>> WELCOME TO "MEET THE CANDIDATES".

LOCAL ELECTION FORUM FROM PIONEER PBS.

THIS SEASON WE ASK EVERY CANDIDATE THE SAME LIST OF QUESTIONS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT TYPE OF LEGISLATOR THEY WILL BE IF ELECTED.

IN THIS EPISODE WE WILL MEET CANDIDATES FROM HOUSE DISTRICT 15A.

DISTRICT LINES HAVE CHANGED SINCE THE 2020 CENSUS.

DISTRICT 15A IS MADE UP OF YELLOW MEDICINE AND LYON COUNTIES.

MAJOR CITIES INCLUDE MARCH SHE WILL AND CANBY.

WE WILL START WITH DFL CANDIDATE KEITH VANOVERBEKE.

>> I'M KEITH VANOVERBEKE.

I'M RUNNING FOR DISTRICT 15A HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SEAT UP TO ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 8th.

I WAS BORN IN TRACY, MINNESOTA IN 1953 AND GREW UP ON A FARM AND ATTENDED HIGH SCHOOL THERE.

IN 1971 AFTER I GRADUATED I WENT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA AT MORSE AND I HAVE A POLITICAL SCIENCE DEGREE WHICH I ENDED UP USING IN UNINTENDED WAYS AS A RAILROAD TRACK MAINTENANCE WORKER FOR THE BURLINGTON NORTHERN SANTA FE.

I WORKED FOR PARTS OF 41 YEARS TO ACCUMULATE 30 YEARS OF SERVICE.

SO THERE WAS A LOT OF LAYOFFS IN THE '80s AND THAT.

IT WAS DIFFICULT BUT MEANINGFUL USEFUL WORK.

I MET VERY LONG DOWN TO EARTH PEOPLE, AND I BELIEVE THAT WE DID OUR PART TO CONTRIBUTE TO OUR AREA.

THE REASON THAT I WOULD WANT TO RUN AND BECOME YOUR REPRESENTATIVE IS THAT I TRULY BELIEVE THAT THE FUNCTIONS THAT ARE BEFORE MY GOVERNMENT ON OUR BEHALF ARE NECESSARY AND NEEDED IN OUR SOCIETY.

FOR TOO LONG WE HAVE BEEN LED TO BELIEVE THAT IF WE CAN SCAPEGOAT EVERYTHING ON TO POLITICIANS AND THE GOVERNMENT WHEN ACTUALLY WE NEED AN EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT THAT WORKS FOR THE INTERESTS OF ALL OF US.

I AM A WORKING CLASS PERSON.

I UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS TO HAVE DIFFICULTIES IN LIFE ECONOMICALLY, AND I KNOW THAT WE NEED TO MAKE A SYSTEM THAT WORKS BETTER FOR ALL OF US.

I HAD MANY LAYOFFS OVER THE YEARS DUE TO THE FACT THAT HEALTHCARE WAS EXPENSIVE AND MY EMPLOYER DIDN'T WANT TO PAY THE PREMIUMS.

WITH ALL THIS IN MIND, THAT IS WHY I WANT TO RUN.

I BELIEVE I AM ONE OF THE PEOPLE AND THAT I CAN REPRESENT YOU AS ONE OF THE PEOPLE.

THANK YOU.

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

>> I WANT TO REPRESENT DISTRICT 15A BECAUSE I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT HAVING BEEN BORN IN THIS DISTRICT AND LIVED IN THIS DISTRICT THROUGHOUT MY LIFE I UNDERSTAND THE NATURE OF THIS DISTRICT AND OUR BASIC NEEDS.

WE NEED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

WE NEED AFFORDABLE ACCESSIBLE HEALTHCARE.

WE NEED GOOD EDUCATION FOR OUR YOUNGSTERS.

WE NEED A SYSTEM OF PUBLIC WORKS, HIGHWAYS, BRIDGES, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND WE NEED ALL OF THESE THINGS.

GOVERNMENT IS THE MEDIUM WHERE THESE THINGS ARE PROVIDED FOR OUR SOCIETY.

THIS HAT SHOWS A LOCOMOTIVE ON TWO PARALLEL RAILS.

THE THING IS EVERYTHING HAS BECOME TOO PARTISAN.

WE NEED TO REALIZE THAT WE ARE TIED TOGETHER AS A SOCIETY WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER.

WE NEED TO FIND "COMMON GROUND".

WE NEED TO REALIZE THE OPPOSITE PARTY IS NOT THE ENEMY.

THE OPPOSITE PARTY IS OUR FELLOW CITIZENS.

I WANT TO MAKE GOVERNMENT WORK.

I WANT TO MAKE THE REPRESENTATION BE MORE OF ALL THE PEOPLE, NOT JUST SOME PARTICULAR SPECIALIZED INTEREST WHERE MONEY INFLUENCES EVERY DECISION.

MONEY MATTERS BUT IT MATTERS TO ALL OF US, AND WE ALL NEED A WAY TO CLIMB UP AND IMPROVE OUR LIVES AND GOVERNMENT CAN SERVE THAT PURPOSE.

I DON'T SEE THE PRIVATE SECTOR DOING IT FOR US.

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

>> THE NEXT SESSION THAT WE ENTER INTO IN STATE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO ACTUALLY GET SOMETHING DONE.

VERY LITTLE WAS ACCOMPLISHED IN THE LAST SESSION.

WE NEED TO QUIT PUSHING EVERYTHING DOWN TO THE END OF THE SESSION IN A HUGE OMNIBUS BILL.

WE NEED TO QUIT MAKING DEALS WITH EACH OTHER AND THEN RENEGING ON THOSE DEALS.

FOR INSTANCE, OUR DISTRICT HEAVILY RELIES ON AGRICULTURE.

THE STATE LEGISLATURE LAST YEAR MANAGED AT THE TAIL END TO FINALLY GET A BILL IN FRONT OF THE GOVERNOR THAT HE WAS VERY WILLING TO SIGN.

FINALLY PUT INTO A BILL, AND IF YOU FIGURE OUT THE ORIGINAL BUDGET WAS IN EXCESS OF 52 BILLION THAT WAS PROPOSED, SOMETHING LIKE POINT 15 PERCENT OF TOTAL BUDGETARY MONEY WAS SPENT ON AGRICULTURAL INTEREST.

I REALIZE FARMS ARE GETTING BIGGER AND THERE'S GREATER INVESTMENT.

BUT HAVING SAID THAT, FOR A DISTRICT THAT SO HEAVILY RELIANT ON AGRICULTURE, FOR ONLY THIS LITTLE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO BE SPENT SO ALL YOU CAN DO IS PAY THE SALARIES OF THE PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR THE AG DEPARTMENT, YOU HAVE PURPOSELY MADE THE SYSTEM FAIL BY NOT PROVIDING THE FUEL THAT THE ENGINE NEEDS.

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

>> THE PERSPECTIVE THAT IS UNIQUE TO ME IS MY BACKGROUND.

I REALLY AM A BLUE COLLAR WORKING PERSON.

I STRUGGLED AND WORKED HARD ALL MY LIFE.

I TRAVELED FAR AND WIDE TO KEEP A JOB.

I DIDN'T WHINE AND COMPLAIN.

I WNT TO WORK EVERY DAY AND DID WHAT I COULD TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.

SO TO TAKE MY HAT OFF AND BE IN GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO BE THE SAME THING.

I'M GOING TO SHOW UP.

I'M GOING TO WORK HARD TO LEARN, AND I'M GOING TO BE INVOLVED IN HEARINGS AND IN DISCUSSIONS WITH ALL THE MEMBERS THAT I MEET, ACROSS THE AISLE, TOO.

THERE'S LOTS OF GOOD IDEAS.

THERE'S LOTS OF INTELLIGENT PEOPLE.

IN FACT I KNOW QUITE A FEW FELLOW DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES THAT ARE RUNNING IN THIS AREA.

CAREY FERNANDO AND TOM KUSTER AND ANITA FROM MARSHALL, AND I KNOW THERE'S ENOUGH ABILITY FROM THE LEGISLATURE IF WE ONLY HAVE THE WILL TO WORK TOGETHER IN GOOD FAITH.

WE CAN DISCUSS AND WE CAN DISAGREE BUT AT TIMES WE WILL NEED TO COMPROMISE AND MEET ARE EACH OTHER HALFWAY TO GET THE WORK OF THE PEOPLE DONE.

GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO FUNCTION.

IT IS NOT A FRILL.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S ESSENTIAL TO CREATING THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND MAINTAINING THE SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE TO KEEP OUR STATE ALIVE AND MAKE IT MORE VIBRANT.

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

>> MY VISION FOR OUR STATE'S FUTURE IS TO GET US BACK ON TRACK AND TO GET US TO BE MAINTAINING WHAT WE DO HAVE AND TO BE IMPROVING WHAT WE CAN IMPROVE OVER TIME BY INVESTING INTO OUR STATE IN A TIMELY MANNER.

WHEN WE KEEP KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD THINGS ONLY BECOME MORE COSTLY, THINGS ONLY BECOME MORE DILAPIDATED.

WE ONLY FALL FURTHER BEHIND.

WE ARE IN A COMPETITIVE SITUATION ECONOMICALLY.

WE NEED AN EDUCATED PUBLIC.

WE NEED TO HAVE MORE OPTIONS FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE IN COMMUNITY COLLEGES, IN VARIOUS TRAINING FOR MODERN DAY ECONOMIES.

THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT THE STATE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO BE INVOLVED IN AND WE NEED TO REALIZE THAT BY NOT DOING SO, WE ARE FALLING FURTHER BEHIND.

WE NEED TO DO MORE FOR OUR HEALTHCARE.

WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO KEEP PEOPLE AS THEY AGE IN THEIR HOMES BETTER.

WE NEED TO MAKE HEALTHCARE MORE READILY AVAILABLE TO MORE PEOPLE.

WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO TRY TO KEEP COSTS IN LINE BUT ALSO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR THESE NEEDED PUBLIC EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE.

THESE ARE NOT OPTIONAL THINGS FOR HUMAN BEINGS.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE IN A MUCH BETTER WAY IF WE JUST WORK ACROSS PARTISAN AISLES AND IF WE JUST MAKE UP OUR MINDS TOGETHER TO UTILIZE THE BEST IDEAS THAT COME FORWARD.

SO THAT'S MY VISION FROM MINNESOTA, AND MY PURPOSE FOR RUNNING FOR YOUR STATE DISTRICT 15A HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PERSON.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> AND NOW A CLOSING STATEMENT.

>> WHEN I CLOSE THIS SESSION TODAY, I WANT PEOPLE TO REALIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS ELECTION.

THE PRIMARY REASON THAT I AM RUNNING IS THAT WE NEED COMPETITION OF IDEAS.

WE NEED MORE THAN JUST ONE PARTY.

FOR TOO LONG PEOPLE IN THIS AREA HAVE FELT OBLIGATED TO VOTE FOR ONE PARTY.

ONE PARTY DOES NOT HAVE THE ALMIGHTY IN THE HIP POCKET.

ONE PARTY DOES NOT HAVE ALL THE MORAL SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS NECESSARY TO DO EVERYTHING RIGHT.

PEOPLE NEED TO REALIZE THAT WE ARE IN SERIOUS TIMES.

WE NEED A STATE GOVERNMENT WHERE WE HAVE A SITUATION WHERE SANITY PREVAILS, WHERE HUMAN RIGHTS PREVAIL, WHERE CHOICE PREVAILS.

WE HAVE SEEN WHAT HAPPENED AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL.

IT OUGHT TO CONCERN ALL OF US THAT OUR GOVERNMENT IS NOT FUNCTIONING AS A GOVERNMENT OF, FOR AND BY THE PEOPLE.

IT NEEDS TO GET BACK TO THAT.

WE NEED TO TAKE OUR TIME THAT WE LIVE IN AND THE SITUATIONS THAT WE ARE IN SERIOUSLY.

WE NEED TO BE LESS ANGRY.

WE DON'T NEED HATRED, ANIMOSITY.

WE NEED COOPERATION.

WE COULD EVEN USE A LITTLE MORE KINDNESS, BUT MOST OF ALL, IN OUR GOVERNMENT, WE NEED REAL THOUGHTFULNESS AND REAL ENGAGEMENT.

YOU FOLKS NEED A REPRESENTATIVE THAT'S GOING TO SHOW UP AND PARTICIPATE AND IS GOING TO VOTE FOR YOU.

SO IN RETURN, I'M ASKING YOU TO VOTE FOR ME AND OUR FELLOW DEMOCRATIC DFL CANDIDATES ON NOVEMBER 8th, IF NOT BEFORE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME VERY MUCH.

>> YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT KEITH VANOVERBEKE BY CONTACTING YOUR LOCAL DFL OFFICE.

NEXT THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE, CHRIS SWEDZINSKI.

>> HI.

MY NAME IS CHRIS SWEDZINSKI.

IT'S AN HONOR TO REPRESENT YOU IN-HOUSE DISTRICT 16A WITH REDISTRICTING.

DISTRICTS HAVE CHANGED A LITTLE BIT, DOUBLE-CHECK YOUR LINES AND WHERE YOU LIVE, AND YOU MAY OR MAY NOT BE IN THE PARTICULAR DISTRICT ANYMORE.

THE NEW DISTRICT I'M RUNNING IS IS HOW DISTRICT 15A.

I FARM WITH MY WIFE JESSICA.

WE RAISE CORN AND BEANS AND HAVE GOT 5 YOUNG KIDS.

IT'S A GREAT HONOR TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA AT OUR STATE'S CAPITOL.

A LOT OF OUR GOALS AND FOCUS HAS BEEN OVER THE YEARS MAKING SURE WE HAVE STRONG COMMUNITIES IN RURAL MINNESOTA, GOOD JOBS AND STRONG FAMILIES.

LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATION WE HAVE TONIGHT.

I WANT TO THANK ALL THE FOLKS FROM PIONEER LAND FOR TAKING A BIT OF YOUR TIME OUT OF YOUR DAY TO LEARN AND "MEET THE CANDIDATES" AND JUST TO GET BETTER INFORMED ABOUT THE ELECTIONS PROCESS.

AND LOOK FORWARD TO ANSWERING QUESTIONS TONIGHT.

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

>> YOU KNOW, THAT'S A REALLY GREAT QUESTION.

YOU KNOW, SERVING THE LEGISLATURE AT TIMES CAN BE VERY DIFFICULT AND STRESSFUL AND FRUSTRATING AT TIMES.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, I PRAY ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT I SHOULD RUN AGAIN.

I THOUGHT TO MYSELF WHY AM I RUNNING FOR THE STATE LEGISLATURE AGAIN.

IT'S BECAUSE I LOVE THIS STATE.

WE HAVE, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, MY WIFE AND I HAVE 5 KIDS.

WE REALLY WANT TO JUST MAKE SURE THE STATE IS THE BEST STATE IT CAN BE.

YOU KNOW, BEING FRIENDLY TO BUSINESS, FRIENDLY TO FAMILIES AND FRIENDLY TO THE FREEDOMS WE ALL ENJOY.

PRO SECOND AMENDMENT, AND I'M PRO BUSINESS.

I'M PRO SMALL TOWN.

SERVING, HAVING THOSE VOICES AT THE CAPITOL, AND I'M A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER AS WELL.

HAVING AGRICULTURE AND BUSINESS AS PART OF MY LIFE IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THOSE VOICES HEARD AT OUR CAPITOL.

FOR FOLKS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S LIKE TO COMPETE IN RURAL MINNESOTA.

A LOT OF FOLKS SAY WHY -- WE DON'T COMPETE WITH CHINA.

WE DON'T ALWAYS COMPETE WITH CHINA OR PHILIPPINES OR WHEREVER WE GET CHEAP THINGS BUILT.

BUT WE COMPETE WITH WATERTOWN, SOUTH DAKOTA, BROOKINGS, SIOUX FALLS TO KEEP THOSE YOUNG MINDS AND YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILIES LIVING STRONG AND GROWING HERE IN SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA.

THAT'S WHY I'M RUNNING.

I JUST WANT TO BE A STRONG VOICE FOR OUR RURAL VALUES AT OUR STATE'S CAPITAL.

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

>> WELL, WE HAVE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

YOU KNOW, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE DO OUT OF THE GATE IS THE -- GET RID OF THE TAX ON SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS.

WE ARE ONE OF JUST A FEW STATES THAT CONTINUE TO TAX OUR ELDERLY, FOLKS RECEIVING SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS IN MINNESOTA.

I WANT TO CHANGE THAT.

I FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO GET PEOPLE HERE.

WE HAVE A SHORTAGE OF WORKERS AND FOLKS THAT MAY BE RETIRED THAT MAYBE AFTER RETIREMENT MOVED TO ARIZONA OR FLORIDA OR OTHER STATES WHERE THEY DON'T TAX BENEFITS OR RETIREMENT TO GET THEM JUST TO STAY.

WE HAVE A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE THAT IF WE CAN KEEP PEOPLE HERE, THEY MAY NEED HELP AT THE SCHOOL, HAVING THOSE PEOPLE STAY IN MINNESOTA RATHER THAN GO TO SOME OTHER STATE WILL BENEFIT ALL OF US, YOUNG AND THE OLD, AND GOVERNMENT REGULATION, AND I HEAR OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN ABOUT BUSINESSES AND FAMILIES AND SMALL CITIES THAT HAVE EXCEPTIONAL COSTS.

A LOT OF THE SMALL CITIES ARE HAVING TO UPGRADE SEWER SYSTEMS OR WATER TREATMENT PLANTS BECAUSE OF RULE MAKING THROUGH THE MPCA OR THE DNR.

IT COSTS A LOT OF MONEY.

THE FRUSTRATION I HEAR OVER AND OVER AGAIN WITH GOVERNOR WALZ AND HIS CALIFORNIA CAR MANDATES WHERE HE'S MANDATING THAT WE FOLLOW THE RULES THAT ARE CREATED BY BUREAUCRATS OVER 5,000 MILES AWAY AND SAY THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR US.

MINNESOTANS ARE BETTER THAN THAT, AND WE CAN MAKE OUR OWN DECISION AND FORGE OUR OWN FUTURE.

IT DOESN'T JUST BOW DOWN TO BIG EXTREMISTS IN CALIFORNIA AND FOLKS THAT ARE GOING TO STAND UP FOR MINNESOTA VALUES AND OUR RURAL WAY OF LIFE?

WHAT UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE DO YOU BRING TO THE MINNESOTA?

>> PROBABLY ONE OF A HANDFUL OF FARMERS IN THE LEGISLATURE.

SO, YOU KNOW, AGRICULTURE AND AGRI BUSINESS IS THE STRONG BACKBONE OF OUR ECONOMY.

RAISING THE FOOD, RAISING THE PROTEINS THAT WE NEED NOT ONLY HERE IN SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA BUT ACROSS THE GLOBE.

MAINTAINING THOSE JOBS AND MAINTAINING THOSE INDUSTRIES AND GROWING THOSE PERSPECTIVES AND HELP EDUCATING FOLKS FROM THE CITIES THAT MAYBE ARE A GENERATION OR TWO REMOVED FROM THE FARM REALLY HELP ENGAGE THOSE ISSUES, AND SO, YOU KNOW, WHETHER YOU ARE A MEMBER OF FARM BUREAU OR FARM UNION, WE ALL PLAY A PART OF THAT WHEN IT COMES TO AGRICULTURE AND HAVING STRONG LEADERSHIP AT THE LEGISLATIVE LEVEL IN AGRICULTURE THAT MAKE THEIR LIVING FROM AGRICULTURE BRINGS A STRONG HAND TO THAT WHEN WE HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHERS FROM ACROSS PARTS OF THE STATE.

I TRAVEL QUITE A BIT.

THERE'S A WELDING BUSINESS THAT I HAVE.

SO BRINGING THOSE CONVERSATIONS THAT I HAVE, FRUSTRATIONS PEOPLE HAVE, ISSUES THAT THEY ARE DEALING WITH ACROSS THE STATE, ACROSS THE COUNTRY IS IMPORTANT TO BRING TO THE CAPITOL.

HAVING THAT REALLY UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE OF BUSINESS AND FARMING AND JUST, YOU KNOW, OUR RURAL WAY OF LIFE, I THINK, BRINGS A STRONG ASPECT TO THE CAPITOL.

I HAVE ALWAYS SAID IF YOU CAN'T HAVE COFFEE WITH SOMEONE, YOU PROBABLY CAN'T PASS LEGISLATION.

ALWAYS WILLING TO HAVE MAYBE A CUP OF COFFEE AND A ROLE ONCE IN A WHILE, TOO, WITH PEOPLE.

THANKS.

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

>> WOW.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

YOU KNOW, A VISION OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA IS REALLY, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE ARE, WHERE WE HAVE BEEN, AND WHERE WE ARE GOING TO GO.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE AS A STATE, WE HAVE TO BE COMPETITIVE.

MY VISION OF THE STATE IS THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE A COMPETITIVE PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO COME AND MOVE.

WE HAVE SEEN A GREAT MIGRATION, PROBABLY THE GREATEST MIGRATION OF PEOPLE IN THE LAST 100 YEARS OF PEOPLE LEAVING PLACES LAKE CALIFORNIA, LEAVING PLACES WHERE THEY ARE SEEING THEIR FREEDOMS BEING STRIPPED AWAY AND OVEREAGER AND GOVERNMENT GROWTH REALLY FRUSTRATING PEOPLE.

WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF MOVEMENT INTO IDAHO AND WYOMING AND SOUTH DAKOTA WHERE FOLKS ARE MOVING AND TAKING THOSE JOBS FROM A DIGITAL PERSPECTIVE WHERE THEY CAN WORK REMOTELY AND PLANTING THEIR LIVES IN A MORE CALM SETTING THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORK A 9:00 TO 5:00 AND DRIVE AN HOUR EACH WAY TO WORK.

THEY CAN COME AND RAISE THEIR FAMILIES ON A SMALL PIECE OF LAND, HAVE A COUPLE CHICKENS.

THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF FUTURES WE NEED TO DO.

WE NEED TO INVEST IN WAYS, SO BROADBAND AND THE REST, SO WE CAN ATTRACT THE YOUNG PEOPLE, YOUNG FAMILIES WITH UNIQUE BUSINESSES AND SKILL SETS SO THEY CAN LIVE HERE IN RURAL MINNESOTA AND BE COMPETITIVE.

LET'S SAY WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE GREEN REVOLUTION THAT WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT.

THE AMOUNT OF COPPER THAT WE ARE GOING TO NEED, THAT WE HAVE, THAT WE MAINED IN THE LAST 500 YEARS, IF WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE REVOLUTION, WE WILL HAVE TO MINE THE SAME AMOUNT IN THE NEXT 25.

WE HAVE TO HAVE A NATION THAT'S WISE AND SMART, WHETHER IT'S COPPER AND NICKEL MINING PUSHING THE LIMITS ON ANIMAL AGRICULTURE, ALL ACROSS THE BOARD.

SEE WHAT'S GOING ON IN EUROPE WHERE THEY ARE HAVING HUGE ENERGY ISSUES WITH THE RENEWABLE PROGRAMS THAT WE PUSHED FORWARD.

THEY RELIED HEAVILY ON DICTATORS IN RUSSIA, AND WE NEED TO BE SELF SUSTAINING AND DEVELOP THE NATURAL RESOURCES HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, HERE IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA SO THEY ARE NOT RELIANT ON FOREIGN DICTATORS ACROSS THE GLOBE.

THOSE ARE THE FUTURES THAT WE WANT TO LEAVE, AND RESPONSIBLE SPENDING AS WELL.

WE HAVE GOT A STATE IN MINNESOTA THAT SPENDS A LOT OF MONEY.

WE HAVE GROWN EXPEDIENTIALLY.

THE STATE OF MINNESOTA POTENTIALLY CAN GROW UP TO 10% EVERY TWO YEARS.

I DON'T THINK PEOPLE'S BUDGETS GROW THAT MUCH.

WE NEED TO GET SPENDING UNDER CONTROL, BE MORE FAMILY FRIENDLY, BUSINESS FRIENDLY AND KEEP OUR SMALL RURAL COMMUNITIES VIBRANT BY MAKING INVESTMENTS THAT WE NEED.

>> NOW, A CLOSING STATEMENT.

>> THANK YOU AGAIN FOR TUNING IN TONIGHT, AND WE JUST APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO IN RURAL MINNESOTA.

THE FAMILIES YOU RAISE AND THE GRANDCHILDREN YOU HAVE AND THE KIDS YOU HAVE, MY GOAL AS A STATE LEGISLATOR IS JUST TO REPRESENT YOU WELL.

WE MAY NOT ALWAYS AGREE, BUT I WOULD RECOMMEND, WHETHER YOU ARE A DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN OR INDEPENDENT, DO THE RESEARCH, LOOK AT THE CANDIDATES AND MAKE THE BEST DECISION.

I WOULD ASK FOR YOUR VOTE.

THANK YOU.

>> YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ONLINE ABOUT CHRIS SWEDZINSKI AT HIS WEBSITE CHRISSWED.COM.

LEARN MORE ABOUT VOTING, HOW TO REGISTER AND WHAT DISTRICT YOU LIVE IN BY VISITING THE MINNESOTA SECRETARY OF STATE WEBSITE AT MN VOTES.ORG.

REMEMBER, ELECTION DAY IS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8th.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING "MEET THE CANDIDATES" ON PIONEER PBS.