONVERSATION THAT WILL ULTIMATELY GIVE YOU INSIGHT AS TO WHAT IS COMING, BUT THAT IS THE END GOAL OF THAT MOVEMENT TO TAKE AWAY THOSE RIGHTS THAT MATTER MOST TO GREATER MINNESOTA.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

>> Bethany: AND WITH THAT, WE WANT TO THANK YOU OUR CANDIDATES, THANK THE PANELISTS, AND THANK YOU.

IF YOOURD LIKE TO WATCH ANY PORTION OF THIS AGAIN, THIS RECORDING WILL BE POSTED AT THE LAKELAND PBS WEBSITE WITHIN 24 HOURS.

THAT WILL BE AT LPTV.ORG.

THE BRAISHZ DISPATCH WILL QUORGEG OF THESE DEBATES AND OTHERS STORIES.

YOU CAN ALSO VISIT THE BRAINERD LAKES AREA CANDIDACIES AND ELECTION GUIDES AT LAKELANDAREA -- SOME IRE, LAKESAREA.VOTE FOR YOUR NONPARTISAN GUIDE TO THIS ELECTION SEASON.

YOU CAN HEAR THE KAXE NEWS TEAM'S "UP NORTH REPORT" NEWSCAST ON 91.7 GRAND RAPIDS, 90.5 BEMIDJI AND 89.9 IN BRAINERD, OR ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST APP.

AND WITH THAT, WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO PLEASE STICK AROUND.

IN JUST A FEW MINUTES, WE WILL HAVE THE SENATE DISTRICT 5 DEBATE.

THANK YOU ALL FOR WATCHING.

Captioning Provided By AV Captioning www.avcaptioning.com