ALBERT LEA – Discussion at Monday’s political forum here drew some sharp distinctions between the interests of metro and Greater Minnesota – and very few distinctions between the candidates.

Tuesday, October 31, 2000

ALBERT LEA – Discussion at Monday’s political forum here drew some sharp distinctions between the interests of metro and Greater Minnesota – and very few distinctions between the candidates.

After hearing extensive presentations on a handful of important Greater Minnesota issues, the area legislative candidates pledged their unanimous support.

The forum was sponsored by the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, an organization that represents 64 member cities including Albert Lea and Austin. The forum featured the candidates for Senate District 27, Pat Piper (DFL-Austin) and Grace Schwab (R-Albert Lea), along with Dan Dorman (R-Albert Lea) and Tony Samudio (DFL-Albert Lea) of House District 27A.

Rob Leighton (DFL-Austin) and Jeff Anderson (R-Austin), candidates for House District 27B, also participated. The forum was moderated by Albert Lea Mayor Marv Wangen and Austin Mayor Bonnie Rietz.

The chief presenter at the forum was coalition Executive Director Tim Flaherty, who addressed the candidates about issues of concern to Greater Minnesota, including property taxes and local government aid, transportation, annexation and land use, environmental issues and economic development.

"None of these are hot-button issues with the public, but the issues are important," Wangen told the candidates. Samudio said that understanding the complicated issues surrounding local government requires good listening. Anderson said he made a point of researching local government concerns to prepare for his candidacy.

Using an overhead projector, Flaherty gave the candidates an overview of each issue and then followed up with questions. The candidates then had an opportunity to respond.

The first issue involved Local Government Assistance (LGA), a state program that provides property tax relief to cities for the provision of municipal services.

According to Flaherty, Albert Lea received almost $4.3 million in LGA funds last year. He said that many metro legislators see no need for LGA and support trimming or eliminating the program.

Without LGA, Albert Lea would see a 210 percent local tax increase, he said. Austin’s tax rate would increase by 220 percent. Flaherty asked the candidates to consider increasing LGA funding, which has fallen from 5.7 percent of the state budget in 1990 to 3.4 percent.

Flaherty warned the candidates that Gov. Jesse Ventura may plan to shift LGA into school funding. He said a shift of LGA to schools would only increase the disparity between metro and rural schools.

"We think it’s good that the governor has raised this issue for debate, but it’s a risky proposition for your schools and cities," Flaherty said. All of the six candidates said they supported the coalition’s stance on LGA funding.

Transportation is another divisive issue between metro and Greater Minnesota, Flaherty said. To protect highway money for Greater Minnesota, Flaherty is recommending a constitutionally dedicated fund for tab fees and gasoline tax money for Minnesota highways. He’s also recommending a constitutional amendment on the ballot to permanently replace lost highway revenue from last session’s tab fee cut.

Support for the measures was unanimous among the candidates, and Leighton even offered to author the bills. All agreed that roads are crucial to the economic success of Greater Minnesota. Dorman said he fears that expensive transportation projects such as light rail could threaten the highway funds. Schwab went a step further and called light rail "the biggest boondoggle around."

The two-hour forum concluded with discussion and general agreement regarding three more issues: protecting Greater Minnesota cities’ right to extend their boundaries with annexations, protecting Greater Minnesota from expensive and unnecessary environmental regulations and the importance of tax increment financing to local economic development projects.

The candidates closed the forum with brief remarks, pledging to from a strong regional coalition to support the concerns of Greater Minnesota.