The Wake

When the Student Public Affairs Coalition organized the October 20th debate among State House District 59B candidates, they created a platform for the four to argue. Surprisingly, there was a lot of agreeing going on.

All four candidates say the budget is their highest priority for the upcoming term, and agreed that the state must restore funds cut last year from the “U.”

On how the state would find money for the “U,” incumbent Phyllis Kahn (D) said, “Unfortunately, there isn’t a line in the state budget that says, ‘fraud, waste, and inefficiency.” She attacked Gov. Pawlenty’s “no tax policy,” suggesting that we repeal tax breaks for the wealthy and seek federal funding for education. Kahn supports a gopher-only stadium, but she’s “troubled” by the amount of time spent pursuing a stadium while problems like rising tuition persist.

The energetic, bespectacled grandmother emphasized her record throughout the debate. Kahn is serving her 16th term, and though her opponents all say 59B needs a new face, she’s proud of her long service. She’s authored or co-authored many bills, including health science business grants and allowing programs for women, infants and children (WIC) to purchase organic food.

Republican-endorsed Amanda Hutchings, a “U” student, would vote to restore funding to the “U” but doesn’t want the state to increase taxes. She says a lot of need-based funding goes unused, and that making funds more accessible will do the trick. Additionally, she would vote to cut the Light Rail Transit system that runs to the airport and Mall of America because she says it only serves tourists.

Hutchings was the only candidate to pass on an issue after a verbal stumble. Several student groups support Hutchings, like Students for Family Values and Campus Republicans, and she upholds conservative social values like opposing abortion “in any form” and supporting abstinence education. Hutchings admitted following the debate that she didn’t expect to win on Tuesday.

Green Party candidate Becki Smith wants university finding restored because “U” was intended to be free or low-cost. Smith also supports universal health care and other Green ideals of grassroots democracy, non-violence, and protecting the environment. Although Smith is the only candidate who did not attend the “U,” she says she can relate to students’ situations since she was unable to juggle going to college and working full time to pay for it.

A feminist, Smith proposes a state program to get more women involved in politics. Phyllis Kahn adopted the issue, calling herself a long-time champion of women’s rights. “Becki gave an impassioned campaign plea to re-elect me,” Kahn said. Following the debate, Smith responded, “I respect Kahn. She was a woman elected in 1972, but my issue with her is that she’s been in there for 32 years and it’s time for a new face.”

Speaking from behind a fuzzy gray beard and wearing a yellow campaign T-shirt with the words “I’ll work like a dog for you,” on it, Independence Party candidate Ron Lischeid made the audience laugh by saying that Kahn’s policy of funding scientific research “will be a great help to her as she transitions into the private sector.” He describes himself as fiscally conservative, but hopes to restore funds to the “U.” Lischeid supports a stadium on campus. He remembers watching football games from the roof of his frat house as a “U” undergrad, and suggests sharing a stadium with Augsburg College to defray the cost.

“Papa Ron,” as he calls himself on his website, wants to break up the childish, “Spy vs. Spy” partisan gridlock in our state legislature. Although he agreed with Rep. Kahn throughout the debate, he’d like to unseat her because he feels she’s lost touch with voters. “She hasn’t been bringing any bacon home to the district in the last half of her terms.”