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Without leaving southwest Minnesota, I (like any local resident) have had the opportunity to question candidates such as Amy Klobuchar, Peggy Flanagan, or Steve Simon face to face.
Last Saturday, Attorney General Keith Ellison, State Auditor candidate Zack Filipovich, Congressional candidate Erik Osberg, and local legislative candidates Nathan Schmig and Andrea Boettger all joined in the Sounds of Summer celebration in Marshall.
Keith Ellison, the only incumbent in the group, discussed ways he and his office have been protecting Minnesotans, including more than 340 convictions in Medicare fraud. When questioned, he provided detailed, off-the-cuff answers. For example, he reported on his lawsuit to force the Broadmoor Mobile Home Park in Marshall to meet mandated safety codes. He has inspected Broadmoor more than once.
A local physician, after referring many patients to Allina Health, was worried that Sutter Health of California might curtail some vital but less lucrative medical services after they acquired Allina. Ellison explained that, if a proper acquisition agreement is approved, capital from Sutter might help Allina serve us better. He and his staff will work to ensure that Minnesotans would not be hurt by the merger. If rules were bent or broken, he would not hesitate to use the courts to set things right.
The other candidates here on Saturday do not have a record in the office they are running for, but they have demonstrated a command of the issues, and they have values and platforms that align with rural Minnesotans.
For example, in the state auditor's race, the Republican candidate suggested that the auditor "is getting too hung up on just numbers" and that he does not need training in accounting because he knows some accountants and could use AI to do the accounting. For State auditor, we should elect an accountant who comprehends the numbers. Zack Filipovich is a working accountant who will understand the job on day one without any tutoring from AI.
The Democratic candidates are doing their best to keep in touch with outstate Minnesotans in order to represent our interests inside the government.
Sherwin Skar
Marshall