Candidate Forum Packs Hugo City Hall
Minnesota Legislative District 52 candidates presented their viewpoints on the issues to an overfl ow audience in the council chambers at Hugo City Hall on Oct. 17. Residents stood along the back walls and sat in the lobby to watch the candidates on television.
Around 100 people were present to listen to the first round of discussions, held between Senate District 52 candidates David Francis (D) and Ray Vandeveer (R); House of Representatives District 52A candidates Bob Dettmer (R) and Rob Rapheal (D); and House of Representatives District 52B candidates Jason Gonnion (D) and incumbent Matt Dean, (R).
About 30 people stayed after the intermission to hear presentations by mayoral can- didates Fran Miron (incumbent) and Walter (Wally) Stoltzman.
The candidate forum, sponsored by the White Bear/North Oaks/Mahtomedi Area League of Women Voters and The Citizen, lasted two hours. Candidates were permitted three minutes of opening remarks.
Although a few questions for the candidates were prepared in advance by the League of Women Voters, audience members produced so many written questions there wasn't time to accommodate them all. Candidates were allowed one minute and 0 seconds to respond to each question. Closing remarks, no longer than two minutes, completed the forum.
The League's moderator for the fi rst forum, Carol Bergeson, stated the rules and informed everyone that she didn't live in Hugo and her role in the League of Women Voters is non-partisan and non-political.
"I cannot and will not vote for any of you. No matter what," she said, and the room rippled with laughter.
The legislative candidates opened the forum with comments on transportation, education and health care. While some candidates argued for imminent change, others spoke confi dently of the condition of the district, suggesting little change is needed.
The five questions fitting into the allotted time period pertained to helping the mentally ill, protecting people on fixed incomes, gambling as a way of raising money for the state, cuts in education and fixing congestion problems on the road.
In their answers, the candidates quoted statistics, personal experiences and beliefs to support their positions. Opinions varied on all but one question: all six candidates agreed that gambling is not an appropriate way to raise money for the state.
The mayoral forum, moderated by Joanne Youngstrom, was more light-hearted and even jovial at times. Miron and Stoltzman are neighbors who support many of the same ideas with a few different yet defi ning philosophical differences.
"Some might think there's a battle between us, but that's just not true," Stoltzman said.
The five questions geared toward Stoltzman and Miron were more specifi c to Hugo - focusing on affordable housing, funding for the local fire department, preserving open space, and tax increment financing.
Both candidates sought similar outcomes to each issue, but cited different paths to take to get there.