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 9A

The “lower chamber” of the Minnesota legislature has two representatives per senate district for a total of 134. Representatives are elected every two years.What your state legislature does affects many facets of your life—the taxes you pay, the highways on which you drive, public schools, the state-supported colleges and universities you or your children might attend, the state parks that provide recreation for you and your family, social programs, funding for the judicial system.

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  • Candidate picture

    Jeff Backer
    (Rep)

  • Candidate picture

    Michael Ziomko
    (DFL)

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://jeffbacker.com
Contact Phone 701-361-1909
Facebook (Full URL) http://www.facebook.com/backerforhouse
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Campaign Website http://mziomko.com
Contact Phone 6127031189
Campaign Email michaelziomko@gmail.com
Lower income taxes on first $85,000 of taxable income by 90%. Free child care. More support for senior housing. Pro-choice and the ERA in the state constitution.

The first is obvious -- so people have more money in the bank to live their lives. The second allows more people to work, both mother and father, and not have practically all the net income of one job go to child care. The third, re senior housing -- about 20 to 25% of the folks in 9A are over 65. We need greater options for more senior facilities, with more employees, and for more at-home care. The fourth, the Constitution starts -- "We the people..." We have for just under 250 years been trying to be more inclusive. Our moment to take another big step is Pro-Choice and ERA.
I think fhat if we make it easier for both women and men to work, the economy will flourish, and there will be more money to take care of our needs. Inflation is a larger issue, and I would rely on what my colleagues in the Legislature might already have on the table for consideration.
Again, since I'm new to all of this, I will look to see what is already on the table or being discussed. Being an old hippie, I will support any effort to erase racial and ethnic disparities.
There are programs in other states that provide solar arrays for your home at no or greatly reduced cost. The power produced reduces your electric bill. I will press for such a program in MN
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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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