hello and welcome to wdsc's Forum in the Northland with the candidates running for Minnesota State Senate District 3.

I'm Heidi Holton I'm news director at kexe and National Public Radio affiliate in northern Minnesota Senate District 3 is the largest in the state it covers a large portion of the arrowhead region in northeastern Minnesota the district includes Olive Lake Cook and Kuching counties Northern Itasca County and the northern and Eastern portion of St Louis County candidates running for office in this District have many miles to cover to reach the voters tonight we're going to find out more about the candidates in a one-hour Forum we want to welcome Republican candidate Andrea zupancic and the current mayor of Babbitt and Democratic farmer labor Party candidate Grant haaschild a Hermantown City councilor welcome to both of you thank you thank you thank you for being here so tonight's forum is going to be a conversation it's not a strictly time debate I'll make sure that you each have ample time to answer each question we may have some follow-ups and we'll be giving the candidates an opportunity first to introduce themselves and we'll start with you Ms zupancic hi thank you thank you for hosting this forum tonight I appreciate this opportunity I'm really excited about this uh this forum the opportunity what I've experienced already it's just been amazing I am the current mayor of Babbitt have been here for eight years prior to that I was on Council for two years I am the mother of four a new grandmother I'm a small business owner my husband has has been a long-standing he's fourth generation of his family's business long-standing in the in the district grocery stores and just really have a concern and a love and a passion for our district so I'm really excited about this opportunity so thank you Mr host child yeah thank you so much Heidi and wdsc for hosting this debate I'm Grant hosschild and I'm thrilled to be running for this State Senate District 3. um I'm a father and husband I have a two-year-old and a nine month old and when this seat came open uh they were really my inspiration for running um I want to leave Minnesota better off for our kids than we have it now I'm a local city councilor I raise money for patients and families that can't afford the care that they need all across the arrowhead including opening a Ronald McDonald House of the Northland which serves kids all over our region and I've worked in the U.S Senate and in the U.S department of Agriculture on Rural Economic Development policy and labor policy I'm really passionate about those issues and fighting for our rural communities because we have a lot that we can be proud of you know uh when the seat opened up I got a lot of calls from a lot of folks uh looking for somebody that had the experience to step up and serve in this role and that's really why I'm running because I think the Northland needs to continue to have an independent voice that can stand up and fight for our fair share in St Paul and make sure that we get what we deserve for our miners for our schools for our health care services in our region and there's a lot of issues so I'm looking forward to having this debate and just thank you so much for the opportunity well and we will so we'll take turns on on who answers the questions first and so you both already talked about that you have been serving your communities in local government um Grant I think we'll start with you as City councilor in Hermantown what is something that you have learned in that position that maybe you didn't expect or yeah you know uh Mr pontich and I were actually just talking about this uh earlier before the start of this debate people care most about what's right in front of them the issues that matter right outside their door and in their local community so I think that's really what I've learned most when people are dealing with child care issues and the lack of child care in their local community when there's a road project and they're facing increased property taxes because of a lack of State funding you know that becomes a big issue and that's really another reason why I chose to run because I've seen what it takes to you know work with somebody like Senator Tom Bach to request bonding for my local community in Hermantown we had a an amendment ready for four million dollars for my community for a recreation facility and unfortunately the legislator fell apart and didn't pass the deal and that's frustrating to me as a local city councilor fighting for my community and that's really you know again why I'm excited to run for this office because I think we need a senator that understands local state and federal policy like I do we will get back to bonding later interesting so Andrea for you what what have you learned you've both you've been both City councilor and mayor now yeah yeah I've been um all together on Council for 10 years Council for two years and then mayor for eight years and it's been an exciting journey to say the least I've been asked to speak at a round table with the Obama Administration as well as with the Trump Administration which was very flattering because I truly was able to say how our region and our town feels and we feel it it's it's not necessarily just a matter of just a mining company or mining jobs it's the whole Community it's affected within the community outside the community and regionally and it it's a trickle-down effect that we all feel and that's been really enlightening as well as really just encouraging to me to hear that this this is what the people really want and I love having that opportunity especially when I was subbing at the school while I opened up my business and you know just hearing the kids just saying you know these are children that you're you're in school with what do you want to do with the rest of your life and they're telling you we want to stay here but there aren't jobs here for us to be able to grow and you know support our family we don't want to have you know two or three jobs and I know so many people in in the area if not the region have two or three jobs just to be able to sustain their way of life so many resorters loggers they're making hay while the sun shines and then you know they're spending the rest of the time doing what they can to get by and that's what's encouraging is to see all the job opportunities we have because I truly believe we live in the prettiest area as I've been driving around throughout the district I have been the entire time I've been a realtor as well as with my hockey with my son being in hockey it's it's an amazing District but now I see it through a different light and I can really just appreciate more so and I just feel we have so much to offer and going to all the different areas I really have been finding out what every town wants and needs and you'd be surprised to hear it you know like in in the Cook Area well in generally in the Northern District we need large animal vets you know we need dentists we need just the basics and that's something that you don't really think about so it's really interesting to hear that so I've been just formulating my my lists yeah we'll get to Mining and jobs throughout throughout the night we're gonna start now with we heard from a listener of kexe today she had a question for she wanted me to pose to both of you it's Kathleen from cook and we will start first with you Andrea she says what are the positions on water conservation water quality protection and water wildlife and rice management Etc she said the mining and the water issues are intimately intertwined but the discussions often emphasize the importance of mining as if it supersedes the essential human requirement of clean water so we we'll talk about mining from a lot of different perspectives but sure yeah oh well 100 I do not want to be an advocate of bad water for our areas we I we live there I personally feel Babbitt has the best water if it's not going to be safe I don't want to do it so we need to just ensure that we can do both I feel the the water quality has been for us in our area at where where it should be if not better and so it's very important that we follow those criteria because water is essential to life so that's nothing that we can take for granted and you know we need to stay on top of that so I I agree with that grant for you water quality I mean water is is critical it's it's you know really the lifeblood of northern Minnesota well one of the most visited places in the country uh here in District three um you know you think about Minnesota and what we're known for uh without District three Minnesota wouldn't have a lot to chirp about uh and I think it's a lot to do with our Lakes it's a lot to do with the Boundary Waters it's a lot to do with what what's going on in Cook County and Grand Marais and all those beautiful places some of my favorite places in Minnesota um you know we need to make sure that we have objective processes in place that trust The Regulators that evaluate projects to make sure that we're keeping our water clean we have to be able to do both protect our environment keep our water clean and create jobs and preferably union jobs which is what I've been an advocate for we can't let politics taint this process because if it does then no one's going to trust it and no one's going to rely on that and so I will always be a strong advocate for protecting our environment and I think my my credentials and my background back that up a quick follow-up for you on that and I'll get to you too as well Andrea when it comes to copper nickel mining there's been some really kind of exciting ideas out there about some inventions on how to keep the water clean because in other places where copper nickel has been it's contaminated water and it's kind of left that even after the industry is done it's not quite there yet but what what do you know so far how how have you found information on this kind of give us a little background yeah well I've certainly done the tours of of the two different projects I talked to the experts involved in those projects I've also talked to environmentalists and folks that are concerned about these projects making sure that I'm you know hearing all sides of this issue I think that's another critical part of this debate is that we need a senator that's not going to just be one-sided we need a center that's going to listen to All parties and and hear and listen um you know I've you know with the twin Metals project we know that there's dry stack uh plans in place that that could you know handle that danger more more seriously or in a better way you know electric vehicles I know that's not exactly to your question but I think that's a really interesting idea that they've come up with there so you know I'm interested in digging in more and learning more but you know this is something that I've hit the ground on uh right away from day one Andrea how about for you in terms of some of the inventions that they're working on right now so uh what's amazing for St Louis county is we have some of the cleanest water in the state we also have some of the newest water which and we also have some of the strictest water standards which allow goals in hand in hand with the cleanest water we have so that says that talks volumes for what we do with our standards up here up north already so in regards to the mining there are standards in Place Minnesota has some of the strictest standards and if we're able to prove it we should be able to do it correct so if you're able to do it then if you're able to prove it you should be able to do it so I have full confidence that they are able to prove that they're able to do that there's we have we're leading technology in it as opposed to foreign entities that are mining that have no standards no safety practices in state in place and that's what we need to stay away from because because it's okay somewhere else does not mean it's going to be okay in our area because it's it's a global environment it's not just a local environment and that's what we need to focus on which is why we have some of the best water in St Louis County that we do in any other counties in the state I'm going to do one more follow-up for both of you but when it comes to regulations they're not always met by mining companies there we certainly have the cleanest water but not necessarily where the mining is taking place how how do you make sure that the companies that own these mining companies actually follow the regulation okay sure I can understand that well so pictures speeding a train as it's like barreling down the tracks right you can't necessarily just stop it and reel it back in and then get it chugging up and going in it's a process so they're barreling down you need to be able to pull them back and so I think appropriate measures need to be taken that these standards be be given and then they have X amount of time because they're going full force and it's hard to pull that back right away and for no no fault of anyone it's just that's where it was and that that's where it was a couple years ago and then all of a sudden this is today but yet here we're here so I think you know we need to step back look what's reasonable and make sure that we can work with them to pull it all back because no one wants to poison anyone's environment no one absolutely wants to do that and I'm not an advocate of that either so we want to make sure it's safe for everyone around here we don't want anything bad going on at any cost grant for you in terms of regulations and keeping companies to them yeah I mean I I would hope that we don't have a train barreling down a track that is uncontrollable and that we can't pull back uh you know I think we need to have some circuit breakers that make sure that certain regulations are being met uh we need the Mind plan to be evaluated by our state Regulators so that we know when certain things aren't happening that as a senator we can have hearings call in those folks involved in the project and hear and look at the evidence directly so that we're properly evaluating uh those in addition to that we need to make sure that there's money set aside by the mining companies should there be any issues to to provide those funding so that it's not on the state taxpayers that's a huge issue for me and I want to make sure that we're protecting the the taxpayers and making sure that these regulations are being met so we can use some preemptive strategies like that but then we can also have some sticks I think we need to make sure that if if these standards after the mine plan is a value weighted aren't met then there should be some fines there should be some clear and objective things in place that make sure that these are being met so let the flip the coin then in terms of copper nickel mining which we have never had before but is a potential out there what are you looking for a grant for you first what are what are you optimistic about in terms of a possible new mining strategy um that's a very good question so in terms of these two projects what is the yeah in terms of jobs what it means to the region yeah yeah I absolutely I mean number one I think that we need to make sure that that we have these union jobs uh created at these these projects I would love to see see those agreements in place uh because we know that when we have strong union jobs everyone benefits from higher wages whether they're Union or non-union uh so that would be you know one of the things that I look most forward to we also know that we're looking forward to a green economy we want Minnesota to be leaders in that so looking forward to signing contracts with electric vehicle companies uh with solar wind all of these things that are happening and coming down the pike I think we need to make sure that that Minnesota is a part of those conversations but not just a part of them leading uh in in those in those areas Andreas for you copper nickel mining what what are your thoughts for the potential for the region I think the potential for the region is huge there there is so much out there we have some of the cleanest and the largest deposits in the nation and we can do it right so regardless of what the who the ownership is they still have to abide by Minnesota's standards so that means they have to have not only the money set aside in a trust account that they can't touch for to build the build the facility if there's anything that happens detrimental they have to have that money set aside they also have to have Reclamation set aside they need to have all those funds set aside before they can even break ground so those those are huge amounts of money that need the company needs to have in a trust account not like well not a promise note we need to have this money there they they have made so many strides as far as just the environmental aspects go I know twin Metals is planning on bussing the people the workers into the site they've already signed Union contracts with that it's just so they can so they can lessen the the blow to the environment by bussing the employees in twin metal or I'm sorry polymet is already like working on an existing mine site and cleaning that up as well so they're already fixing what was done wrong and I think it's it's amazing for the dedication that the companies both have shown over the years and they are dedicated and proving that they can clean these sites up and do it very safely well let's talk a little bit we talked at the beginning about the how large of a geographic area that this Senate District 3 is I think the boys Fort band is within this region could you talk a little bit about what that has been like what your relationship is like with the band and what you see it if you are elected okay well the band is actually divided up in two areas so there's the tower Tower reservation and there's one by net Lake I have met with them a few times I was actually the pre-opening manager of Fortune Bay back when I a million years ago when I came up here so um it's been really interesting just to even reconnect with people again so I know they are heavily invested in their their Traditions which is amazing their concerns for their people their wants for their people their wants for the land and it's refreshing for me just because to hear what they all want just to reaffirm firm it all and the hardships that they've gone through so I can relate with that and just to be a listing and sounding board for them is fantastic because those are things that you don't necessarily hear all the time but you know as as a senator you're going to have that in the back of your mind and you're always going to remember that and bring it to the Forefront when it comes to the district Grant about for you and boys yeah boys Fort and Grand Portage uh you know we have two tribal nations in our district uh both critically important they they were here before us uh we need to recognize that um you know chairwoman Kathy chavers is a supporter of mine I've attended a powwow with her I've gone to the council and and seen many of them sworn in um I've attempt you know I've listened and talked with many of the tribal members not just the council we need to have a senator that's going to do those things that's going to participate in their ceremonies that's going to visit with them directly and hear their concerns I used to work for U.S senator Heidi heitkamp a leader in tribal relations and tribal policy so I've I've attended countless powwow's countless tribal meetings so I'm very experienced uh in in in in those relationships and I think I'm somebody that our tribal Nations can can trust and so I look forward to forming those those relationships with them as we move forward as well so just a quick follow-up for both of you but in terms of the boys Fort band and water quality and sulfates and wild rice is sacred to their Traditions will they have it should they will they have a seat at the table when it comes to kind of developing the new mining on the Iron Range oh I would absolutely you know in fact not just encourage but require that I mean we we can't uh we can't move forward with these things and not include our tribal leadership in in these conversations and in these uh proceedings uh absolutely yeah same question for you yeah no exactly you can't that that's one of their Traditions that's one of their way of life that's that's boys for it's one of their entities of how they make money absolutely they need that and so that should be taken into consideration 100 percent we'll move on we'll still talk mining though I think a lot of our questions will be about mining tonight but mining is a big part of the workforce of course of Senate District three um but let's talk a little bit about other industries that you would support as a Minnesota State senator are there new jobs that give you hope for diversifying the region and I think it's your turn Grant yeah I I think that that's exactly right I mean I'm really I've actually talked to quite a few uh business owners and entrepreneurs and folks involved in industry and I think there's a lot on the horizon uh that that could diversify our economy a lot of those are tied up in in private conversations but I've started to hear even about that just throughout this campaign um you know I think this is where the I rrb is really really critical we know that this Senator has a seat at that table and we need to make sure that the irrb is investing in new technologies uh diversifying our economy I'd also like to see us invest in more small businesses entrepreneurs folks that maybe are creating 5 567 jobs not just the hundreds and hundreds of jobs in Big Industry we also know the project not in our district but but further out west in logging I think that's you know that's something that we um you know definitely want to want to continue to to look into um and then you know back to our green economy I think that's a really really critical piece that Minnesota needs to lead on I would look forward for opportunities for manufacturing in in the green space for solar and and wind we know there's the project that Senator tomasoni uh worked on in in solar that's a really exciting project and then lastly I work in healthcare and we know you know we talk a lot about mining we talk a lot about these other Industries Healthcare is is you know the biggest employer in our region and that's a big deal these folks go to work every day my wife is is a is a Frontline healthcare worker um you know they're they're sacrificing every day to care for our our families in the Northland and you know we need to make sure that we're fighting for the steel workers in our health care facilities our m a nurses who have endorsed me both the steel workers and M A have endorsed me and those are high quality paying jobs and we need to to make sure that we're standing up for them as well Andrea for you in terms of new jobs that might give you hope for diversifying the range as well well you know I feel that we need health care for everyone whether they're high paying jobs or no paying jobs everyone should be entitled to that health care and you know the jobs that come along I mean there's so many opportunities up here I mean as I mentioned before we need large large animal vets we need dentists we need we need the mining jobs we need sustainable jobs my background previous background is hospitality and that's a great tourism is a great great great opportunity for employers but it's also very cyclical very seasonal very fad driven and it's it's great for students and you know like the owners of the companies 100 you know no no no issues there but we need to be able to think outside the box and what else can we do up here and one of the the issues that we have that kind of Hedges us back a little bit is like if we have a manufacturing plant up in let's say a International Falls or Gucci how are they going to get their prod their product out well there's no Waterway nearby there's no Railway nearby how are they going to get it well they have to truck it out which is one of the higher costs so we need to figure and streamline that stuff out so many railroads have been taken out of the whole entire district and we need to like figure out what's going to work best for the area now that we've got better we're getting should say better Broadband which is fantastic so we can maybe open it up to more call centers up here because why would you not want to live up here you know choose where you want to live instead of having to work where you have to work so you know I think there's lots of opportunities and we've got lots of spaces up here so I think I think there's lots on the horizon for us the largest railway Port is in International Falls so that's I think a key you know part of this that that really helps in that in that factor well let's talk a little bit about the Minnesota Legislature you are both running for the seat that was held by tambach for quite a long time everyday citizens don't often grasp what goes on at the Capitol in Saint Paul so I'm sort of curious from you what what do you know about the legislative process what are you looking forward to if you are elected well if I'm elected it will be a an amazing opportunity for me I've uh Tom Bach actually recruited me for this position he's endorsed me for this and he he has said multiple times that I represent the people of the district I know what they want and how they feel which is a very big compliment and so I want to represent them to the full force and bring forth policy and jobs and and Healthcare and everything that they need to the area make sure that we're not left behind grant for you in terms of what the legislative process will be like what you think your role will be if you're elected to this yeah I mean I think this seat uh in a sense is is pretty symbolic uh in addition to being a powerful seat uh for the entire State uh we've always had Titans in the Northland and on the Iron Range and really when Tom Bach retired you know I was called by labor groups by independent stakeholders by Municipal leaders um and and told you know look nobody is is announcing running and we need somebody that can step into this job and really fill the shoes that Senator tombach is leaving and you know I think given my experience working in the U.S Senate for the number 50 most moderate U.S senator being at that table working with Republicans and Democrats on National deals working in rural Economic Development most of my life and now in healthcare and local city council I think I bring that breadth of experience that would let me hit the ground running on day one and really focus focus on delivering you know one of the things that I hear most on the doors and something that I feel myself is that there's just a lot of nonsense on both sides of the aisle uh really distracting us from getting anything done we sought this last session there was a deal to provide historic middle class tax relief there was funding for Northland schools there was a bonding bill that Senator Tom Bach was leading the effort like I said had funding for not just Hermantown but communities all across our district we also had a plan to eliminate the tax on social security income all of that fell apart because of political gridlock and gamesmanship and so this Senator really has to be that independent Voice who can work with both sides and try to break through that Log Jam that would be my my goal the last thing we need is a senator that's going to get in the back of their party's line and wait for directions and that's the last thing that I'll be um in terms of it it's as politicians running for the seat both of you um whoever is elected then suddenly you work for everybody in the district it's not about campaigning anymore um I wonder if you could talk a little bit about how you will make that change how you will weigh which um if people are coming to you about bills that they want passed how you will handle that switch okay well thanks um yeah so I'm a realtor and I'm used to working with both sides of a transaction so that kind of equates to you know demograph Democrats and Republicans I like to think that I'm able to reach that point and make make that connection to make everyone happy so that's that's essentially how I plan on taking it on not everyone can have it one way or the other and we need to find that happy medium to be able to go forward and you need to realize that and you need to be able to express that to the people saying all right well this is what we need to do so I'm really looking forward to that on a broader broader scope of bringing people together and just making it go forward so it's a win-win for everyone and that's that's been my goal that's been my goal for 19 years so Grant I think you've kind of answered this yeah if you want to speak more to how you how you change your role if you are elected sure well you know I'll give I gave the example in the U.S Senate working for for Senator Heidi heitkamp being at that table you know the second thing that I've done is is on city council um I have been able to work with um you know a city councilor in Hermantown that's a republican a police chief in in Hermantown that maybe has some political differences with me but we've come together uh and fought for really important things at the local level level uh like a paved trail at no additional cost to our residents expanding Broadband 230 homes through State funding through the Broadband program we've been fighting for a recreation initiative trying to get that bonding money I talked about that I'm so frustrated got held up in the last legislative session so you know I think I've shown through my actions over and over again that I'm able to work with all sides to make sure that we're focusing on the issues that really really matter and that's really what we need as it stands right now Minnesota is the only state in the nation that has a divided State Legislature until we have this election where it could change it's often bragged about that minnesotans want the parties to be working together and that's why it ends up this way but we also saw tons of gridlock we've already talked about that like what happened at the end of last session with no bonding Bill you're going to have to jump into a system that's already there you can't necessarily just change it like that but I wonder if you could talk a little bit more about how you see going into this knowing the last session was left very in a very difficult state right well you know it's never easy to just jump in and try and fix something that's already been you know started broken whatever it may be and so I like to think I'm I've been faced with many challenges in my life many from my twins being born early to opening up my own business to hitting a market crash to you know where I am right now so you have to be able to be flexible you have to be able to look at the the whole picture and you have to be able to think with a straight mind you can't you you know so like I'm not a typical politician I'm not a career politician this isn't you know what I had wanted to do my entire life but I feel I have the skills that it takes to be able to pull things together be able to come up with a solution look at the bigger picture and make it go forward from there Grant if you're elected is the new voice how do you jump into the gridlock that was left yeah it's about forming relationships uh you know the first thing that I would do as a state senator is meet with every Senator uh in the chamber Republican Democrat if there's an independent uh Independence there who knows um and and really find out where it is that we have commonalities where what what what in our background uh relates to one another and then I'd like to hear what important projects matter in other regions because we know that in negotiations it's not just coming to the middle and and and and and you know solving a problem it's making sure that all sides get something and so I would want to make sure that I'm on the tax committee that I'm on the capital investment committee those are two powerful committees that Senator Bach has served on that have given him a lot of Leverage uh to deliver uh not just for the Northland but making sure that he's sort of making those deals on bonding projects and other things uh that that support the entire state so I you know I look forward to those relationships and uh and it's uh it's going to be fun one of the things our viewers and listeners have questions about has to do with Roe versus Wade it was overturned by the Supreme Court this year leaving it up to the states to decide so grant for you first how would you approach a woman's Reproductive Rights if you are elected to Senate District three yeah you know all of these legislators in in Minnesota have no place getting between women and their doctors uh you know we don't want politicians making these decisions we want women and families making these decisions and I think that's why I'm so disappointed and I think most Americans and most minnesotans are disappointed by this drastic change in precedent that happened with the U.S Supreme Court um you know this is I think a key difference between my opponent and I um my opponent has has Flyers that say 100 pro-life no exceptions for rape incest life of the mother those are serious issues um you know I have a daughter now and and I said at the beginning of this that really part of the reason that I got into this race was because I'm focused on their future I can't imagine a circumstance where my daughter is in a situation of rape or or some other terrible circumstance being forced by the government uh to to go to term with that um and so I think this is a really really critical issue Minnesota uh could be uh the last state in the midwest that make sure that we're not intruding on women's reproductive Freedom uh and I will be a senator that Champions that Andrea you have a chance to respond to what granta said abortion thank you so that being said I personally do not have any Flyers out there saying I am against that 100 that I believe is my opponents parties male against me saying that I'm against that 70 of all minnesotans prefer or want some sort of term limitations on abortion so my my twins were born at 26 weeks pregnant and I saw them literally develop outside me and personally I am against you know choice but that being said it's not on the ballot it is not on the docket to be changed the only people that can change it are the citizens of Minnesota so it's really something that is not on the ballot right now and I have you know nothing further to say on that it's just that it's a tough decision it's a very tough decision and it's you know there is no easy answer for it we know that's not true we know that there's uh Flyers that were produced by Miss Sue pontich that's say 100 pro-life uh and this is what's disappointing because we know that this issue when it's a campaign slogan uh for for the the right wing to tout being 100 pro-life they use it in a primary because this is a primary piece that misuponzich used now uh when it becomes a liability all of a sudden the tables turn and the party bosses come out with language that every Senate Republican is using to say that oh this isn't on the ballot now and I think that's disingenuous I have always had the same position on this and again I will fight to make sure that we're keeping the government out of the doctor's office for our women and protect their reproductive freedom but you can respond as well I would like to know what those those flyers are because I'm not aware of those but I'll bring them to you that's one beautiful so but it is not on the ballot either so that's where it's going to make the change and so this isn't an issue right now there are other issues that I'm hearing at the door where it's about health health care it's about heating it's about economy it's about workers so so I I want to know you know just a minute here um to say that I'm 100 for that I okay so I think that's wrong we'll we'll show the the materials it's a printed piece that that was done for your primary um you know I think if it's not on the ballot then why do Minnesota Republicans every session introduce legislation to restrict abortion and try to create abortion balance if it's it's if it's not on the ballot then why is it being used on campaign materials uh if it's not on the ballot then why are there Statewide candidates saying that it's no secret they want to ban abortion I think again this is a very disingenuous debate when the script is turned and when it becomes a liability we hear different language being used by my opponent my language has never changed and I will again Always Be A Champion on this issue and it's really important because Minnesota could be again the last state standing on this issue in the Midwest do you have any response back I I well yeah I do because this is this is something that I'm not hearing at the doors I'm hearing more pertinent I'm more pertinent issues so that it's not on the docket as far as I know I don't know where you're coming up with that but this is not something that that that is uh that we're going to legislate against this is this is there are other issues that people are more concerned about right now well let's move on to another hot button kind of contentious issue one of the kind of hottest races in the state right now is the Secretary of State race between Steve Simon and Kim Crockett and they have very different ideas about past elections how elections should be run in the future as a candidate for office you have to rely on the system and Trust the system that may or may not elect you to office so what is your take and you can go first on this on the current state of Minnesota's election system well you know the the current system is you can go in and you can vote people and voters want to believe that the system is fair and right and we need to believe that that that's exactly what it is because that is one of the greatest privileges of being American my parents are I came from Germany my father became a citizen right away when he came over uh from from Germany he was in the Army my mother became a citizen you know years after that and that was one of the main privileges that they had was that they could vote and it's a very big big privilege and a lot of people don't understand it I instill in my children too it's like now's your time to make that opportunity make that change that you want to and so I encourage everyone to go vote and we have to believe that the system is fair and just don't think that there was corruption going on don't let that deter you from voting because it still needs to carry forward grant for you and the election system yeah I mean I think one of the metrics for a strong Community is when the citizens feel like they have a voice when citizens are engaged we know there's a strong Scandinavian history in Minnesota of Civic engagement it's you know you can look at the national models that showcase Minnesota being one of the most volunteering states in the country one of course we're the highest election turnout state in the country multiple elections in a row these are things that I am so proud of as a Minnesotan and it's part of the reason that I chose to live here you know language like well don't worry about the corruption uh you should still you know try to vote I think that's that's a dangerous precedent for us to to start using that type of language because we know that our elections are secure we know that audits done in Minnesota have shown that there is not even a morsel of opportunity for an election uh change due to Illegal voting and it is so great for our communities for our young people for everyone to feel like they have their voices heard and so I will continue to be a strong advocate for ensuring that we have a solid democracy here in Minnesota let's move on let's go back to jobs a little bit in your region employers are really trying to entice workers right now but there are issues that they can't control that have been difficult high cost or lack of daycare as well as lack of affordable housing what do you think can be done with these issues and what are you hearing from people that you're meeting on the campaign Trail yeah you know I like I said I have a two-year-old and a nine month old and child care isn't an orbitant cost it's something that impacts every family I've heard that on the doors you know housing when especially all across the country and and in Minnesota but I've heard it most most uh impactful up in Cook County I've heard a story from a local business owner talking about recruiting a worker getting them to agree to the salary and and the deal and making plans to move up uh to that region and then literally not being able to find a house that that is not good for our part of the state there are people that want to live here uh there are people moving from the Twin Cities there are people that uh want to to live in the most beautiful part of Minnesota uh and unfortunately we're facing uh you know huge difficulties with our housing stock I would look forward to doing better at funding our Housing Trust Fund and making sure that the Northland gets our fair share of those funds to develop housing projects um you know I think we need to work with our local governments I know I've been involved uh you know in zoning and talking about how do we make sure we're providing housing in our communities so how do our state legislators be more proactive how do we start having conversations at the local level to talk about where we can most support our local communities and and providing more housing this is something that I think is really limiting us and we need to solve this issue in order for us to move forward with some bigger visions that we have for our region yeah Andrea your thoughts on housing and lack of daycare and enticing people to move right right so that's uh that's been a big issue for many years in our area and so it's kind of along the lines of you know if you build it they will come so what needs to be built first before they will come it's a combination of Housing and daycare and jobs you need that all together we have a new development in in our tone and we cannot find a developer that wants to take on that housing project it which is disappointing because it's not only just single family housing it's also multi-family and twin home housing which there's a demand for we've we've done housing studies on it we have a demand for daycare and you'll find all the smaller towns in the district have everyone has a demand for daycare and it's it's truly hard because we've come across people that have accepted jobs but again have not been able to take the jobs because they couldn't find housing and daycare or one or the other and in today's economy when most parents are are double working and trying to you know afford afford everything that they want for their family it's it's very difficult being in the real estate industry for all these years it's been a constant we need to find some kind of Gap funding that bridges that gap between new construction and actual appraisal to be able to get it sold we've been trying our town was working with with contractors you know build a spec home and will you can pay for when the house sells you know we only got one one taker on that one so it's really hard to get those people those incentives were trying to get that out there for for for the smaller areas too because it's the same not only in the larger areas but also the smaller areas it's the same need but on smaller scales but there's a need everywhere let's move on to education that could also be why someone might move to the region the high standard of Education in our state but schools and teachers faculty students they're struggling right now after the pandemic how can the legislature support students and staff in the schools in the region well I was a sub when I started my business I was a sub for many years and one of my favorite stories was when I would I would speak I would sub K through 12 so it was all all the children and it was really enriching and enlightening to see what they all felt from every level of a of grade for their perspective on how they wanted to live where they wanted to live and I would ask the children I would ask the kids from every grade what do you want to do when you you know grow up and obviously the little ones were you know School teachers firemen all that kind of fun stuff and then you get to the older seniors and they're like we don't want to leave this area but there are no jobs here for us we don't want to be we don't want to be seasonal workers we don't want to be you know working in the bars restaurants that's fine if we're trying to make extra money but we want something where we can actually sustain a family on we're not into big towns we're not into big schools we're not you know we're into the trades I'm like that's fantastic so I think the push from from so many years of getting kids to go into four-year degrees and what and and Beyond I think has now left us with a gap of the trades and now there's a huge demand for the trades so that's that's where I think the education needs to slightly shift and it was such a big Powerhouse to get get them to go into four-year degrees and now all of a sudden we're left with this Gap and I think it's very important to let let them know you know what you don't have to live in the Metro you can you can go to trade school you can be out of school have no debt buy a house and have a good job by the time you're 21 22. and that's amazing and in fact I was at a benefit for the Foresman scholarship a couple weekends ago and it's been amazing they've had that benefit going for about I think four years years and they've had already five five students go through the program jobs houses no debt and they they encourage other kids to go through it and award scholarships all the time so it's amazing to be able to give them that option that there's not there's not just one way there's other ways Grant how can education be supported in this District yeah we need to make sure that we're fighting for our teachers for our schools we know that our Northland schools are reliant on taconite taxes so we need to make sure and protect those taxes to make sure that we're getting those additional funds for our schools you know I think there's an opportunity for us to do what's happening at Rock Ridge and expand that with more vocational and trade opportunities right there in the high school so that it's not just post high school it's right there as they're learning you know I want to make sure that we're providing adequate funding for counseling and special special education teachers we know that there's a huge gap our teachers are facing extra pressures because of those gaps taking on the the Mental Health crisis that is happening in our country and that's again I just have to reiterate another reason why I'm so frustrated by the last legislative session because there was a billion dollars allocated in that deal that was signed by the Senate Majority Leader the speaker of the house and the governor that would have provided that adequate funding for some of those critical programs that would have made sure that we're reaching that Minnesota miracle that we used to be known for here in Minnesota in the 1970s as a senator I would look forward to fighting for that funding and making sure that we're reaching those promises that we made as a state I want to go back to kind of looking to the Future and jobs as well I want to hear a little bit from both of you about what you what your position is when it comes to electric vehicles as a state senator will you support this industry and the infrastructure that's needed for it yeah I think this is a great opportunity for us to move forward with the green economy to give consumers a choice and you know buying an electric vehicle but we need to make sure that if they do make that choice that we have the infrastructure in place so that they can drive in the Northland we know that weather and climate is a concern for the electric batteries so that's something that I think would be really interesting could the North Landing could our district be a test case for Tesla for Ford making American-made electric vehicles that we could try try our best to see what those ranges look like in Winter climates there are opportunities for us to get additional investments from the federal government that have that I've passed recently with the infrastructure bill but again we have to have a legislator that's willing to pass Federal matching dollars so that we get our fair share here in Minnesota uh you know again I'm disappointed that the legislator uh failed to to even pass simple Federal matching dollars because that means that money goes to places like Wisconsin and Ohio instead of right here in the north London in Minnesota Andrea your thoughts on the electric vehicle industry in the future here I I have a lot of thoughts on my own and then I've heard a lot of thoughts as well and I think it's a great idea I don't think necessarily Minnesota is quite at that stage yet um there's we've got climate we've got sun and we've got different battery capacities and how do you batteries are batteries for the cars our storage units how what is in there to make that energy how do you get that energy in there it's it's fossil fuels essentially and so you know I think it's a great idea I don't know if Minnesota Northern Minnesota is exactly the right climate where it can be done it's definitely something we can try I don't know if it's something that should be mandated because there's going to be we don't have the infrastructure to support it and I think there's a lot of a lot of unknowns right now at this point and then what happens you're you're mandated to make all these changes and there you sit so I think I think some more questions more conversations need to happen I think it's a great idea I just don't think we're quite there yet I I think we need a senator that's not going to stick their head in the sand and is going to look to the frontier and lead I really think there's an opportunity for us to make sure that we're providing the subsidies that allow people to afford these vehicles that encourage union jobs for the production of American-made electric vehicles that move us toward a cleaner climate and environment by moving forward with electric vehicles there's so much opportunity here again the Northland could be a leader in testing whether or not cold cold climates can take on electric vehicles why wouldn't we want to be a leader in showing whether or not that's possible in fact it might bring additional Federal funding or state funding that could go towards our regional economy right here in the Northland and you know I really think that's that's a critical piece again we have had Titans in these legislative districts in the Northland and on the Iron Range for decades this is the new frontier we have to be ready to lead when it comes to diversifying our economy and addressing climate change and I'll do that as a state senator so I have often said we should be the leaders in this industry I have not said that we should hide our head in the sand I think there's more information and more processes that need to happen but absolutely if we can make this happen 100 however we're not we're not quite there yet so we need to be able to start it and not necessarily mandate it without having a process in sight well we are at the end of this and we're going to give you some time to talk to the viewers directly and about why they should vote for you and I try to remember whose turn it is but we'll go with Andrea maybe it's Grant first you started with me so I don't know okay okay go ahead and go great thank you so much well thank you wdse thank you Heidi uh for this wonderful debate I think it was a really great opportunity for us to showcase our ideas and plans for this District um you know like I said in the beginning um I have a you know a young son and daughter my wife and I chose the Northland as our home we're so thrilled that our kids get to explore and and engage and be involved here in our our communities in the Northland um and that's really why I got involved and and why I'm running because I want to make sure that we're leaving our state better off than we found it we have a lot to do because the legislature uh session you know didn't get a lot done for hard-working minnesotans and those on fixed income we also didn't get a chance to talk about our North Shore minors who are facing uh layoffs right now and and the idling of their of their plants of their processing and mine so I want to make sure that we're continuing to call for a special session so that we can provide that extended unemployment which is running out in the coming weeks I want to make sure that we're eliminating the tax on social security income so those on fixed income can stay and retire right here in the Northland in dignity with their loved ones I want to make sure that we're funding our Northland schools and making sure that we're you know exploring those ideas to do vocational and trade opportunities with our unions and other laborers there's so much opportunity ahead of us for us to be leaders and I look forward to working with all sides I think what people are most frustrated with is the extreme positions that politicians are taking on both sides of the aisle that are distracting them from getting done what what needs to happen and that's exactly what we elect our Senators and representatives to do to make sure that they're delivering for us my message all along is that I want to just deliver for the Northland stay out of the nonsense and really focus on the bread and butter issues that matter for our region I hope that I can earn our voters vote and I look forward to the next under a month left of this campaign talking to voters directly about the important issues that matter to them so thank you so much for this opportunity Andrea hey thank you Heidi and wdsc this has been really in enlightening and enriching um just process the entire the entire time I'm I'm not a career politician I have concerns for not only like my family my my grandson my children but really I just want to see that the district comes together and we're able to do what they want to do they want the miners want to mine the loggers want to log the farmers want to farm and that's what we want to do we want to just stay in our area and not have to be just another number or another um you know passerby of you know bringing you know serving people in the restaurants and stuff and but the area has so much to offer there are so many there's so much potential I've seen this for years and I have truly we fell down to my core that we're in a boom we're in a boom this area can be what it used to be and there's so much that the area has to offer and I think it's wonderful that people want to live here and they want to be able to raise their families here and it's a it's a whole new environment and with the covid it actually surged it that people could live up here and work and go to school which is great which has also helped us get better broadband and we need to continue on with that and bring other other services to our area that that are needed and not just bypass thank you that's our time for tonight's Forum in the Northland I would like to thank the candidates Grant Hot Child and Andrea zupancic for sharing their time tonight and for their dedication to public service and for viewers now that you've heard from the candidates it is time to do your part get out and vote either November 8th at the polls in person at your local clerk's office or by mail-in ballot if you do vote by mail make sure you have a witness sign your ballot and that you mail it in time to arrived by election day on November 8th or it won't be counted if you have missed any part of this program you can watch it on our website wdsc.org for our guests and the team here at wdse I'm Heidi Holton good night foreign