Minnesota and North Dakota Voter's Guide

Forum Communications Co., in collaboration with the League of Women Voters of Minnesota and of North Dakota, is providing this voter guide to help keep you informed ahead of the 2024 election.

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Voter Guide

Minnesota State House District 40B

State Representatives serve in the Minnesota House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the state legislature. They write and vote on legislation to create, repeal, or change state laws affecting many issues, like health care, the environment, and the economy. They also vote on state taxes and the state spending. A candidate forum for this race is available at https://ninenorth.org/speak-outs/. More MN forums are available at https://www.lwvmn.org/2024-candidate-forums.

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  • Candidate picture

    Curtis Johnson
    (DFL)

  • Candidate picture

    Paul Wikstrom
    (Rep)

Biographical Information

If elected, what will your top three priorities be and why? (750 characters)

What will you do to support a vibrant economy across Minnesota and to address inflation? (500 character)

What legislation, if any, would you support to address racial or ethnic disparities in Minnesota? (500 characters)

What legislation, if any, would you support to address climate change and its effects in Minnesota? (500 characters)

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Campaign Website http://www.curtisformn.com
Facebook (Full URL) http://facebook.com/curtisformn
Campaign Twitter Handle @curtisformn
Campaign Email curtis@curtisformn.com
My first priority would be Education. We need to build on the gains made in the last biennium and make sure our students are ready for college and or career. My second priority would be the environment. We have the opportunity to meet climate change challenge head-on and at the same time create green jobs. My third priority would be affordable housing. This includes housing to allow seniors to age in place, expansion of initiatives to help first-time home buyers, and ensuring everyone has a safe and secure place to live.

We need to keep our workforce through investment in education and ensuring there is a place for people to live. Create loans for people to update their houses. Become a leader in the creation of new green jobs. Create incentives for businesses to reinvest money into their companies instead of dividends. And pass the ERA
I fully support a state Equal Rights Amendment. I support additional funding for AVID, a college readiness program. I support ensuring adequate housing and healthcare for all. All of these things are social justice issues and can help lessen disparities. I was a member of the MN Social Studies Standards Review Committee. When students gain a more holistic approach to history we can improve as a society.
I would support the increased use of green energy. Roseville Area Schools has solar panels on four of their schools and the Moundsview School District will start a geothermal project this fall. We need to look at providing legislation to help cities convert their vehicles to electric. An electric fire engine lasts longer than a gas engine. I would expand proven programs like Farm to School and Food to Hogs.
Campaign Website http://WikstromForHouse.com
Contact Phone 612-643-0060
Facebook (Full URL) http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560290081844
Campaign Email FriendsForPaulWikstrom@gmail.com
#1 We need to make Minnesota an affordable place to live: the 2023-24 legislature increased spending by 40%. This included an $18B surplus and $10B more in taxes. The state of Minnesota has mismanaged spending and ignored fraud. This includes over $650M of Feeding Our Future fraud and pandemic overpayments. #2 We need to reduce crime rates and improve community safety: Minnesotans do not feel safe. Minnesota’s crime rate is now crossing above the national crime rate! #3 Public education: since 2019: reading proficiency is down 16%, math proficiency down 17%, science proficiency down 23% while spending is increasing! Mississippi's 4th grade reading proficiency is higher than Minnesota's while we are spending $6,000 more per pupil.
At the state level the legislature can support a vibrant economy by making responsible spending decisions, properly managing the public funds, and setting sustainable taxes. The state of Minnesota has mismanaged spending and ignored fraud. We need to improve our budgeting and spending through audits, proper planning, and TRANSPARENT legislation. I will propose legislation to create a fraud crime stopper hotline.
The Minnesota Constitution provides broad and comprehensive rights to all Minnesotans. Within our codified rights we can most effectively address racial and ethnic disparities by: 1) ensuring a vibrant economy that provides opportunity for all and 2) providing a public education at the highest standard. In the words of John F. Kennedy: "A rising tide lifts all boats."
In Minnesota we are fortunate to have an abundance of natural resources that provide endless recreational opportunities and jobs. We must strike the right balance between protecting our natural resources while allowing for their responsible utilization.
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The League of Women Voters of Minnesota and North Dakota crafted the questions sent to the candidates in the Spring of 2024. They reached out to candidates based on contact information in their public candidate filings. Candidates with email addresses were invited and reminded with emails. Candidates with only mailing addresses were sent a letter. Candidates with phone numbers received a phone call as well.

Candidate responses are published as they responded and have not been edited, except when responses were longer than the given character limit. In those cases, the responses are truncated.

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