If the Mower County Jail and Justice Center issue dominated one-half of the Austin Area Chamber of Commerce candidates forum Friday; the state budget deficit dominated the other half.

Mower County commissioner candidates for Districts No. 1 and 2 spent 35 minutes discussing issues and answering questions Friday at the Austin Eagles Club. The proposed $36 million jail and justice center was the focal point of much of the discussion.

Then, state legislative candidates in House Districts 27A and 27B took the spotlight.

The expected $1 billion state budget deficit held the attention of all.

Sandy Forstner, executive director of the Austin Area Chamber of Commerce, and Jerry McCarthy, general manager of Austin Utilities, collected questions from an audience of between 40 and 50 guests.

The format was the same as the commissioner candidates were given: opening remarks, questions and closing remarks.

Incumbents Robin Brown, District 27A, and Jeanne Poppe, District 27B, are Democrats, and challengers Erik Larsen, District 27A, and Brian Thiel, District 27B, are Republicans.

The candidates used written statements for their opening and closing remarks.

Brown began by declaring, “I love Minnesota.”

Her opponent, Larsen, said it is time to “start fresh” in District 27A.

Poppe said the state’s citizens have “great needs and expectations,” but cautioned those expectations may have to be lowered because of the looming state budget deficit.

“Government can’t solve all the problems, but it shouldn’t create any new ones,” she said.

Thiel said he was inspired to run for office for the first time in his life by a trip to the State Legislature a year ago and sitting in on an omnibus tax bill debate.

He said he has a “survivor mentality” to be a tough legislator.

Thiel answered the first question from the audience, which was about the expected state budget shortfall.

“Anytime you punt or pass off the ball to someone else, you haven’t solved the problem,” he said.

In dealing with the shortfall, Thiel said he would ask, “Where’s the money?” and track how the state drowned in red ink.

Poppe said the first place to look was non-priority spending items, but she also wondered “if there are any left on the table to consider.”

Larsen said he would “loathe” to force any unfunded state mandates upon local units of government to address a state shortfall.

Brown said, “I would first look at what will sunset (expire).”

Then, the legislator said she would look at pilot projects, which, by their nature, were new and vulnerable.

Finally, Brown said she would look for other funding sources such as grants.

An audience member asked the candidates if they were willing to raise taxes to help erase the deficit.

Brown said the legislators were restricted in their options by Governor Tim Pawlenty’s unrelenting “no new taxes” edict.

Even Republican Larsen said that will stifle the “creativity” among local government units to address their own spending needs.

Poppe took the Democrat party line that Brown espoused and complained the governor “sets the ground rules.”

Thiel gave the forum’s shortest answer to the “Would you raise more taxes question?”

“No,” he said without elaboration.

When it came time for final remarks, Thiel touted his “analytical mind” and ability to “turn things upside down” to find a solution.

Poppe praised Thiel for conducting a “fun campaign” and reminded the audience of her experience in office.

Larsen thanked Brown for her “service in St. Paul,” and then repeated his call for a “new face and a fresh perspective.”

Brown, who has only served one two-year term in the Minnesota House, also listed the experience she has gained working with representatives of local government in District 27A.