Why are you interested in serving in the Legislature? I am running for the House of Representatives because we need common sense back in St. Paul. I am a social studies teacher in a juvenile detention center in the Willmar School District and the kids I teach feel no one will advocate for them, stand up for their best interests, or help them realize their full potential. The people of rural Minnesota that I have talked to feel the same way; they feel politicians are looking out only for themselves or their political party.

When politicians in St. Paul engage in partisan politics the people of rural Minnesota suffer and we fall further behind. As a Minnesotan and a teacher, I say enough. These are tough economic times, so we must work together to find a solution to the state's budget shortfall. We can't just cut our way out of debt or tax our way out the state's economic problems, and we can't continue the pretense of "no new taxes" while just shifting the burden onto property taxes. This tax burden has fallen hardest on small communities like ours in rural Minnesota and hurt our schools, our cities, and our economic development.

It is time to elect someone who will vote for the people in this district rather than obey the demands of a political party. I will be that person.

What, if any, state revenue increases could you support? I agree with all three gubernatorial candidates. We need to look at a combination of both cuts and some taxes. We could cut every state employee and still be over $2 billion in deficit, so cuts alone will not be adequate. There is a need for increased revenue in the state, but I will work to make sure that any tax increases are fair and equitable, unlike the "no new taxes" policy of the last eight years. Fees and property tax increases hurt middle class workers and had terrible consequences for rural Minnesota's economy. I won't play games like that, because I think it is time for honesty in government again. One way to increase state revenue is to get people back to work that they start spending again.

Describe an out-of-the-box solution to help the budget. Again, we need to look at a combination of both cuts and some taxes. There is a need for increased revenue in the state, but I will work to make sure that any tax increases are fair and equitable, unlike the "no new taxes" policy of the last eight years. With fees and property tax increases that hurt middle class workers and had terrible consequences for rural Minnesota's economy.

If you were king (or queen), how would you balance the state budget? Again, I will work to make sure that any cuts or increases are fair and equitable, unlike the "no new taxes" policy of the last eight years. With fees and property tax increases that hurt middle class workers and had terrible consequences for rural Minnesota's economy. I want to eliminate redundancies in government and make sure that government works for us and cuts down on spending.

With the Vikings lease expiring after 2011, what state role do you support in building a new Vikings stadium? I believe we should not use tax dollars in these troubled times to pay for a stadium, but at the same time we need to keep the Vikings in Minnesota. We will have to look for new ways to generate revenue to pay for the stadium.

What can an individual legislator do to bring about bipartisan compromise in St. Paul? First, I am there for the people that elect me. I will not follow the party line like some. I will be the voice of the people I represent and will work towards what is best for the people I represent. I will reach across the aisle because we need to work together, we need to come up with common sense solutions, and we need to do what is in the best interest of the state, not the party we are endorsed by. I am a Minnesotan first and will be there for the people getting things done, not my party.

What should the legislature do to minimize abortions? I am pro-life and believe life begins at conception. We need to educate our youth about making good decisions in their life that prepare them for the future.