KAXE contacted every candidate twice using contact information submitted to the Secretary of State's Office to invite them to participate in our Election Guide.
Candidate responses have not been edited and are published as submitted.
As necessary, our news team added contextual information clearly marked with an "editor's note" and in italics, though responses have not been uniformly fact-checked. With our small team of three, we are unable to proactively fact check every statement made by candidates. But we will make every effort to make note of inaccuracies if they come to our attention.
Please contact our news team at news@kaxe.org with questions or comments or to report any errors.
KAXE's Election Guide only includes candidates in contested races. Visit our full list of who's running for office in Northern Minnesota to see who else is on the ballot.
Mark Munger
Incumbent: No
Age on Election Day: 70
City/township of residence: Fredenberg Township
Party: DFL
Where are you currently employed, and what is your role?
Retired District Court Judge
Please share any prior experience that you believe qualifies you for office.
40+ years as a lawyer, mediator, and judge have prepared me for this role.
Please describe the roles and responsibilities of the office you are running for.
To consider the economic, personal, health, education, and environmental concerns of my constituents and work with folks in my own party and across the aisle to attain results.
Why are you running for office?
I want to bring common sense and civility back to political discourse. I want a better world for all our grandchildren.
What are your priorities, if elected? Please describe specific policy goals.
Continuing our historic support of public education (including pre-K programming and free school lunches); tackling the demographic crisis of elder care; leading the discussion of economic development of my district (including mining, helium exploration, and timber industries) while protecting our water, air and outdoor heritage; and working towards affordable health care for all as a right, not a privilege of employment (beginning with an expansion of Minnesota Care).
Across the region, renters and owners are struggling to afford housing. If elected, what would you do to address the issues of availability and affordability for your constituents?
Existing partnerships between the federal, state, and local governments and developers must be strengthened to ensure affordable housing, both rental and owned, is a reality for young families and working folks.
From our audience: What effective policies will you support that will prepare your district now, next year and in the future to improve resiliency against climate change?
I am a believer that climate change is real and that we need to migrate from fossil fuel reliance to renewable energy. Recent discoveries concerning fusion energy technology may be in the works but are decades away. The truth is, our NE MN lifestyle presents (in the form of distances, infrastructure, and our use of gasoline powered recreational vehicles) some serious challenges to converting to an all electric world. More thought and compromise will be needed, with the caveat that we need to move quickly, to get us to carbon zero.
High taxation is a concern for many Northern Minnesotans. Please share any specific opinions you hold related to taxation, and how you plan to ensure tax dollars are used efficiently and effectively.
We can't tax folks on fixed incomes or veterans or the disabled out of their homes. Property taxes are regressive and harm those least able to afford an increase. However, there is likely room for more discussion regarding our sales, income, gasoline, and other taxes and fees, especially regarding the wealthiest amongst us and as they regard luxury purchases.
How do you plan to improve transparency and trust in government?
By working to restore civility and try to end the demonization of those who don't agree with my view of the world. A tall order but one that is essential to getting Minnesota back on track.
Natalie Zeleznikar
Incumbent: Yes
Party: Republican
KAXE did not receive a response from this candidate.
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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