It wasn’t much notice, but Governor-elect Tim Walz and Lt. Governor-elect Peggy Flanagan announced Wednesday a statewide listening tour that will be launched today.

Walz will start his tour in Mankato and hit Luverne and LaCrescent. Flanagan will also start out in Mankato and then head to Marshall and end her tour in Granite Falls. The Marshall session will be held at the Marshall Lyon County Library starting at 12:30 p.m. The tour continues Friday through Monday.

“From Luverne to La Crescent to Hallock to Grand Portage, we will travel to all four corners of the state to seek input from Minnesotans on what they hope for from our administration,” Walz said in his statement. “When the outcomes of an election turn out differently than someone wished, they tend to feel like their voice won’t matter. That won’t be the case in our Administration. Everybody’s voice matters to us.”

Flanagan also shared the new administration’s message.

“Every Minnesotan deserves a seat at the table and an opportunity to have their voice heard,” she said. “We want to make sure everyone has a chance to be a part of the process in helping our Administration make the best decision on who will lead our state agencies. Governor-elect Walz and I look forward to hearing the priorities Minnesotans have when it comes to how state government works for them.”

While we prefer a governor-elect visit, we appreciate Flanagan’s listening tour includes southwest Minnesota. The region’s communities have a lot to concerns to share with her. However, we encourage the soon-to-be new governor to not wait too long to make his first visit to Marshall. Gov. Mark Dayton made several trips to Marshall during his tenure. Recently he made the visit to Park Side Elementary, attended a water quality town hall at Southwest Minnesota State University and participated in the 2017 governor’s pheasant hunt.

Yes, we do want to feel like our voice will matter with then new administration.