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Winthrop News • Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2o16 • Page 6
Scott Newman
1] Why are you running
for office?
I have the time. Unfortu-
nately for Minnesota, many
good young legislators cannot
serve because they need to
support their families. I am a
fiscal conservative and be-
lieve that political philosophy
fits well with the people of
this district. I have the per-
sonal passion to serve my
constituents and protect our
democracy.
2) What are the most im-
portant issues facing the State
and how would you address
them?
Health Insurance is most
important issue in the next
session: Rising costs have
now put health insurance out
of reach for many. MNSure is
the culprit. Not a single Re-
publican voted for it while
Dayton and the DFL Senate
refuse to even admit it's a
problem. Every suggestion,
idea and amendment by the
GOP has been rejected out of
hand by Dayton and the De-
mocrat majority in the Sen-
ate. Tax deductions and
credits on health premiums,
HAS accounts, seek a federal
waiver, allow involvement in
MNSure by insurance agents,
allow the purchase of health
insurance approved in other
states, allow private market
involvement and allow the
creation of new groups to
inn
offer insurance to their mem-
bers. These ideas and more
have all been rejected by
those who created this crisis.
Resolution of health care
costs will be up to the voters
by sending legislators to St
Paul who will fix it.
Transportation: South-
west Light Rail (SWLR) from
MPLS to Eden Prairie at
$100M/mile is the keystone.
Resolve it and money for
transportation will follow.
Hearings to determine the
cost of maintenance, opera-
tion, ridership, future subsi-
dies and possible alternatives
to SWLR are the solution. As
the new chairman or existing
minority lead on the Senate
Transportation Committee, I
will insist we hold those hear-
ings. I would continue the
current funding scheme that
consists mainly of a gas tax,
sales tax on vehicle sales and
license tab fees. The state
should increase the amount of
money from the bonding bill
to be used for transportation
funding which in the last
bonding bill was a paltry
4.3% of the total bonding bill.
Existing sales tax on the sale
of car rentals and auto parts
should be redirected to be
spent on transportation. Im-
pose a fee or tax in lieu of the
current gas tax on the increas-
ingly popular electric cars
which use our roads but do
not pay a gas tax.
3) Qualifications.
Education: Bachelor of
Science degree Minnesota
State University. Juris Doctor
degree William Mitchell Col-
lege of Law.
Work experience: Hen-
nepin County Deputy Sheriff,
Legal Department in a large
Metropolitan insurance com-
pany, Felony Public De-
fender, Private practice of law
as a civil trial specialist, Ad-
ministrative Law Judge with
Office of Administrative
Hearings, Representative,
Minnesota House of Repre-
sentatives 2004-2006 and
Senator, Minnesota Senate
2011 to present.
4) What do you hope to
accomplish if elected to of-
rice?
Continue to represent all
residents of Senate District
18 (Sibley, McLeod, Meeker
and part of Wright Counties).
I currently serve on the fol-
lowing committees: Judici-
ary, Bonding, Rules, Finance
and Transportation. Because
almost all legislation eventu-
ally comes through one of
those committees, I am in a
position to review and have
an impact on the outcome of
most legislation.
5) Personal background.
I am from Hutchinson and
currently live in rural
Hutchinson Twp. Married to
Ginny for 42 years, 3 adult
children and six grandchil-
dren.
6) Closing comments.
I cannot emphasize
enough the importance of ad-
dressing the Health insurance
crisis. It is no longer just
about money. People's lives
are being jeopardized because
they are not or cannot seek
the medical care they need.
This situation is an absolute
travesty created by Governor
Dayton and the Legislature.
You have a right to be angry
and a right to expect the next
legislature will fix it.
Amy Wilde
1) Why are you running for
office?
We need a senator who is
familiar with rural needs and
will represent us effectively in
St. Paul. I would use my exten-
sive background in local gov-
ernments and rural health care
delivery to bring greater sus-
tainability to Sibley, McLeod
and Meeker counties.
2) What are the most impor-
tant issues facing the State and
how would you address them?
A) Sustainable funding for
transportation, public education,
local government functions,
public safety and public health.
Our Legislature has not dealt re-
sponsibly with several of these
needs. Revenue should not rely
on cost shifting, gimmicks or
occasional surpluses. Stagnant
formulas and tax policies need
updating. For years the legisla-
ture has kicked the can down
the road on transportation, leav-
ing counties, cities and town-
ships with flat funding that has
not kept pace with inflation.
More revenue is needed to meet
the higher cost of asphalt,
gravel, and concrete. Using
one-time money or borrowing
may fix a few intersections, but
the general formula needs up-
dating to cover basic mainte-
nance. As a county
commissioner for 14 years, I
helped manage a transportation
budget and believe that slight
increases in revenue, such as a
few cents more on the gas tax or
a sales tax on auto inputs, could
jumpstart backlogged projects, agriculture, local business and
Schools are still recovering public safety). Meeker-
from the state withholding McLeod-Sibley Community
money from them to balance its Health Board, 14 years, 3 years
budget several years ago; I as chair. Minnesota RiverArea
pledge not to do that again. We Agency on Aging, current treas-
should adequately fund educa- urer. Pioneerland Regional Li-
tion now that the state's econ- brary System, 16 years, 3 years
omy is better and funds are as chair. PrimeWest Health
available. Local governments, Board of Directors, 12 years.
too, need a sustainable flow to Meeker Memorial Hospital
keep delivering services that the trustee, 8 years. Dassel Area
state requires. About 10 years Chamber of Commerce, former
ago, property taxes rose consid- secretary and festival chair. As-
erably due to state cuts in fund- sociation of Minnesota Coun-
ing it had promised to cities and ties Health Policy Committee
counties. Fully restoring that chair, 3 years
money would help keep prop- 4) What do you hope to ac-
erty levies down. complish if elected to off~ce?
B) The cost of health care A) Developing more sus-
has been out of control for tainable funding streams for
decades. The Affordable Care rural schools, cities, counties
Act and MnSure, while helping and transportation
thousands of uninsured Min- B) Strengthening rural
nesotans obtain coverage, did health care delivery, more corn-
not deal adequately with major munity-based care for our
cost drivers, such as phanna- growing number of senior citi-
ceuticals, greedy corporate zens, and leveling off the med-
medicine culture, and the non- ical cost drivers
competitive impact of clinic C) Every resident of District
mergers and takeovers. Those 18 having access to affordable
issues could be addressed by al- high-speed Internet.
lowing states and public health 5) Personal background.
plans to negotiate better prices Small business owner with
and through more nimble man- husband, Robert (Wilde Stu-
aged care using Best Practices. dios). Community reporter for
As a former county hospital three District 18newspapers, 16
trustee and as a founder of years (covered school boards,
PrimeWest Health, one of Min- city councils, agriculture, local
nesota's unique rural county- business and public safety).
owned health plans, I am in a Former administrative support
good position to help redesign at Meeker-Wright Special Edu-
the system and apply for cation Co-operativeandDassel
waivers to bring more efficient History Center. Volunteer
care to our citizens, driver, Meeker Council on
C) Rural economic devel- Aging. Longtime deacon, Lake
opment. As a small business Jennie Covenant Church, rural
owner, community journalist Dassel. Pro-life
and former chamber of corn- Endorsed by Dist. 18 DFL,
merce officer, I understand the Education Minnesota, AF-
need for access to affordable SCME Local 5, Minnesota
high-speed Internet. Sibley Nurses Association, Teamsters
County is starting to make Drive, MN Farmers Union
progress, but more needs to be PAC. Resident of District 18
done to get everyone on board, since 1972. Four adult children;
3) Qualifications. six grandchildren
Meeker County Commis- 6) Closing comments.
sioner, 1997-2010. Community Rural values of caring for
reporter for three District 18 our neighbors, hard work and
newspapers, 16 years (covered responsible budgeting need to
school boards, city councils, be brought to the state capitol.
Glenn Gruenhagen
Why are you running for
office?
I have a strong desire and
commitment to support legis-
lation that improves the lives
and economic opportunities
for the people and children of
our rural district. My top pri-
orities include the following:
• Provide funding to up-
grade our roads and bridges,
especially completing Hwy.
212 to 4 lanes and upgrade
highway 14.
• Provide property tax re-
lief for small businesses,
farms and citizens, including
an expanded childcare tax
credit for working families.
• Repeal MNsure (which
has wasted over $400 mil-
lion) and pass healthcare re-
form that will decrease
premiums and increase access
for patients.
• Provide equal funding
for rural school districts.
• Oppose DFL efforts to
force unionization of child-
care providers, which would
take tax subsidies that benefit
low income families to pay
union dues to union bosses
thereby increasing the cost of
daycare and reducing the
number of daycare providers
for low income families.
Personal Background:
I have been married to
Emily for 41 years. We have
3 children and 5 grandchil-
dren.
I was raised on a dairy
farm in rural Glencoe. I'm
also a veteran of the United
States Marine Corps. I'm a
small business owner of Gru-
enhagen Insurance and Finan-
cial Services and have 38
years of experience in private
business, health insurance
and financial planning. I hold
degrees as a Chartered Finan-
cial Consultant and a Char-
tered Life Underwriter.
I participated in prison
ministry for 13 years. I am
also a member of the Rotary
club and the American Le-
gion.
I was elected to the Glen-
coe Silver Lake school board
for four terms, serving for 16
years. In 2010 I was elected
to serve in the Minnesota
House of Representatives. I
am running for my 4th term.
These life experiences
have given me strong roots
and convictions in regards to
the value of our rural commu-
nities and farms. It has also
provided me with the under-
standing and experience to
address the critical issues fac-
ing our state.
Qualifications:
In addition to my personal
background and life experi-
ence, I am honored to have
received the following en-
dorsements for this election:
The National Federation of
Independent Business, Min-
nesota Citizens Concerned
for Life, The National Rifle
Association, Minnesota Farm
Bureau, Long-Term Care
Providers, and Minnesota
Gun Owners.
In addition, the Taxpayers
League of Minnesota has
listed me as a "Lifetime Best
Friend of the Taxpayer", an
award based on my past vot-
ing record.
These endorsements
demonstrate my commitment
to support legislation that im-
proves the lives and eco-
nomic opportunities for the
people and children of our
rural district. I will promote
solutions that work and op-
pose legislation that damages
people's lives and constitu-
tional rights.
What do you hope to ac-
complish if elected to Office:
In addition to those prior-
ities mentioned above. We
also need to reform Min-
nesota's prevailing wage law,
which is one of the four high-
est in the nation, according to
the Minnesota Chamber of
Commerce. This law artifi-
cially inflates the cost to
build and repair schools,
roads, bridges, and city and
county projects. This has a
dramatic effect on higher
taxes especially local and
farm property taxes:
To illustrate, according
to a former county commis-
sioner, a county construction
project in our district cost
$2.5 million with prevailing
wage. If built without prevail-
ing wage it would have cost
$1.7 million, an $800 thou-
sand savings to the taxpayer
on this project alone. Multi-
ply that across the state and it
cost taxpayers $10's of mil-
lions in higher costs per year,
much of it levied on local
property taxes. The majority
of DFL legislators and the
Governor oppose any and all
reforms to lower the prevail-
ing wage, especially hurting
the citizens of rural Min-
nesota. Lowering Min-
nesota's prevailing wage
would free up millions of ex-
isting tax dollars for other
necessary construction proj-
ects such as schools, roads
and bridges, without raising
taxes.
Closing Comments:
Thank you for the honor
of being able to represent this
district for the past 6 years. I
have always tried to respond
to the needs of my con-
stituents regardless of party
affiliation. It has been my
privilege to help several DFL
activists in my district to re-
solve concerns for their busi-
ness and private property.
My goal is to treat all con-
stituents with respect and an
open door policy. We may not
always agree but I am always
willing to learn and listen re-
spectfully to those who dis-
agree with me. If all of us
demonstrate this attitude in
our lives our district can be-
come an example for political
discourse in our state.
With your support I hope
to represent you again at the
Capitol and stand for those
principles that have made our
district and state a great place
to live and work and raise our
children.
Darrel Mosel
1) Why are you running for
office?
Many of the people I've
talked to over the years are
frustrated with the extreme par-
tisan positions that our current
representatives take. Since I
served in the legislature 25
years ago, I was asked if I
would run for the legislature
again. I've accepted the chal-
lenge and look forward to serv-
ing our district. I want to
represent our district in a more
reasonable manner and look for
ways to find common ground
in order to avoid the political
gridlock that now seems to
dominate.
2) What are the most im-
portant issues facing the State
and how would you address
them?
Healthcare: I feel Gover-
nor Dayton needs to call a spe-
cial session as soon as possible
to deal with the sharp increase
in costs of health insurance for
individuals. Every Minnesotan
must have access to affordable
health care. I want to work to
find solutions for lowering the
cost of healthcare, healthcare
insurance, prescriptions and
long term care. I want to find
solutions to make MNsure (the
computer exchange system)
more user friendly.
Transportation: Currently,
the state of Minnesota trans-
portation needs are running
about $800 million short. As a
farmer, I know the importance
of good quality roads. I will
work to find a sustainable solu-
tion for funding our transporta-
tion systems. Governor Dayton
is asking for a gas tax increase
to provide funding for trans-
p0rtation. This is a dedicated
fund that can only be used for
transportation needs. Cur- complish if elected to office?
rently, surveys have shown that I would like to serve on the
rural Minnesotans overwhelm- Transportation, Education,
ingly favor improving our Health Care, Agriculture and
transportation system and are Environment Committees. I
supportive of raising the rev- want to work aggressively to
enue to do it. Over the years, address the inadequacy of
the gas tax has not been in- transportation funding and
creased yet the mileage that our work to provide more equitable
cars get has improved greatly, funding for our schools. I want
In effect, most of us are paying to address inadequate access to
a lower gas tax today than we mental health treatment. As a
did in the past and yet the need farmer, I understand the issues
for improved roads continues, surrounding water quality and
When elected, I will listen to Agriculture, I will provide a
my constituents to try and de- reasonable voice as the state
cide what is the best means for works to resolve these issues.
dealing with our transportation 5) Personal background.
needs. Born September 15, 1955
Other issues that I'm con- in Madelia, MN. Married 36
cemed about are public safety, years to Diane Bias-Mosel.
equitable education funding, Two adult sons, Christopher
environmental stewardship, and Michael. Graduate of
agricultural economy, small Augsburg College--BA Eco-
business, tax reform, good jobs nomics. Occupation--crop and
and economic development, dairy farmer, Dryden Town-
3) Qualifications. ship, 1981 -present. State Rep-
As a farmer and business resentative 23B for Sibley,
owner for 36 years, I have a McLeod, Nicollet, Blue Earth
good understanding of the and Brown Counties, 1992-
needs of rural Minnesota. Hav- 1994
ing served in the state legisla- 6) Closing comments.
ture, I've gained the experience I am committed to working
needed to serve this area. I was in the legislature to find com-
a member of the Agriculture mon ground on the important
Committee, Government Oper- issues facing the state of Min-
ations, Economic Development nesota. The actions that the
and Infrastructure committee legislature has taken over the
and the Transportation Finance past years have cost the citizens
committee at the state legisla- of Sibley and McLeod counties
ture. I currently serve on the unnecessary burdens because
Sibley County Planning and of the inability of the legislature
Zoning Board, the Sibleyto do its work. Delaying action
County Variance Board, Min- on these issues, because of par-
nesota Department of Agricul- tisan gridlock, costs all of us
ture Advisory Board, Land taxpayers more in the long run.
Stewardship Project, Federal One of my strong points would
Farm Policy Committee. I've be to effectively serve the peo-
also served on the Sibley pie who don't always agree
County Extension Committee, with me. I consider myself a
Sioux Trails Mental Health good listener and l would work
Board, Regional Environmen- hard to see another person's
tal Education Board. I've also view. We would discuss the
been a Youth in Government facts and ideas they have so
advisor. I'm currently a mem- they can be assured their views
ber of the Gaylord Service to are heard and their ideas are
Mankind club. I've received part of the solution. My 36
the Service to Mankind of the years as a farmer owning and
Year Award and also the Dis- operating a business helps me
trict Service to Mankindunderstand the need for good
Award. I'm currently a member quality government. My serv-
of the United Church of Christ ing on various boards and tom-
in Gaylord where I've served as mittees gives me considerable
council president, church treas- experience for serving in the
urer, congregational care and Minnesota legislature, but my
outreach committee, pastor best asset is that I like to listen
parish relations committee and to people's ideas and fred com-
confirmation mentor, mon ground.
4) What do you hope to ac-
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