Minnesota, get ready to vote! Minnesota’s primary election will be held on Tuesday, August 11, 2020. The individual within each party who receives the most votes will move on to the general election on November 3. To keep you informed and learn more about the candidates in the House District 4A race, keep reading!
 

The Chamber does not endorse candidates, but we do want to spread educational information to help our members and the public make informed decisions when heading to the polls. We reached out to all candidates in this election and invited them to submit an answer to the following questions. All answers below have been pasted exactly as they were sent to us. No editing has been made.
 

Minnesota State House, District 4A

Chuck Hendrickson (D) Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

If elected, what are your top three priorities and what impact do they have on business?

a.  Make healthcare more accessible and affordable for all Minnesotans. Providing affordable healthcare will give small business employees options when choosing their healthcare.
b.  Secure infrastructure funding for the 11th Street underpass. An underpass would make it easier to navigate around the trains, adding more customers to downtown Moorhead and throughout the city.
c.  We need to make sure our businesses are continuing to be profitable and successful during the COVID-19 pandemic.

What do you believe can be done at the state level to help promote Moorhead’s competitiveness as a border city?
We can pass legislation that mirrors or closely resembles incentives and regulations of Fargo and Eastern North Dakota. I will bring  “Moe Zone” type legislation to the capital making the border cities ultra-competitive with our neighbors to the West.

If elected, what relevant skills or competencies would you bring to the table?
I was a member of the Economic Development Authority (EDA) for 4 years and worked with them to pass the Moorhead Renaissance Zone Program which simplified the tax emption for startup businesses. As a member of the Moorhead City Council, I have made many key votes for business retention and development in the city. I will use this experience at the Minnesota Legislature to continue the momentum we have established during my years on the Moorhead City Council.

What is your vision for Minnesota and specifically District 4A, and how would you as a legislator help take us there?
My vision is to position Moorhead as the first option to establish a business in the Fargo-Moorhead area. We have developed a welcoming business climate during my time on the council and we need to keep moving in that direction. As mentioned before, I will work to expand the Border City Enterprise and Development Zone program, working with both Republicans and Democrats to get this done.

Heather Keeler (D)
info@heather4house.com

If elected, what are your top three priorities and what impact do they have on business?
a)    Education Equity, when we invest in our K12 and Higher Education systems with an inclusive decision making lens we help our whole community thrive with opportunity.
b)    Keeping local hands involved in local work, helping to ensure we continue to support our small businesses with grants and supports as we work through the impacts of COVID.
c)    Increase the Minimum Wage to $15 an hour so our community members are valued for the work they do and can afford a safe and healthy living environment.

What do you believe can be done at the state level to help promote Moorhead’s competitiveness as a border city?
a)    Continue to support the Border-Cities Tax Credit program. But increase the visibility of this option. Many businesses have an easy option to move across the river because of state taxes, and it seems appealing to move in the effort to save money. We want to make sure we provide every opportunity for businesses to stay in our community and thrive.
b)    We also need help in supporting our super small   (6 and under), women owned, minority owned, veteran owned and New America owned businesses open up here with greater support through grants and upfront support.

If elected, what relevant skills or competencies would you bring to the table?
a)    I believe in building trusting relationships with our community members, partnering with the Chamber, Moorhead Business Association and other organizations.
b)    I also believe strongly in collaboration, we make greater changes when we work together.
c)    I have worked 20+ years being the voice for the unheard populations, this is valuable when it comes to serving as our voice in St. Paul. Moorhead and our needs often get overlooked when it comes to the state of Minnesota. I’m used to speaking up, building connections and creating change.

What is your vision for Minnesota and specifically District 4A, and how would you as a legislator help take us there?
a)    A more inclusive Minnesota, in many areas but particularly in our Education, Healthcare, Housing and Small Business efforts. Everyone deserves the same opportunities in life to succeed and give back to our communities. As your legislator, I would work closely with community members and leaders along with the many state leaders I already have strong relationships with. Making sure Greater MN, our Border City and our underserved populations have a strong voice at the table of change. I commit to continuing the work to help us grow into the community our next generation will love to be part of.


Edwin Hahn (R)
(218) 686-3970 | edwinforhouse@gmail.com

If elected, what are your top three priorities and what impact do they have on business?
1. To support our families, we need core, family friendly recreation options.
2. To sustain our district, we need to retain and attract local business.
3. To secure the future of our community, we need to apply innovation in education.

I am a champion for Moorhead - bringing our tax dollars back from St. Paul to finish our roads, underpasses, and revitalize downtown. These civil projects put money back into our local economy, employees, and small businesses.  Our families must have a reason to work, shop, eat, and play in Moorhead.

What do you believe can be done at the state level to help promote Moorhead’s competitiveness as a border city?
Moorhead-Fargo Reciprocity Pilot Project
This is a 2 year program which matches the economic freedom of Fargo.  Businesses will no longer be held back by costs that Fargo business owners don’t have to pay.  Moorhead will be free to advance on a leveled playing field.
After 2 years, the program will be assessed and advanced to the next level.

Working with parents and educators, I am proposing a pilot program that teaches high school students real-world skills to launch their own successful business. GOAL: Reduce local high school dropout rate by 1/2 and increase post-high school employment by 30%.

If elected, what relevant skills or competencies would you bring to the table?
As a small business owner and former city councilman, I have the wisdom and heart to advance our community.  My past experience is reflected through what you see in Thief River Falls today: workforce housing development, civil infrastructure improvements and the growth of major employers like Digi-Key.  

I’ve been a strong voice in St. Paul before, and I’ll do it again.

What is your vision for Minnesota and specifically District 4A, and how would you as a legislator help take us there?
We are a star city, the place Minnesota looks to as the shining example of education, arts, business - the model Minnesota border city.  We are the city where people of all backgrounds are welcome - a city where all our citizens are proud to call home.

As a voice of the people and a champion for Moorhead, I bring our ideas to reality - a thriving downtown that attracts families, retains youth, advances business - finished roads, infrastructure, and successful high school graduates