KAXE contacted each candidate at least twice to invite them to participate in our Election Guide, using contact information submitted to the Secretary of State's Office.
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KAXE's Election Guide includes contested races in communities with at least 100 people. Visit our full list of who's running for office in Northern Minnesota to see who else will be on the ballot in November.
About this race
The Minnesota Legislature passes laws and sets the state budget. It is made up of 67 senators and 134 representatives.
State House District 3B includes portions of Lake and St. Louis counties, and the cities of Two Harbors, Hermantown, Proctor, Rice Lake and one precinct of Duluth.
Republican Rep. Natalie Zeleznikar is seeking reelection. She serves as assistant party leader in the House. She was first elected in 2022.
The winner of the election will begin their two-year term in January.
Click the tabs below to learn more about the candidates
Website: aaronformn.com
Party: DFL
Age on Election Day: 46
Community: Hermantown
Employment: Zenith Asset Management, LLC
Please share any prior experience and education that you believe qualifies you for office.
I come from a background of law, working with government, owning small businesses, and building workforce and affordable housing for our communities.
Why are you running?
To improve people’s lives and make Minnesota an even better place to live, succeed, and thrive.
Why should voters elect you?
I’m compassionate, hard-working, willing to find bipartisan solutions, and I will always be willing to listen and learn.
What are your top three priorities, if elected? Please describe specific policy goals.
Housing, healthcare, and investing back into our communities.
Name a public leader you admire and explain why.
Jim Oberstar. I had the great privilege of working with Congressman Oberstar and learning much from him. Jim always stressed the importance of public service, giving back to your communities, investing in your communities, and doing your best to improve the lot of others.
What natural resources policies do you support?
I would encourage everyone to visit my website at www.AaronForMN.com to learn more about my positions.
What policies do you support to address concerns of widespread fraud in state-run programs?
I support an independent Inspector General; a public and transparent audit of all state government spending; hiring more investigators and prosecutors; and tougher prison sentences for convicted criminals.
What policies would you champion to help alleviate growing property tax burdens on residents at the local government level?
We need to protect our seniors and most vulnerable living on fixed incomes from being taxed out of their homes by capping property tax rates. In addition, the Legislature needs to increase Local Government Aid; spawn economic development through public and private investments using tax incentives and public subsidies where appropriate; and work towards compassionate, fiscal responsibility.
What does representative democracy mean to you?
In a representative democracy, everybody has a voice at the table and an opportunity to succeed. We choose a Representative who will listen and learn from their constituents, and then advocate passionately for the best interests of their communities when making laws and policies.
Incumbent
Website: natalieforhouse.com
Party: Republican
Age on Election Day: 60
Community: Fredenberg Township
Employment: Retired Nursing Home Administrator
Please share any prior experience and education that you believe qualifies you for office.
BS- Health Care Administration, 40 years works with vulnerable adults from nursing assistant to CEO. Worked all three shifts during COVID and I understand the issues facing health care entities for Greater MN. I enjoy working with various team members to get work done and I enjoy learning new things.
Why are you running?
Reset MN to a state which resembles the qualities which existed when I grew up in this state as well as raising our sons in this state. The line in the sand was crossed as Minnesotans have been exploited by fraudsters while working 2-3 jobs and taxes are no longer reasonable. Government grew 40 percent and this is unsustainable. I am running to make fiscal responsibility common and to stop funding every idea in St Paul that created double digit property taxes and car tab fees went up 1,000 for many. In addition we need to restore family childcare as greater Minnesotans lost 50%.
Why should voters elect you?
I am very hard working and I learned that growing up on our family farm. I give everything I do 150%, and I am accessible to everyone. I give out my cell phone and held 19 town halls to meet people where they live. I was drafted 18 bills the last four years that passed bipartisanly when operating with a trifecta and 100% Democrat control and then with a tied House in last session. I am diligent to stay at something to find areas of compromise and to find solutions.
What are your top three priorities, if elected? Please describe specific policy goals.
Get more money in your wallet. Cut state government spending first, prosecute fraudsters who stole our money and see them in jail, lower property taxes and have solid public safety you do the crime you do the time. Lower taxes for sure and finally end social security tax in Mn for all senior income levels like most other states do.Period.
Name a public leader you admire and explain why.
All those who serve as state representatives who have young children. I admire their ability to coordinate so many items in order to leave Sundays for St Paul and not be able to head home til the weekend. For those who live in greater Minnesota and live 2-6 hours away, it is a tremendous sacrifice for everyone. They do this to help make our state better. That is admirable to me.
What natural resources policies do you support?
Ensuring clean water , solid waste management and recycling and protecting our air quality. Also looking at fires mitigation ideas to reduce the continued fire issues and reduced air quality that hurts the tourism economy and our health as well.
What policies do you support to address concerns of widespread fraud in state-run programs?
Audit all programs that opened in COVID years when the governor allowed guardrails to be loosened and fraudsters had a field day! I wrote a bill to ensure an assisted living can’t run the facility from another country to introduce jn 2027 session to hold DHS accountable.
What policies would you champion to help alleviate growing property tax burdens on residents at the local government level?
Stop passing state bills that result in local governments having mandates with no state general fund money resulting in hughet property taxes due to school, city and county Gov mandates. Lower commercial property taxes to stimulate small businesses and then the tax base grows and they pay double the rate of a hime owner to help lower hime owner property taxes.
What does representative democracy mean to you?
It means I represent the best interests of about 44,000 in my district first. They elected me to read every bill, share with them what is happening in committee and on House floor and let them know how and why I voted as I did. I always vote based on what 80 percent would support. I am voting on their behalf after they selected me.
Still have questions for the candidates? Contact information for all those who've filed to run for office can be found at candidates.sos.state.mn.us.
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Contributed/Book covers—publisher websites; Tracy KampaChildren's librarian Tracy Kampa reviews new books by Sophie Blackall, Chelsea Lin Wallace, Steve Sheinkin and Meaghan McIsaac. -
The retired DNR forester gave a walking tour of his forest property as part of a Cass Soil and Water Conservation District forest management event. -
Plus: Aitkin's 68-year-old water tower is demolished; Demuth, Klobuchar will debate in the Brainerd lakes area; and we're partnered with ICTV to host school board forums.
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Stella Mayerhoff/KAXE / Report for AmericaRetired DNR forester Gary Anderson gave a walking tour of his forest property as part of a Cass Soil and Water Conservation District habitat management event.
