State House Candidates Ron Erhardt, Bill Glahn on the Issues

Bill Glahn (R) and Ron Erhardt (DFL) were among participants as the League of Women Voters of Edina held its first candidate forum of the 2012 election cycle last week.

Discussion topics ranged from altering school district boundaries to the unionization of daycare workers, as the two House District 49A candidates made their cases to potential voters.

Here's a quick rundown of where they weighed in on the major issues during the Sept. 19 LWVE forum at the Edina Community Center.

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What measures would you support to reduce the state deficit and pay money back to school districts?

Bill Glahn: Glahn said he thinks revenues will be 5 percent better than the last two years. With inflation at 3 percent, he said the state should have more than it needs in terms of inflation adjustments to meet needs in MN without resorting to tax increases. "The first rule of holes is to stop digging. Stop the gimmicks, stop kicking the can down the road." Glahn advocates using excess revenue to help offset school funding shifts.

Ron Erhardt: In terms of the budget, Erhardt says Minnesota needs to make some cuts, but also look at raising some new revenue. He believes the current legislature has been "unable to use all of the tools in the toolbox."

What's your position on the two proposed constitutional amendments on ballots?

Erhardt: Against both amendments. "People should not have the government poking in their bedrooms, this is another instance of that." Erhardt is also against Photo ID, which he said could disenfranchise thousands of Edina voters if passed.

Glahn: Believes in direct democracy, with hopes to channel voter views on those issues. "No matter what Edina votes, I'll honor what the City of Edina believes."

Would you support the development of a state-based health insurance exchange rather than waiting for the federal government to react?

Glahn: Yes. Glahn said we should do something in Minnesota that's consistent with our values and free market principles.

Erhardt: Yes. Minnesota has a chance to adopt an exchange that'll be more suitable to the state than what federal government will offer as no choice.

What will you do to work across the aisle with opposing party to get something accomplished?

Erhardt: "I rarely in my seat because I was working across the aisle, walking around, talking with people and making deals. I'd continue to do the same things." Said he'd build coalitions through his work in the legislature, as "that's the only way you can get good things done over there."

Glahn: Mentioned his work under Tim Pawlenty, where he had to bridge the gap between a Republican governor and DFL-controlled legislature. "Unlike my DFL opponent, I have a more recent experience at the Capitol. I know the players who are there today, the leaders of both parties."

What should be the role of the state in public transit?

Glahn: Said the state needs to be careful to solve transportation problems that exist today moving forward. Mentioned how Hwy. 62 backs up at 3 p.m. every day, which he thinks could be solved with proper planning.

Erhardt: "The population is aging and we need transportation for them when they give up their car keys." He sees public transit as key to commercial and retail development.

Would you support raising the tobacco tax for public health benefit?

Erhardt: Wouldn't be against looking into the possibility.

Glahn: Is concerned with raising taxes and fees, in terms of where the money goes. Would want to take a further look at it before making any sort of decision.

What are your thoughts on Minnesota's renewable energy standard and climate change?

Glahn: Said it was his job to implement the renewable energy standard under Gov. Tim Pawlenty. "We did it in the least costly manner we could and tried to be cognizant of the impact on consumers."

Erhardt: Said he was co-author on the bill in 2007. "I understand being from Virginia how Bill likes coal so well, but there are sun and wind as well."

Do you support Governor Dayton's attempts to unionize home daycare providers?

Erhardt: Said he thinks there are methods available to make daycare a more viable option for people without the Governor ordering it. "I think if you go through the process that's necessary, they should be allowed to [unionize]."

Glahn: "Home daycare jobs are the types of jobs we should be encouraging in Minnesota." Said people are concerned about having to join a union, at least in terms of the cost and regulatory work that would go along with it.

Should setting a budget or evaluating the current level of government come first?

Glahn: "We need to look at what revenue we'll have coming in the door first." Based on the resources coming through the door, said the government can then set priorities for the budget accordingly.

Erhardt: Said we need to take a hard look at what we've done to education over the last 10 years. "We're falling behind, we're educating kids to compete globally. We have to decide if we'll make the extra effort to do that."

Should all Edina residents attend Edina Public Schools?

Erhardt: Said the Unite Edina 273 folks have a point, though he "doesn't have a sign in (his) yard." Noted a lot of people weren't happy about the way they were going about it. "I don't think they will be successful with it, as it sets a precedent nationwide. More power to them if they can do it."

Glahn: "We're one city, we should have one school district." Said he'd be happy to champion bills authored by Keith Downey and Geoff Michel last session trying to allow all Edina residents to attend Edina schools. 

Who do you think should make changes regarding bullying, the state or individual school systems?

Glahn: Believes the problem begins with the family, community, neighborhood, school system and then state. "If it's a problem in the community, we need to solve it from the bottom up, not top down."

Erhardt: Direction needs to come from the state in order to have some sort of uniformity. "To say to let them all run loose, do what they think they can do, you'd have people on the streets with guns trying to find money for Minneapolis and St. Paul school systems."

Do you support the construction of the southwest light rail line?

Erhardt: It will be a great way to move the local workforce around. "It's a tremendous boon to that area and to people who want to get back and forth to work."

Glahn: Said we need to be careful as we roll out mass transit project to make sure it's a good use of taxpayer dollars. "Every time we do a light rail project, it ends up being $1 billion a throw." 

Is there any part of your party's platform you don't support?

Glahn: Said he's sure if he were honored enough to be a representative, someone would be unhappy with something he did. "I can't guarantee every vote I make will please everyone."

Erhardt: Noted he's always been more of an independent. Admitted he hasn't really read the current DFL platform. "There are some things about the DFL platform, I just let them go. There are some things I'm sure I'd disagree with, I'm sure there are."

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