Affordability a Top Issue Among Candidates in House 37A, 37B Races

What are the top issues as you head to the polls this fall?

State House candidates vying to represent parts of Maple Grove were asked that question at a forum Tuesday night hosted by the North Metro Mayors Association.

Republican and DFL candidates from House 37A and 37B all agreed that affordability is a top concern, but candidates from both parties offered different ways to approach the issue.

“Last year the state government spent a $17.5 billion surplus. They raised taxes $11 billion on top of it. And Minnesotans just can’t afford it,” said incumbent Rep. Kristin Robbins, R-Maple Grove. “They grew government 40 percent over two years. It’s completely unsustainable. And we’re now looking at deficits, so Minnesotans need us to get our fiscal house in order.”

Robbins, who was first elected in 2018, will be challenged in House 37A by DFL candidate Laurie Wolfe, a Maple Grove resident and professor at Anoka-Ramsey Community College.

“Minnesota does have higher taxes than some other states, but we also get a lot of services in exchange for that,” said Wolfe. “So when you compare the taxes for the benefits, I think that the services that we provide are worthwhile. And I would like to see addressing the affordability issue through providing access to affordable housing. We have a concern with that in Maple Grove, specifically.”

House 37B Race

Republican candidates also mentioned crime and education as top concerns. DFL candidates said maintaining reproductive rights is a top concern heard from constituents.

In the race in House 37B, incumbent state Rep. Kristin Bahner, DFL-Maple Grove, will be challenged by and John Bristol, also a Maple Grove resident.

Both candidates discussed how to improve student achievement after math and reading proficiency dipped after the COVID-19 pandemic.

“What we have seen in the last two years is record spending on education to put those pieces in place,” said Bahner, who served for the past six years. “Of course, it takes a little time to get those things working, but having teachers’ aids, bringing down class sizes, and making sure students get the attention that they need and that they deserve so that they catch up is really important.”

Bristol, who served in Operation Desert Storm, raised concerns about statewide education mandates.

“The only thing I know for sure after having served on the school board here in Maple Grove … one of the problems is when you’re trying to exert local control, what happens with mandates that comes along with the money?” said Bristol. “So even though there was record spending on education, there’s no debate on that, it came with 68 mandates. And so by the time the school districts are able to actually implement this, they’re actually further behind than we were before.”

You can view the House 37A and 37B candidate forums here.

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