Good afternoon in the Minnesota Public Radio News Room, Eric Jansen sources familiar with independent counsel Kenneth Stars report to Congress. Say the report layout detailed evidence that prosecutor say will show President Clinton committed perjury obstruction of justice witness tampering and abuse-of-power according to the anonymous sources the report specifically alleges Clinton lied under oath both in his sworn deposition in the Paula Jones lawsuit in January and again in his grand jury testimony last month there in Minnesota, Minnesota, the Associated Press reports some progress and talks to end the Northwest pilot strike the AP says Federal mediator Maggie. Jakobson reach the Breakthrough by suggesting Northwest use stock options and profit-sharing to meet the pilots demands for more money. However, both sides in the talks refused comment. Meanwhile Northwest Airlines at the Department of Transportation can't force the company to help its Regional partner get back in business. Mesaba Airlines grounded its flight after Northwest went on strike yesterday, the justice department filed.Food against North West End. Masaba Northwest spokesman. John Austin says the company will fight the order for. Asserting their right to compare on airline in our circumstances or any airline to perform the actions that they said it was private contract between the two carriers and we'll have any standing in that. So we think we can demonstrate that in the court system Northwest provides ticketing baggage and banking services to Northwest airlink planes. Austin says it can provide those Services only on a day-to-day basis mostly sunny and warm around Minnesota today with Gusty winds this afternoon and highs in the 80s in the arrowhead region near 90° in the west right now in Fargo 81° st. Cloud 75° in the Twin Cities. It's 77° Jansen, Minnesota Public Radio. Thank you Eric 2 minutes past noon.Supported by the Guthrie Theater, presenting Molly Sweeney directed by Joe Dowling for 3 weeks only at the Guthrie lab tickets available. 612-377-2224 Good afternoon. Welcome back to mid-day on Minnesota Public Radio. I'm Gary eichten. Most interesting race on Tuesday's primary election. Ballot is the dfl contest for governor with five well-known candidates involved in a true winner-take-all contest as a result. Most of the media attention has focused on that race, but many voters come Tuesday won't be voting in the dfl primary at all. They're going to be boarding in the Republican or Reform Party primary and during this hour at. Midday. We're going to focus on the man that those voters will be voting for family. Go tutorial candidates Norm Coleman and Jesse Ventura last week at the Minnesota State Fair the candidates for Governor participated in an unusual citizens Forum event held at the Star Tribune booth at the fair start of the usual debate type format. The candidates went through job interviews outlining why they are the best man to hold a job for governor. Governor. Weekend today with Republican Norm Coleman's appearance at the citizens Forum. The moderator is the Star Tribune Lori Sturdevant. You here on the back porch of the Star Tribune Booth the state fair, Minnesota Public Radio. It's our effort to bring the voices and ideas of average citizens to bear in this year's Governor's race. The questions we presented to today by eight people who have been involved in our process for the last five or six months. They've been meeting together in small groups with other citizens discussing the issues hearing from experts in formulating some of the questions that you've been hearing you'll be hearing today cuz I'd invite you to begin by presenting your resume as you would in a job interview. Tell these people little bit about yourself if you want for us a little bit about family background or one of the original a children grow up with a six sisters and end with an older brother and Mom and Dad and now I'm proud Adams now, we have two kids son. Jacob is 12 and Sarah is 8 and Mary tomorrow my wife Lori and we live in the Grand Hill. MoCA Grand Avenue area of st. Paul. I have a served as mayor of the city of Saint Paul for almost 5 years and was elected in 93 took office. And in 1994 during that time took a city that I think many felt was on its knees and it is now very much on its feet. I kept it on taxes every year I cut the size of government except added cops got a lot of unnecessary regulation about a billion dollars worth of new development Mississippi River has been a kind of a magnet to draw a new jobs Ultimate Mortal will be more than 10,000 jobs in the city of Saint Paul and when I take off a more important that hoping and then optimism is is on the rise. I serve the Attorney General's office for 17 years of the Egg and I represent human rights or from the Criminal Division became Chief prosecutor with solicitor general of the state of Minnesota, which I always sort all the civil litigation a large number of cases before The Supreme Court both criminal and civil cases, then was criminal justice policy advisor. A lot of work on gang violence sexual violence against women child abuse within the family and then ran 5 only run for one of their office and governor and that's mayor and as I said ran and got elected in 1993 and began serving a 94. Okay. Thank you for telling us about yourself. Norm Coleman isn't here for a job interview at the hands of the citizens Forum panel. Sarah Legos has the first question is becoming more and more diverse in its population and its needs are increasing what makes you a better candidate than the others to serve the people of, Minnesota. What makes me a better candidate is is one of the very clear Vision I have for a brighter future for Minnesota and a proven record of turning that Vision into reality Sarah. I've governed I've gotten my government a diverse Community. I've governed a core City and if you go back to 1993 many people writing course cities off in St. Paul West publishing. It left downtown the Athletic Club in close to Holiday Inn. Hope close jobs with leading in the in the thousands. We had gang some it's at that time. We had double-digit X increases in a huge crowd showing up at Central High School to protest and 5 years what I have done the same Paul, which I believe I can do for Minnesota's one generated confidence by having government do its job a better went When government we keep it on taxes. What we do was I believe we generate confidence and average moms and dads who said those people who live in off on Monday, I spending it wise. When you take areas that are suffering economically you see new jobs come in in the thousands. What you do is you raise raise the level of Hope and optimism and ultimately the key to success that the next Governor the great challenge for the next Governor 2 challenges one is is is to continue to fuel the economic Pace that that this kind of upswing that were on and we have been on at the same time make sure as we continue to move forward if I receive lift up your the opportunity for those who have not participated summon ark or cities, certainly some of our Farmers Inn in Greater Minnesota, you do that by doing what I've done government doing its job will cutting taxes making sure the street to Safeway Prime has gone down in St. Paul. It's gone up in mini. I got up in the rest of Minnesota. We do our job. Well, what we do then is I think engender a greater sense of confidence and hope and if I can get in generate the confidence and hope a 4.6 million minnesotans, we're going to have a much better future. Norm Coleman St. Palmer and Republican candidate for governor is getting a job interview here today at the Star Tribune Booth with the Minnesota citizens Forum participants to Minneapolis has an expression to know I appreciate that you showed up today and I'm glad to finally have an opportunity to hear the Republican side. My question to you is the Governor's role is in setting policy for the state and should the governor follow public opinion or should he leave the people to a different opinion first will Sanjay Pandit appreciate the opportunity to come before and end in listen to the Republican side a common sense. I'd have the side that that understands that governments not going to solve all our problems that we really do need to tap into hope and confidence of people I believe in leadership may just lead Governor's lead question becomes in what is leadership. What is about in part two perspectives on that Sandra what it is about listening and then you have to listen what you think part of leaders. If this is listening pulling together a common Vision, what is it that we this committee wants to get done understanding in that I think you do bring it a prospective to me. It's the limited role of government. I believe in Safety Harbor so limited role of government and then ultimately leadership is about getting things done. I really believe people want us to stop fighting stop. Even the partisan stuff Democrat reply just get the job done. So one part of of of the of the function of leadership is to listen is to pull people together. That's what I've done in St. Paul whether you like bringing back the NHL or not. It was a process of bringing people together the community United behind that saying we're going to make this happen and it wasn't just about me on the other hand. You got to be able at times to step in front and say hey we're going to challenge things when I got elected mayor. One of the things that I had to do had to do was reject the afscme contract if I was facing a hunt 200 million dollars of unfunded liability and retiree Healthcare System. That was not infect by the way. They Not affect current employees. It was Pete but Susan will not affect people retired. What about new people coming in and end I can tell you that when I stepped forward to do that every one of my most admire you can't take on the union. This is Saint Paul. Did it say they can't work but I did and I did not cuz I was anti-union. I like I want but I wanted my city to be vital and vibrant in 15 years when the bill was do I tell people that my son was 8 years old at that time and end my advisers told me 15 years is two hundred million dollars unfunded liability to be on ahead and I thought to myself eight years was one blink of the eye 16 canopy two blinks and it's going to be here. So in that sense, I was willing to step forward and say we have to make change. So I rejected the contract got sued got protested got booed and in the NFL won the reasons, I'm Republican house Andrea, but I made the change it so part of it is is clearly listening point. The other common Vision part of it is understanding when you have to step out front when you how to make the tough decisions because it's in the interest of the community a combination of both Thank you next message from Patricia Catalina Rochester. Since the subject of State financing for stadiums was first introduced. The citizens of Minnesota have heard about a number of polls regarding this financing if State financing is to be used for this purpose. Would you support public referendums and then abide by the way, they come out. First studied two observations one talk about stadiums. Will it let me talk about hockey? Cuz it really gets back almost to the question. That's and erase Let Me Back It Up Frisco view the Twins Minnesota Twins III view the option to bring the NHL democrat or republican you talk to any government American they will tell you if you have a Community Asset like that figure out a way to keep it. The challenge is to figure out a way to keep it where you're not stuff in it down people's throats. But you doing in a way that makes sense to the community. If you look at what we did with bring in the NHL to st. Paul. I had my city council almost all Democrats supported. I had my business community supported. I had organized labor support it. I had my ID FL delegation in the house, which is all Democrats and if they could have cut me off at the knees on something like that for political purpose. Some of them would have but we put on the table AAA plan that made sense for the taxpayers the same. We had an old Civic Center that was facing between 20 and 30 million dollars worth of renovation a building a a civic center with which the city of central Lyon and that we ran was a lost leader losing money every year and we brought in a private entity which happened to be a hockey team that is centrally will run the facility. It got rid of the 20 to 30 million dollars worth of capital debt that we would have faced it got rid of the ongoing operating losses. We had generated 1.4 million more people downtown bring into the state between 3 and 8 million dollars a year in new taxes and and and they tend the key to getting that alter was getting the state to give us a 65 Million Dollar interest-free Loan, but I got the community behind that and I think that's the same challenges faced with the twins figure out a way to get it done, but you're not ripping off the tax base where that that's pulling people together with a common Vision understanding a limited role of government and then getting it done where I would disagree and undone in would not be in support of would-be referendum. I really believe in representative democracy. I believe that you elect people in my position to make Decisions and if you don't like us get rid of us get rid of us but to go around and do a poll for all sorts of May decisions. I I don't think that's good government. But I but again I think our obligation is to lead in a way that pulls people together so that in the end you can't get if everyone's against that you're not going to stuff it down people's throats. That's not my style and he is it so if we can figure out a way to save an asset that that brings people together, maybe those who benefit from the use of facility to the user fees a whole range of things, but I would not support referendum because I really believe that and representative democracy you elect representatives. Let him make that choice is if they make the wrong choices get rid of them job interview. Next question comes from Steven Blake of Winona. Primitive printed in the Star Tribune on the candidates views. I see under welfare and poverty you say that you will enforce child support laws now at the debate on Saturday. I posed the questions to the candidates that showed up what's more important in development of a life of a child Love or Money the consensus there was love I'm I'm assuming that that's also the Republican position absolute what's frequency of access to the children by the non-custodial parent. Would you as Governor insist that county attorney's enforce existing laws relative to unlawful denial of Parental visitation or parenting time as ordered by the court in that the penalties for such violations of the law are actually enforced uniformly consistently and fairly. The most versatile answer is yes, but but then stepping back a second most important factor in in a in a child's life is his family to moms and dads part of the talking about enforcement of Child Support is to make sure that we keep dad's some of them unfortunately Stephen aren't connected and then and that's government stepping in and saying we're going to connect you as a responsibility. There's an obligation. I'm really troubled about kids who have kids and then and then dad walks away. So what we need to do what we can to keep families together keep them strong and so child support is not just a it is a money thing in a sense that the kids needs the support and it but it's also a responsibility thing. It's an obligation thing. I think you raise the other side of that coin that says in those situation is government driving. The wedge is government pulling families apart. I think we have I think one of the filters that government should use is all we doing things that Strong families are we fostering what we know kids need wet it and then there are many kids who who dad is not around. We understand that but I can tell you all the data all the evidence all the statistics show very clearly that kids who have Mom and Dad's in their life have a better shot of making it they have a better shot of making it and what dad walks away those kids have a tougher shot of making it no more likely to end up in our Human Service System that unfortunate more likely to end up in jail in criminal justice a lot of a lot of negative things happen to kids least the odds increase. I want to decrease the other negative things increase the odds of good things and have that filter that says, what are we doing to support families child support is one piece of it if Dad's walking away, but on the other hand government should not be in the business appointment families apart that that should be the filter and certainly I would enforce those laws that give the opportunity for Dad to leave Albany kid's life about halfway through our job interview with Norm Coleman from Rob Nelson of Winnebago. Mr. Coleman the city of what you learn all mare was made great by the Stockyards and flour. Mills and agricultural products are provided by the family farm in your future Vision in the state of Minnesota. You've turned your back on the Family Farm. My question to you is what strategies are you going to use to other minorities to convince them that as mayor you want also turn your back on them first first Rob, but I would strongly challenge your assumption about turning back on the Family Farm strong strongly challenge. In fact, I believe that my vision is the vision that would provide for a stronger Family Farms. I made the comment which is a clear reality the Family Farm of 50 years ago. The family farm that was isn't isn't the Family Farm today and I would reject the dfl Notions of of trying to enforce One Vision of a family farm. I have I have opposed efl efforts to put moratoriums on livestock. And the reason for that is as you I'm sure we'll know that one of the biggest challenges facing Pharmacy a low prices we getting Which one of the two failures at the federal government with it free him to Van they they did not follow through on crop insurance which apparently they're doing some stuff now, but the biggest failure was not following through an access to markets being able to sell the product that free trade Fast Track. You should be pushing the dfl legislators and representatives to stand there for free trade cuz what form is needed and ability to sell the product one of the original value add one of the original consumers a product for Farms is livestock. And so if the Democrats going to get in there and mandates a every Farm is going to be 50 units, if you believe that will that will provide for a more vital and vibrant future radar Minnesota Then I then I disagree I think you're wrong the Family Farm is it is it infected self-defined? There's some families who want the 40 acres but we're not going back to everybody manly milking cows on the other hand. You have you have a brothers who join together and realize in order to compete and keep their families on the phone. They might want to have a larger but larger operation they should be able to do So my vision of cutting taxes gives Farm as a chance to make some profit my vision of being aggressive and opening up markets. This Farm has a chance to profit my vision of keeping Minnesota competitive place to grow jobs in Greater, Minnesota and a Democrat to talk about rolling back workers comp reform you roll back workers comp reform you make it impossible for anyone to decide to bring a soy processing plant in Fairmont because he'll put in Iowa supposed to doing business here is too great, but I think my vision Family Farms is very strong. Give people the chance to compete economically be at be an advocate for further expanding and opening markets and I will be there. I'll be there both in Washington when major foreign-policy is held as well as around the world to make sure I thought it Shine I'll do everything I can I'll Be A Champion performance to be able to sell their product but I strongly disagree with with with the presumption of the notion that more government regulation is going to help the Family Farm. I don't believe it in the end you talk to Farmers and once I talk to they're not out there looking for more regulation Farmers around Minnesota. Tell me the same thing small. This is people in St. Paul tell me they made it on taxes to death don't regulate us to death make sure that I kids have a chance to go to the best schools and make sure that I can use to say and when minnesotans will compete with the best in the world and I'm going to give Minnesota Farmers a chance to do that. One more question from 7 from Southeastern, Minnesota Fred Busey from Winona. Mr. Goldman. Low-income families will benefit from tax credits, but we are concerned about children living in poverty not having the same opportunities for Quality education as children above the poverty line. We must provide funds and tax credits to poor children who want to attend private schools of their choice. Would you support this proposal? I am a a passionate supporter of public education support of public education. I believe we have great teachers grade teachers were trying real hard and sometimes crap in bed systems being a supportive and I also as if I want this must be very clear about that at the same time, there isn't one perfect system for every kid and I believe every child in Minnesota have the opportunity for the best education. There is every child should have the opportunity to Bill Clinton's daughter Chelsea head every child should have the opportunity at skip Humphrey Sun Buckhead an end and that should be regardless of economic income. And so I strongly support the governor's plan to use tax credits and deductions for parents to use that by the way that that program 70% of those dollars are being used by parents in public schools. It's not sucking money at a private schools. But I believe we should open the door of opportunity for kids who the public school system may not be the best for them. We have the best post secondary college system in the world. We have the best in the world and that's a system. Whereby you can take some of your public dollars in public loans and you can use it at the University of Minnesota or you can use it at the University of st. Thomas we have competition and I think that makes America stronger and makes us better and the system of public education. We don't have that and I believe one way to strengthen public education is giving parents and particularly poor parents the opportunity for their kid to be the best. They can be and often times you here. They lie discussion. Well, you know what's going to happen if it is probably supposed to be left with all the kids are problems and all the kids with money will go elsewhere. I know you know you go around you looking Saint Paul you look at a school like saying burn it's over over in the east side the Northend St. Paul St. Matthews on the westside of Saint Agnes in Frogtown. They got the same economics of Avant. Do their students diversity as any of the public schools, and I really believe that poor parents should have the same opportunity as Rich parents every kid in Minnesota the man's an opportunity for Quality education and enjoying that I think you will strengthen Public Schools. Every major reform and public schools have been challenged by the education establishment Charter Schools post-secondary options, and now tax credits, but I think we we cannot I am willing to challenge the status quo, and I say that with the deepest respect for our teachers. I want to reward them what I want to parents and teachers to get together and shape the kind of system. They need by the way without being burdened by prescriptives directors from the state bureaucracy of federal bureaucracy, let parents and teachers structure that education, but also let us not take away the opportunity of any child any child regardless of economic at the best education possible. We seen a producer great post-secondary system. I believe in to be part of producing a great K through 12 education system. You're listening to a job interview with with the Republican mayor Norm Coleman Republican candidate for governor. The next question from the citizens Forum Palace comes from Gary Suter of Minneapolis. Miracleman, we've heard all the rhetoric about cutting taxes but taxes provide a lot of positives. You have a plan to better inform citizens of Minnesota about their needs for taxes and services. You know, I start guy with my with my my first, my opening comment, we perform better services in in St. Paul than when I took office that there is a look at the survey Star Tribune a year or two ago pessimism down optimism up in St. Paul agencies about a third smaller. I have cut taxes every year and everyone else promise. Is it a both parties Democrat running for office not promising kind of taxes with Democrats want to do is talk about keeping lives on spending. I think Gary what we have to do. Is it simply first of all my legacy the Coleman Legacy will be after 4 years of service and perhaps 8 if im Fortune up the people say that their government is delivering the best service that can be they have confidence whether it's a PCA of the DNR was Department of Transportation. Children's families and learn the best service possible but in a way that the least-cost introduce Notions of competition to the operation of government. So we deliver a better product but it doesn't have to be at more cost and aunt and I have lived that there's not another person running for governor who has done that whether it's the reform candidate who who when he was mayor of the Year taxes were raised whether it's the Attorney General of his office, but I think is increased 300% in his tenure and the city of Saint Paul eye growth has been below the rate of inflation. We spend three million dollars less of citizens property taxes. And when I took office, we deliver a better service, I believe in government, I believe in the safety net and the difference between a safety net in a web as we know when the circus when you went to the circus as a kid and you fell off the highway. Are you landed on the safety and it bounced off and on your feet. It's a government safety-net the web is when you fall off and you get mired in it and I think that was gold vision of government and that's the vision of those who believe governments going to solve all your problems government is there we do great things safe and clean My business as mayor of the city of Saint Paul and if we do it, well, we generate confidence. We generate confidence. Hope I get more people to invest with where they grow jobs and where they raise their families from Andover. Norm you talked about having hope and confidence for brighter future my question is is on crime. I have a daughter who has gotten involved in drugs and crime and we are not raising her two-year-old son. So my question would be how are you going to be tough on crime so that he will have hope and confidence of a brighter future. Marry, one of the kind of most basic elements of confidence is a sense of personal safety if people do not feel safe. Then I'm going to leave the house has people feel safe and not going to want to live in the neighborhood if people don't feel safe and not going to want to go to where the jobs are. So we Public Safety is probably the first responsibility of government not ours alone, but very clear responsibility. Let me give you three perspectives and I come to you as someone who has put murderers and rapists in jail. I have listened to the victim's. I have been there in the in the courtroom not supervising the court in the courtroom doing that right there in the in that room or on that street or in that home at the same time. I've also been a mayor who had the opportunity to work with my community in a community as crime has risen be across the river around the state and Saint Paul violent crime has dropped and I believe there are three perspectives three issues one is vigorous vigorous vigorous enforcement Drugs and gangs and getting the illegal guns off the street vigorous we started out years ago in St. Paul identifying gang members and all directors were if if they are, you know, if they are jaywalking stop talk to him see if they have guns by the way. There's a very was the Supreme Court decision a couple weeks ago that the impeded our ability to do some of that and I'm troubled by that but we were but I'm also blessed by the way, the great chief police have a chief of police from the community. So we have the committee that respects my police force and we can be aggressive in Saint Paul then became a model working with the great sheriff in St. Paul Bob Fletcher for a city-state of County game for cats, which is now the model for the State game for switch is headed by a Saint Paul police officer Center on Ryan and and we need to expand that because the issue of gangs by the way is not just a Saint Paul problem or a Minneapolis problem, wherever there's drugs, there's gangs Worthington, it's Winona, it's Duluth. It's a gang killing in Grand Rapids vigorous enforcement what happens if you squeeze in one are the games go to through the area of least resistance. It should be no area of least resistance in Minnesota. The second thing is focus married, you're not understand the big things but on the little things we have been aggressive with with truancy with graffiti with with with handle in public drunkenness. And st. Paul get all that the James Q Wilson Broken Window Theory is broken window on a table and you don't fix it yet another broken window and then another and all the sudden you just graffiti on the wall and then the drug dealers and hookers hang out and I will send somebody shot and people say what happened in my neighborhood. You didn't fix the broken window. You need to be vigorous on the little things the quality of life Inc. Minneapolis has begun what they call code for enforcement. I'm told that violent crime, which is this little stuff is vigorous enforcement Zero Tolerance on so violent crime has dropped 15% since the beginning of the year. The last factor is prevention, whether it's programs like drug abuse resistance education in the school, whether it's kids reading by reading comprehension grade 1 kids, you know how to rip the things that we can do as a community to focus on great on on giving kids a better shot. Saves us a lot of money in the long run. So let us be aggressive on the big things. Let us be aggressive as a community on the little things. Let us work with our young people to do prevention. We can have a safe for Minnesota Governor view with Norm Coleman Republican candidate for governor in the moderator of the citizens Forum job interviews and were conducted last week at the Minnesota State Fair next up at this hour Reform Party candidate. Jesse Ventura is job interview here. Again, Lori Sturdevant will begin with the asking Jesse Ventura to say just a few words introduction biographical introduction for himself. I was born 1951 down in South Minneapolis. I attended Cooper Grade School Sanford Junior High School in Minneapolis Roosevelt High School back in a time that I would like to see us go back to Neighborhood schooling without busing where you know, what school you're going to go to buy what neighborhood you live in which creates a great community that centers then around the schools upon graduation from high school. I graduated in June September 11th. I enlisted into the United States Navy and went off to San Diego California for my basic went to storekeeper a school. And then from there went to what they call Bud's basic underwater demolition Seal training and I followed my brother and I might add that. My father is a World War II veteran was 7 bronze Battle Stars in Europe. My mother is a World War II veteran. She was a lieutenant in the Army stationed a nurse in North Africa and my brother is a Vietnam veteran as am I I was honorably discharged in got off active duty in 1973 went to North Hennepin Community College for one year and then studied and trained and set out about my professional wrestling career, which I wrestled from 1975 to 1986. I was a quote-unquote bad guy, which I which I thoroughly enjoyed being as such because it allowed you to be far more creative good guys were more mom apple pie in the girl back home bad guys could be creative. I ended my active wrestling career in 1986 with my last match in Winnipeg Canada. I travel to all 50 states. I spent 17 months overseas mostly in Southeast Asia in the service. I guess I can stand cannot can you hear me? Well enough standing? Okay, and then I went into a broadcasting career and a film career that also started around 1986. Yeah. I know. I've continued with both broadcasting in film work to the present day and then my step into the political Arena happened in about 1988 to 89 in Brooklyn Park. I started to become involved in politics there because I felt there was unresponsive government going on that was not listening to the people. I subsequently ran for mayor in the 1990 election taking on both. I was Saab. I was opposed by both Democrats and Republicans in a nonpartisan election. They called me the most dangerous man in the city. I think that was because I came from the private sector and was not part of the good old boy career politician Democrat Republican makeup. I proved I could beat both parties in that election. When I won 65% of the vote to 35 over the 20-year incumbent one. 21 precincts I served as mayor from 1991 to 1995 then leaving public office and going back to the private sector until this year. When I decided to seek the governor of the state of Minnesota now and I currently am the only candidate that had to leave his job in the private sector and give up employment till November to run so that should tell you that I am serious because people do not generally give up their job and their income for three and a half months out of the year to seek public office, which is what I was forced to do a job interview. Now, let's get to the questions. I first question is from Sarah Lego citizen from St.Paul. Okay, better Governor to serve the citizens of Minnesota than the other candidates who are running for state that I could serve as a better Governor over the fact I am not a professional politician. I have not also been earning a check from the government my whole life. There are some candidates that might only be in their second term but they've been collecting a check from the government for their entire life in their career. I also feel that we are a 3-prong check and balance system legislative executive and judicial. It makes no common sense or logic and maybe that's an oxymoron when you deal with government, but it makes no common sense or logic to me to have your chief executive to be birthed from the two legislative parties per se because that already creates an adversarial position. If you elect a republican your adversary to the Democrat if you elect a Democrat the same thing with the Republican where I am the Reform Party City is much more of a neutral private citizen head of the Executive Branch to wear to me. I don't care who sponsors the bill. I don't care if it originates from the Democrats or originates from the Republicans if it's good. For the state of Minnesota in my opinion. I will sign it if it's bad for the state of Minnesota in my opinion. I will veto it. That is why I think that it stands far more common sense and logic you will like the governor who is the really a private citizen I might have even when I was mayor I only made $10,000 a year. So I was required to hold a full-time job in the private sector all the while. I was married which most of the other candidates and I don't know when they've last held a job in the private sector yet. They seem to want to know about it. They seem to have great knowledge of it even though they haven't worked in it. Hey, we're doing a job interview here with Jesse Ventura County for Governor from the reform party next question. Got to do a few fancy. Next question will be from Gary Stewart Minneapolis. What is the role of the governor at the national and at the international level for the state of Minnesota? I think the role of the governor at the national and international level of Minnesota is to go out there and try to bring the economy to Minnesota both nationally and worldly. I think he's a spokesman for the state of Minnesota. He will stand at the head of the table and that's his job as well as to go out. And if you want to use the term Lobby, I mean when we when we have problems in Minnesota that can fall under that fall under national jurisdiction. I think it's in here and upon the governor to go out there and get the job done one example, I can give you in my dealings at the national level was when I was married when I was first elected mayor of Brooklyn Park, if you drive to North Minneapolis or North suburbs right now, you'll see the construction of Highway 610 going on right now A badly-needed Highway up there because there was only 694 that was dissecting the river. Well, they they came to me and I went out and at the time the Federal Transportation Commission was meeting they sent me out there with an agenda to Try to get 11 million dollars on the national transportation. They felt if I could get 11 million that would get the job beginning and then we could piecemeal it together as time went on. Well, I'm proud to say when I went out to Washington. I brought back 37 million dollars State matching funds. The highway is now going to be completed all the way across the Northern Tier. I believe the 169 or farther. So I went out and actually got them more than what they sent me out to get so I can be quite persuasive at all levels Gary our next citizen question or here is Mary Jo Bannon from Andover Mary Jo. Thank you, Jesse. You said that what what would be good if you were elected governor? What would be good in your opinion? You would sign there are several things. I don't have opinions on so I would like you to convince me what your opinion is and see if you can convince me one of the things that you do not you favor easing handgun permit requirements and I would like to know in your opinion how that would help our state. First of all, I think it's the wrong idea to say I favor easing them. Using is the wrong word. What I favor is taking the the subjectivity out of them. You can set it up and make it as stringent as you desire to make it and rest assured mine will be very stringent. The problem that I have no right now is that the current handgun situation the way it is is very much based upon subjectivity instead of objectivity. It's based upon one person making the decision of whether a person can carry or not and I think that is wrong. I think we need to set up. Whatever stringent rules you want to set up there and I'm a believer of the Second Amendment. The Second Amendment is not here to protect hunting and fishing it was here to protect citizens so that they could have arms and abolition to defend themselves against oppressive government. That is the reason the second amendment was created. Now you I I will favors very stringent. I don't want anyone with a felony anyone with any domestic abuse anyone who's committed active acts of violence in that manner to have any type of permit of that. But again, what I want to do is eliminate the subjectivity and make an objective. Let's set a set of standards and not make it to where one example. Did you read Charlie Weaver's column today on it in the star trib. Well, do you stated that a particular case where a woman was raped? Now the rapist was still on the loose and the woman work with another woman who worked in the prosecutor's office here. She was a lawyer no criminal record a prosecutor with the prosecuting attorney's office. She went to try to get a handgun to protect herself and was denied now, let's remember something in the judicial system. It's it's very clear. You can't sue the police for protection. You cannot sue the government to protect you. You cannot do that that you're the judges in the court systems tell you that so don't you have the constitutional right to protect yourself? We're not talking about citizens here we're talking about. I mean, we're not talking about criminals. Excuse me. We're talking about citizens, but rest assured and mark my words with freedom comes great responsibility and if someone misuses This privilege I will throw the book at him and I will make it to where the book will be thrown at them. But you again remember with freedom comes responsibility. Did I answer the question? Thank you. The question is always at the citizens for me. Then you bring citizens together from all over the stage and have them study the issues meet some experts and talk together with their fellow citizens to the ballot questions presenting and debates throughout this so I can pay in season and it's questioner is Sandra Coulson from Minneapolis something real quick before we remember to without unicameral legislation. I will never be faced with that question because they won't even let it out of committee right now to have it debated upon and I think that's a tragedy in itself. I believe everything should be debated so that we the citizens in the general public informed opinion, but when you've got a legislature like ours is right now they can bury it in Committee in and never sees the light of day and that is wrong. For your cure for your favor of unicameral legislature. Absolutely. I am listen to Minneapolis by Sandra. How are you? Thanks for coming today. My question is if you're elected governor, you will have no allies in the legislature as a Reform Party candidate. You will have opposing party candidates. How will you work with those opposing parties if there's an important issue as Governor that you want to push? Okay for sure. We have some fun with the question. Be nice now. Elvis all right. Sandal. That's a very good question. And it's something that when I was mayor of Brooklyn Park we have what's called a weak-mayor up there. Are you familiar with weak and strong what for those that aren't? Let me Define it for you Minneapolis. And st. Paul have a what it called a strong-mayor. That's where the mayor does not vote. But carries veto power much like the governor. The governor does not vote for a bill but the governor can veto when I was in Brooklyn Park that is a weak-mayor system where you are just one vote along with six other town. So people will the entire time that I was married for four years. I was on the minority opinion all four years and look at what I accomplished in the city of Brooklyn Park crime running ramp it up there every year. I was Mary population went up crime went down. We we are people investing $100,000 in their home and could now only sell them for a t I'm happy to say that got changed around also, not just because of me because of the partnership Private Industry citizens and doubt and government working hand-in-hand. I think I'm actually in a better position being at more neutral Reform Party because I can act as a mediator and get the two sides together. They're fighting each other aren't they most of the time although we shall find out if they're truly different if you would like me because if they both end start teaming up to fight me then you know that they're not really different huh and that I believe is out there and I've heard that from a lot of people that it's all mostly just talk with them that in reality. They're both like that well and it's simple to I've said that I will not allow any new taxes. Well, if they choose to override my veto they can do that with a 2/3. I have a clear conscience because I've done what I Capable to do and promise the people of Minnesota and if they want to override and put in a new tax, they certainly can do that and then they can answer to the public and I've also found out Sandra that taking your taking your agenda to the public is very good. If they start battling me, I'll tell the people where my position is where their position is and rest assured. Most of them are career politicians, they vote to get reelected. And if they know that public sentiment is against them watch how they vote case in point, Minnesota Twins stadium. Maybe this would be a good place to ask you just to tell us another short answer. What is your position on funding of its of a new stadium for Major League Baseball? My position is very simple and I come from the world of professional sports. My position is this I will not allow one public tax dollar to go for a stadium. My recent very quickly is this and I use Mo Vaughn only as an example of few months ago. I worked at KFAN radio Sports Talk Show her pretty well up on Sportster least we better be Mo Vaughn Boston just turn down 34 million dollars for 4 years. It wasn't enough. I cannot look into the face of hard-working minnesotans and tell them build more Stadium. Now, I will say this if there's efforts in the private sector to pitch in or I'm not opposed to putting a roll of slot machines out at Canterbury with a big sign above them that says help poor Carl. And if you all feel inclined to play that and volunteer pay to help poor Carl, if you feel he needs it. Hey, I have no problem with volunteer payments out of people's own pockets for their own entertainment dollar and if they would deem that they would want to help a stadium like that. I would support that but I will not we have more important things to spend our tax dollars on and I might add I'm happy to have hockey back. But please study the deal you got on this hockey arena it is awful and I'll lend a quick at least at the Target Center of Whitney Houston comes in there to sing. She pays rent to We the People the government who owns the building if Whitney Houston goes over to this New River Center and sings she pays rent to the Minnesota Wild as well as does concession in the majority of parking you or us the people are getting nothing out of that new stadium in St. Paul. Nothing at Lee. The Target Center we're getting Revenue put back in with a Vance. And now these buildings will be in direct competition with each other. Where do you want most of the stuff to go River Center or Target Center? Think about that? The citizens forum is doing job interviews with the candidates for Governor here at the fair. This is Jesse The Body Ventura used to be called Jesse The Body in the old days now just now Jesse The Body Lori anymore. I make it with my mind. The next question is the next question is from Patricia Catalina Rochester. Jesse you alluded to crime in the last question and all levels in areas of crime have escalated in the past couple of decades what specific ideas will you promote to deal with some of these enlarging problems? First of all, Patricia not in my four years in Brooklyn Park, they didn't escalate. And that's all I have control of at that time. I will tell you what I will do a crime has to be fought at the neighborhood level. You can have all the politicians in the world standing up here and shaking their fists and tell you they're going to fight crime and excuse my bluntness, but most of them would know crime if it came up and bit him on the ass. Because they're shielded. When's the last time they went down to Franklin Avenue and walked around. You know, I just how you fight crime you fight crime the way we fought it in Brooklyn Park Minnesota at the neighborhood level. You must organize when I was Mara Brooklyn Park, we won not local not Statewide. We won national awards every year. I was mayor for National Night Out we organize neighborhoods with promotion of the business Community involved with government there to support it. That's how you fight crime. It must come from the people. It must be generated down there in the neighborhood. So it's fine and dandy to say we're going to add more police officers. That's a great political statement to make but go up and ask any 25-year cop how many crimes he's actually stopped in progress. You'll be lucky if it's one or two and then and when you ask him, how did you manage to do it? He's going to say I was lucky. I happened to turn left when it happened. in my squad car police come after the crimes committed then hopefully they investigate arrest the perpetrators and then hopefully our judicial system works now, I will tell you this I am very upset and very Concerned over our Judicial System here in Minnesota. I find the concept to be backwards. We incarcerate people and say hypothetically for five years. We then if they behave we let them out into Well, my attitude is this if you're sentenced to prison for five years shouldn't you be required to behave in there? Shouldn't that be a given I would sooner go with if you sent and someone for 5 if they misbehave will do 7. And I believe that is the kind of message. We need to start sending prison should not be a place that you want to go to. Prison should be a place that you don't want to go to and you must put a threat out there if you're going to solve crime. Reform Party candidate Jesse Ventura being subjected to a job interview. Here are the back porch of the star-tribune the citizens Forum job interviews with the candidates. My next question comes from Steven Blake of Winona. I get fired up. Mr. Ventura as Governor. Will you actively seek out and eliminate all sexual discrimination from the entire system of family law and Family Services in practice or as part of any public policy or state agency bear shouldn't be discrimination be at sexual race Creed or Colour in anything involved in government. We are all equal under the Constitution or should be both nationally and Statewide and absolutely I would seek out and try to destroy any type of discrimination one way or the other sexual or any other type of discrimination discrimination is wrong and you know, I guess it's coming from the military. I'm enjoying the the larger role of women in the military wear many times they More or less discriminated against in there. And so I let you know I would absolutely. Thank you. Next question from Rob Nelson of Winnebago during last year's floods in the Northwest and it's true storms in southern Minnesota the Minnesota Army National Guard played an important role in assisting in recovering after efforts taken into consideration federal budget cuts that directly affect the reynes of the Minnesota National Guard. What will you do as governor? And as a veteran yourself to make sure that this important asset is ready and available to all minnesotans in the time of need. Well, I think most Minnesotan I'll get no fight on that. I don't think you have any problem finding the National Guard because of the fact that they they do provide such a big service in a time of need to all minnesotans whether it be as you said the flooding up north the tornadoes down south whatever other disaster could come along what'll I do personally? I'm you can't believe how I'm looking forward to becoming the commander and chief of the National Guard. You can't believe it IMAX Navy enlisted man, being the commander and chief and I will tell you this they will be in the best physical condition that they have ever been in in their life because I will take an active role and I personally am going to lead PT, which is physical training for those of you that have never served in the military. I personally am looking forward to Leading PT to the different National Guard organizations and ensuring there in the best physical possible condition. They can be in and I will also look for budgeting so that they're not running out of gas. I'm hearing they're having a hard time filling up their trucks with gas and I think that's an atrocity. I think we have to certainly budget the National Guard and make sure they're ready at all times to help in case cuz we never know when a disaster is going to strike and the National Guard Readiness is always must be there much the same as arm Military Readiness national league needs to be there to protect the national United States of America the United States of America as well as the National Guard to be there to protect the Readiness of the state of Minnesota. Do we have time for one more time? Not only veteran delete it, but will finally get rid of officers. Bill and Bill answer to an enlisted guy time novel concept Hello, I just seen the Southern Tier of Minnesota is faced with a proposal by the Dakota Minnesota & Eastern Railway. This is a serious proposal of over a billion dollars worth of investment. The impact on the Southern Tier may be quite negative. How would you handle the D M & E Railway and keep the railway from a negative impact on our City's? Well Fred. I'm going to be perfectly honest with you. I don't have an answer for you today on that because it's the first time I've been asked that question in the last 3 to 4 months and I'm an honest guy and I'm not going to try to sit here and tell you a bunch of rhetoric when I'm not when I'm not privy to what's going on down there. If you would love to make me privy to what is going on down there. I would certainly look into it from this point on but the I'm I'm not privy to it right now and I've never been asked him. What are they doing? What does it what is the plan sounds like the two of you have a date later on? I don't know but I certainly very quickly would say I will do what's best for the state of Minnesota. I will weigh both sides and then I'm sure legislative involvement in some manner has to happen there, too. The candidate conclude the interview with a quick 30 second round up on why we should be voting for him in this coming election. Been a lot of talk out there voting for a third party is a wasted vote. Let me tell you this not voting. Your conscience is a wasted vote and there are a lot of this is coming from the Republicans. Let's go back a hundred and fifty years from now when the Republican party was the third party and they put forward as a candidate by the name of Abraham Lincoln. Now imagine if the same Republicans, we're back a hundred and fifty years ago telling you not to vote for a third party. We would never have had Abraham Lincoln as a president would we So you think about that when you hear this rhetoric about that? It's a wasted vote to vote for third-party. No not voting your conscience that is a wasted vote. And I want everybody to vote because too many veterans have laid down their lives and shed their blood for that right to vote one time, and that's equality. Thank you. Thank you. Lori Sturdevant of the Star Tribune moderating last week citizens Forum job interviews conducted at the Minnesota State Fair. By the way, if you tuned in late and I would like to hear the job interviews again will be re broadcasting the Sabbath today's program at 9 tonight to go to Minnesota Public Radio rebroadcast of Norm Coleman and Jesse Ventura at the state fair that broadcast rebroadcast at 9 this evening as we noted at the beginning of the program most media attention. Of course, he's not focused right now in either been to her or Coleman, but rather the five dfl candidates for Governor Ventura and Coleman are essentially on a pole is the next Tuesday's primary election while the DF ehlers far as they're concerned. Tuesday's election is a real winner take all the winner goes on to the November election losers go home. And as a result, we are going to get all 5 dfl candidates together one last time Sunday night, but that big debate at the Fitzgerald theater in downtown st. Paul if you can't be there in person. Then we will be broadcasting the debate live starting at 7 Sunday evening 7 Sunday evening. And if you have to miss that broadcast, we will be re broadcasting the debate on Monday. You're on midday. So make sure you mark it down Sunday night at 7 rebroadcast on midday on Monday. And then of course Tuesday is election day program in Minnesota Public Radio is supported by the Pillsbury company Foundation caring for the community by giving kids a loving lift. That's it for midday today Gary I can hear thanks for tuning in. Hope you can join us tomorrow. It's an old time barbecue in the street outside the Fitzgerald theater in st. Paul Sunday, September 13th before the dfl gubernatorial debate stop by for food drink and live music from The Bourbon Street Boys the party starts at 5. You're listening to Minnesota Public Radio. Sunny Sky now 78° F Kennedy FM 91.1 Minneapolis and st. Paul sunny breezy and warm all afternoon with a high temperature reaching the mid-80s clear to partly cloudy tonight with a low in the 60s and then