.jpg)
Both similarities and differences in visions for Minnesota emerged on Friday, June 28 as House Representative Roger Skraba and DFL candidate Harley Droba answered public-initiated questions at a forum at Reunion Hall in Silver Bay to a crowd of 40 people with Cook County Herald Editor Brian Larson officiating.
The candidates, both former mayors, were respectful— even jovial—with one another as they answered questions and sparred over terms like “responsible mining,” “affordable housing,” health care, and various bills from the last legislative session. Here is a summary of their answers on a few of the topics they covered:
Responsible Mining Skraba pointed out that with the helium discovery, he has been part of a process that learns from scratch how to responsibly regulate a mining operation.
With support from environmental groups and industry approval, he is happy with the results so far.
He acknowledged that copper-nickel mining is more difficult.
“We set the standard. If the company meets or exceeds the standard, we give the permit,” he said, adding that permitting reform, ridding the process of endless bureaucratic hiccups or lawsuits, was something he was working on with Senator Grant Hauschild (DFL-Hermantown).
Droba agreed that mining could be done responsibly in Minnesota but disagreed with the notion of permitting reform, arguing “the last thing we need is to roll back standards.”
Housing
Droba acknowledged that this was a “tough issue” and argued for more state funding and also expanding utilities.
Skraba listed several things he’d done in his twoyear term on housing and stated that he didn’t think commercial permits (for short term vacation rentals) should be allowed in residential areas. Everyone, he said, should pay school taxes.
Support a popular vote for a Minnesota Equal Rights Amendment Skraba agreed with earlier versions of ERAs but believes, along with others from both parties, he says, that the House version went “way too far” and “sought to enshrine” elements that strayed far from the common ground that had been found with earlier versions.
The Senate had a better bill, he said, which simply disappeared. Skraba mentioned that he was also opposed to the language in the “Trans Refuge” bill that allowed minors to get “gender-affirming care” including hormonal therapy and surgery without their parents consent. He said he would approve a bill with the language “tightened up” to represent its original intent.
Droba voiced unequivocal approval for the House Equal Rights Amendment, saying “this is Minnesota’s attempt to move forward. It’s not perfect but I’d still support it.”
Areas of general agreement Both candidates generally supported:
• Some type of single-payer health care system (modified version for Skraba)
• Giving House Representatives adequate time to review bills.
• A woman deserves control over her body.
• Term limits should be instituted.
• Rural ambulance services are critical and current steps are being taken, with more needed.
The full debate included many other topics and is well worth listening to. It can be accessed at the KTWH.org website (Programs dropdown) or the KTWH You-Tube channel. This event was a joint venture between KTWH, the Lake County Press, the Cook County News Herald and Two Harbors Media.
