District 7B 2024 Election Guide

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.

Election Guide Homepage

Lorrie Janatopoulos

Contributed

/

Lorrie Janatopoulos

Incumbent: No
Age on Election Day: (Field left blank)
City/township of residence: I live in Unorganized Township 5 in the Makinen area
Party: DFL

Where are you currently employed, and what is your role?
Retired CareerForce Director for the State of MN Department of Employment and Economic Development

Please share any prior experience that you believe qualifies you for office.
I have over 35 years of relevant and qualifying experience to be a State Representative for the Iron Range. For 10 years, I worked for St. Louis County Commissioner Liz Prebich, handling constituent concerns and assisting with policy development. For 20 years, I worked for Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency (AEOA). As AEOA's Planning Director, I developed and secured funding for housing, employment, early childhood and youth programs, rural transportation and senior services. I am a 2016 BUSH Foundation Fellow. During my Fellowship, I was an Executive Intern at the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Agency (IRRR) where I participated in community and economic development initiatives. As a BUSH Fellow, I also worked for Hibbing Community College to help implement the EMPOWER program which trained young women in non-traditional occupations. From 2019-2023, I was the CareerForce Director for the State of Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) providing job services via 150 employees across 50 workforce centers statewide. I also managed the Veterans' Employment Services Program.

Please describe the roles and responsibilities of the office you are running for.
The Minnesota House of Representatives is the lower house of the State Legislature. Along with the Minnesota Senate, it forms the legislative branch of Minnesota State government. The State Legislature's primary job following an election year is to create a balanced two-year state budget. State House roles and responsibilities include passing public policy bills, setting levels for state spending, raising and lowering taxes, and voting to uphold or override gubernatorial vetoes. I also believe that it is the responsibility of a State Representative to be responsive to the people, to be accessible, and to listen.

Why are you running for office?
I am running for office because I love the Iron Range. I am proud of our persistence and determination, and our ability to help each other when times are tough. My life has been similar to many working families on the Iron Range. My ex-husband worked in the mines and that good union job enabled us to own a home, start a family, and enjoy all the middle class has to offer. I am running because my education and experience has prepared me well for serving in the State House. From Assistant to St. Louis County Commissioner Liz Prebich to Planning Director at AEOA to CareerForce Director for the State of Minnesota, my entire career has focused on helping Rangers and Minnesotans to build a better, more resilient future. I am running because my message of Iron Range Strong resonates with and reflects the values of the Iron Range. I support mining including precious metal mining, a strong public education system and the professionals who teach our children, and I support the freedom to access reproductive health care. I’ll fight for the Iron Range in St. Paul because I know what it takes to make it here.

What are your priorities, if elected? Please describe specific policy goals.
I will fight for a strong economy, strong families, and strong communities. A strong economy rests on mining. The Iron Range can lead the clean energy transition through responsible mining of precious metals. Beyond mining, I will promote small and mid-size businesses, workforce development, and diversification of our economic base. Strong families rely on strong public schools and investing in the professionals who teach our children. Strong families rely on the freedom to choose whether, when, and how to have a family. Reproductive health care is foundational to that freedom. Strong families means protecting our seniors, providing affordable daycare, and insuring affordable and accessible healthcare. Strong Iron Range Communities means protecting local government aid, increasing town aid, investing in infrastructure, broadband, and affordable housing for all. It means protecting our freedom to enjoy the outdoors and our recreational lifestyle.

To hit the ground running, I will work closely with Senator Grant Hauschild as Representative Lislegard did. Representative Lislegard and Senator Hauschild worked together to provide property tax and social security tax relief, invest in emergency medical services, and begin a process to streamline permitting. I would continue those efforts. In addition, Representative Lislegard was the Chair of the House Property Tax Committee and I hope to chair that committee as well.

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?
The Iron Range has some of the oldest housing stock in the state. My priorities include investing in the development and maintenance of affordable housing for families and individuals across the income spectrum; both the supply of affordable housing for rent and homes for purchase. I would promote homeownership, recognizing it as a means for developing wealth and stability for households. I would advocate for programs that support first-time homebuyers, including down payment assistance and champion initiatives to enable homeowners to rehabilitate their properties if they so choose.

I would work to improve rental housing quality by supporting renters and landlords in rehabbing their single family or multi-family housing. I support incentivizing renovations to existing homes, and the development of senior living allowing seniors to age within their community while making housing available for people dreaming of owning a home. In addition, the safety net for specialized housing needs to be maintained with wrap-around services for those most vulnerable to facing homelessness. This requires public-private partnership with housing developers especially in rural areas where the cost of housing development is high. My experience in housing development at AEOA has provided me with background knowledge and an extensive network of experts in the housing development field that will serve me well in the State House.

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?
Minnesota can help the fight against climate change by leading the world in the responsible production of nonferrous mining that protects our environment and communities and positions us as clean energy leaders. Electronic waste recycling can also yield critical metals for the energy transition by using resources already available. In Northern Minnesota, winter temperature increases threaten our forest and lake resources through ecosystem changes with significant human impact. Tree species that cannot adapt will be more susceptible to insect predation and fire. Water systems and their inhabitants that lose needed ice cover will likewise have negative ecosystem changes associated with oxygen level modification, reduced water clarity and undesirable species introduction. I support efforts to try to stay ahead of these changes through resilient tree species introduction, wildfire prevention strategies, and enhanced lake monitoring. Biomass will be needed to supplement clean energy production and environmentally responsible management of this will be something for the state to help guide.

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.
At their doors, I have heard voters’ concerns about property taxes. I want to follow in Representative Dave Lislegard’s path and chair the House Property Tax Committee. Representative Lislegard was able to deliver on property tax relief and bring millions to the district for necessary community projects and services. I would fight to ensure taconite tax revenue benefits the core Iron Range. I want to increase the homestead tax relief, lowering property taxes. I support increasing town aid to the same percentage as local government aid to strengthen our towns.

Finding the right balance between providing essential services—such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure—while not placing an undue burden on residents is crucial. I believe in tax cuts for the middle class, not the wealthy. I also believe we should explore tax reforms that promote local economic growth. By offering targeted tax incentives to local businesses, we can stimulate the economy, create jobs, and increase tax revenue without raising rates. I would push state agencies to listen to those they serve, leverage input from community organizations, and invite community members affected by potential legislation to testify in St. Paul. Taxpayers deserve clear visibility into how their dollars are spent. Implementing transparent budgeting processes and regular audits will help ensure funds are allocated effectively.

How do you plan to improve transparency and trust in government?
Transparency and trust in government is essential for fostering productive and powerful relationships with communities. I strongly believe that being accessible to the people you serve is not only an obligation, but also a privilege ensuring better policy development. During my career designing community and workforce development programs, I have always been intentional about including the voices of those served. On the campaign trail, I have freely given out my email and phone number so that voters could get in touch. As a State Representative, I will continue that focus and establish easy ways for residents to provide feedback so their voices are heard in decision-making. I will actively seek their guidance; I will hear their stories and I will invite them to assist in proposing solutions to issues affecting their lives. I will host town halls and forums, seek advice from experts, and be present for important community conversations across the district. I will explain my decisions and accept critique. Beyond that I will push for transparency across State government including publicly sharing audits, budgets, and program performance evaluations.

Cal Warwas

Contributed

/

Cal Warwas

Incumbent: No
Age on Election Day: 48
City/township of residence: Clinton Township
Party: Republican

Where are you currently employed, and what is your role?
I work at the US Steel Minntac facility, in Central Shops, as an hourly Planner for the Fab and Weld Shops, which is part of the Ironworker craft.

Please share any prior experience that you believe qualifies you for office.
About the last ten years of my 28 year mining career have been as an hourly Planner. I'm still working full time as a union employee in this role, which is part of our weldor/fabricator trade at Minntac. Before that I have been a plant Millwright or shift mechanic in all of our plants, fill-in boss for maintenance and operations, a Mine Equipment Operator, Train Operator and Track or Pit Laborer. I've worked in the largest producing mine in North America and have collaborated well with management and union employees, regardless of age or political affiliation.

I've been elected to the Clinton Township board twice. I have been active in the St. Louis County Association of Townships, the Minnesota Association of Townships, and have also been an elected member of the RAMS board, stepping down only recently to focus on my run for the House. In my time on the township board, I championed our efforts of collaboration with RAMS, St. Louis County, the IRRB, CTC (Central Telephone Company) and MN DEED to win us roughly 5 million dollars in grants to bring high-speed broadband to all of Clinton Township, which will be completed in 2025.

I have been a citizen pro-mining activist for the last 8 years. I attend as many events that will help forward our precious metals mining projects on the Range as I can. Writing about affordable, reliable energy policy and the relationship it has to our mining success is also something I've been doing in the public sphere during all of that time. In 2023, I traveled to Washinton, D.C., with members of Fight for Mining Minnesota to petition Congressional and Senate offices to return our mineral leases back to the Twin Metals project, which is critical to our future.

Please describe the roles and responsibilities of the office you are running for.
The role of a Representative is in the title - to actually represent the people.

First, and always, a Representative needs to listen and be accountable to the people to see to the unique needs of the district and not just the whims or the will of any political party, and to uphold the US and MN Constitutions. As an elected official, I am dedicated to continuing to keep myself accessible to my constituents. My responsibility will be to serve on committees where I can be of greatest use to the long-term success of the Range, especially Natural Resource, Energy and Transportation, and to collaborate on legislation that will keep our people meaningfully, gainfully and safely employed.

Why are you running for office?
The core of my campaign is to bring balance back to state government. Right now, effectively 49% of the population in MN is unrepresented because the DFL can pass nearly any law without needing to acknowledge the minority party. This also means that the Metro-led Democrats set all the priorities for legislation for the entire state. At the end of the 2024 session, the Democrats and Tim Walz passed a multi-bill Omnibus (nicknamed Ominbus Prime by some) that effectively passed a 1,400 page bill that no one even had a chance to read. This was done in the last hour of the last day of the session, by both the Senate and the MN House members in the majority. When you have the power to shut out half the state from decision making, you've abused your office and cannot be trusted. This is just one more reason we need a House Majority of Republicans, so that we can negotiate a way forward for our state that works for everyone, not just the Metro area.

Additionally, the Metro DSA (Democrat Socialists of America) have forgotten how things are made. Rangers know that Made in the USA also means MINED IN THE USA! I am running to sustain and expand mining in Minnesota. Affordable energy, your 2nd Amendment rights, parental rights and supporting our law enforcement are also reasons that I am running for the House. The high cost of energy is hurting seniors and working families. Our gun rights are always under attack at the Legislature. Our LEO's have been vilified and demoralized and it's time more people stood up for our men and women in blue. I proud to be endorsed by the NRA-PVF and the Minnesota Police and Peace Officer's Association.

What are your priorities, if elected? Please describe specific policy goals.
Sustain and expand mining.
Create a balance energy policy that will keep costs down for industry and homeowners.
Protect your 2A rights.
Support our law enforcement officers.
Protect minor children from harm and protect parent's rights, which are under attach in MN.

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?
Record inflation, caused by our Federal Government, is hurting homeowners and renters across the board and we can't change that, but we can fight to lower property taxes and build certainty into our regional economy with meaningful permitting reform for mining and other industries, thereby boosting our local economy. Builders and other investors will be more likely to invest here when our future is more certain on an economic scale.

What effective policies will you support that will prepare your district now, next year and in the future to improve resiliency against climate change?
We need to utilize our natural resources in the best way possible, and that includes energy policy. Saying we need to be carbon neutral by 2040 is driving actions that are a tax on the poor and middle class, not to mention all business and heavy industy, especially iron ore processing. Lifting the moratorium on nuclear energy in this state would be a good start if we actually want to eliminate more greenhouse gases. The people that I will represent need to be confident that their electricity bills are not going to double in the near term because of too many reliable energy sources going off-line. I will support an all-of-the-above energy policy so that my constituents are not priced out of their homes and livelihoods.

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.
Returning surplus dollars to taxpayers in the fastest form of tax relief, but that has barely happened since the DFL trifecta took control of the state purse in January of 2023. Working closely with local units of government is the best way to ensure tax dollars are spent wisely. Accessibility and communication are two ways that I have operated as a township officer that I would continue to maintain as your state Representative in House District 7B.

How do you plan to improve transparency and trust in government?
Personal meetings, regular updates, townhall meetings and close communication with my constituents are the best way to accomplish those goals. I have been fortunate to earn the trust of many of my constituents in my elected role in Clinton Township over the last four+ years, and I will work hard to continue that tradition.

Return to Election Guide

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.