The Wake

On the surface, Ole Hovde looks like any other university student killing time at a café. Although he’s indoors, he keeps a beanie on his head, perhaps as a way to cope with the constant scrambling that accompanies everyday college life. Resting beside him is a sociology textbook thats been temporarily swapped for the latest issue of The Onion. His concentration is frequently interrupted by text messages on his Blackberry from his friends, family and professors. Yet one thing separates the political science junior from the rest of his college-age peers: he’s the latest student to oppose Rep. Phyllis Kahn for the District 59B seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives.

A tall, blond, modestly-built 21-year-old, Hovde bases his political campaign on a mantra of fiscal responsibility. Like his broad and atonal voice, his approach to taxes is simple and clear: “Don’t spend the money you don’t have.” It’s a plain contrast to Kahn, who’s never opposed a tax increase in her long political tenure.

Kahn, who’s been serving the seat almost twice as long as Hovde has been alive, will prove to be a tough cookie to crumble in this fall’s election. Her closest recent election, against Ben Bowman in 2000, left her with 63 percent of the vote, enough to still be considered a landslide in the world of politics. She has remained highly popular in Minneapolis throughout the years. With multiple Ivy League degrees in science, a pair of thick glasses and a grandmotherly demeanor, Kahn projects an activist image and a legislative agenda that speaks for the University of Minnesota community, along with Prospect Park and portions of the Northeast and Seward neighborhoods. Her various labor and environmental endorsements add to her Mother Jones-like image.

“I do a pretty good job responding to people,” the 71-year-old Kahn says over the phone at 11 p.m. on a Wednesday night. “I’m highly regarded. I’m what people expect their legislator to be.”

By contrast, Hovde is hardly what you’d expect in a political candidate. While Kahn is old enough to retire, Hovde is barely old enough to drink a beer. While Kahn votes in the House, Hovde listens to professors in lecture halls. The differences between their political agendas are about as great as the half-century age gap that separates them. Kahn’s a liberal and Hovde’s a conservative living in her leftist district.

Tuition costs are near the top of Hovde’s campaign issues. Reducing tuition is a major goal, but for now Hovde’s first step it to essentially freeze the costs and have students pay their freshman tuition rates for the rest of their undergraduate years. “Can the U of M be fiscally responsible?” he asks. “I’m sure we can cut programs, I don’t know which ones yet, but I’m sure we can do something.”

When asked about how he’s going to lower or at least freeze tuition, Hovde is blunt in acknowledging he still has to figure that part out and admits he risks looking stupid with no solutions. But he says cost-cutting is the answer and is working with his campaign committee to look at how the university can shave expenses. One thought is to cut the frequency of the campus connector route that connects the school’s East and West banks. “We have that wonderful tunnel,” he says, referring to the enclosed portion of the Washington Avenue foot bridge. “We live in Minnesota – people can walk.”

Another thought is ridding the university of its Driven to Discover PR program, which seeks to make the U of M one of the world’s top three public research universities. Hovde says it has already cost the school $6 million. “If I can see it’s proven to work, I will support it, but so far it hasn’t,” he says.

Hovde is not new to politics. His resume’ includes working for President Bush’s 2004 reelection campaign, interning for Minnesota State Rep. Mike Beard (R – Shakopee), serving as Senior Vice Chair of the College Republicans, and now interning for Collegians for a Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT). He also owns a small business, “Ole Does Windows,” which cleans local residential and commercial windows. He likes to say he became a conservative when he started his company, but it really dates back to when he was 13 and working his first job at a golf course. His first paycheck deducted $70 worth of taxes. Confused, Hovde asked his dad what was going on.

“He sat me down and explained to me why, without saying anything about his views,” he says. “I knew instantly I didn’t agree with it. When you’re 13, $70 is a lot of money. Hell, when you’re a college student $70 is a lot of money.” Years later, high taxes on his small company would reinforce this viewpoint. He’s been running his window-cleaning business since 2005.

Hovde’s position as a small business owner may win over the trust of some. “He knows how to do payroll taxes,” says Rep. Beard. Beard contends that Hovde has an ability to appeal to taxpayers that is more valuable than what he called Kahn’s academic, “ivory tower” approach to politics. “This job doesn’t require Ph.D.s, it requires connections with people. And when it comes to smarts, Ole’s as sharp as a whip,” he says.

University student and unofficial campaign manager Sean Niemic agrees. “There’s nothing better to do on a Friday night than chat with Ole about the issues,” he says. Niemic, who’s currently overlooking much of the campaign until they have a manager ready, is also passionate about Hovde’s proposal to increase the number of campus police officers. According to Hovde, there are two university cops for every 10,000 students. “It’s going to cost money – I understand that,” Hovde says. “But it’s going to lower crime.”

However, Hovde has a formidable challenge lying ahead. With her constant community appearances, easily recognizable face and inability to lose elections – so far – Kahn’s persistence will be something Hovde can’t afford to ignore. Yet in her long years as a legislator, she hasn’t remained free of controversy. In the past, she has taken positions unpopular among even her DFL counterparts, including co-sponsoring a bill granting non-residents the right to vote and advocating reducing the voting age to 12. “I welcome opposition at any time,” Kahn says. “I hope it means we have a serious debate.”

She doesn’t think the district, where a majority of households make less than $35,000 a year, will support a conservative candidate. “This is a very activist district,” she says. “It expects a legislator who thinks for themselves.” When it comes to supporting tax increases, Kahn’s unapologetic. “My opponents will say I’ve never met a tax I didn’t like,” she says. “But you can’t fund institutions and issues without taxes. If you cut them, it leads to rising tuition and mediocre education.”

Still, Hovde remains optimistic and sees himself as a candidate for the students. “We’re going to take on Kahn one door, one person at a time,” he says. Although still an undergrad, he’s already talking like a career politician. “I’m not in this for the short term,” he says. “There’s a 99 percent chance you’ll see me in 2010 if I don’t win this year. Either way, you’ll see me again.”