Thank you Gratis. Six minutes past 12 programming on Minnesota Public Radio is supported by Kare 11 News featuring award-winning photojournalism and Community involvement the news handled with care. Good afternoon, and welcome back to mid-day on Minnesota Public Radio. I'm Gary. I can glad you could join us. Well life is slowly returning to normal here in the state of Minnesota after last week's historic election. Governor elect. Jesse Ventura is setting up his transition team dfl candidates get Pumphrey is on the road representing the state of Minnesota attorney general and our guest this hour or the Republican Party's candidate for governor Norm. Coleman is back to being mayor of st. Paul Mayor Coleman finish second in the morning last week, and he has stopped by today or to share his perceptions of the election talk some about the future and discuss some of the issues facing the city, and of course we invite you to join our conversation as well. Give us a call or I guess this hour st. Paul Mayor and this year is Republican candidate for governor Norm Coleman. If you got a question for the mayor 2276 mm to 276 thousand. That's the Twin City area number outside the Twin Cities 1 800 to +422-828-227-6000 or one 802-4228. Mayor. Thanks for coming by today. Thank you God. If only that snowstorm it come a week early after I give Jesse great credit. He he he did what no one thought he would do in and rather remarkable. He got a lot of folks out to Votaw never voted before you and I got to talkin early and you made the comment, you know, how you would reflect it instead of all the people excited about UIC actually voted he'd win. Well, they were and they did anyone and that's the nature of Minnesota politics are given great credit to you touch something ignited it in that Prairie Fire swept the Flicka landscape on Tuesday, but what are you how do you interpret the the election? What message do you suppose was being sent for for our vision in the Republican Vision? I tell people I buy truly believe that we won that the day of the battle of ideas 72% of the people who voted said no. More programs more government in the end but I believe him more taxes. So I asked if I'm free by the way who we all would debt of gratitude for his service to the state that he's been outstanding attorney general came in the heat in rajamundry FL had a vision that people didn't want didn't want then when you think about the enormity of the dfl candidate dfl labor mea afscme AFL-CIO candida getting 28% of the vote from that perspective that invite an end in the other reality that this Republican majority in the house for the first time in 13 years at a time when Democrats swept throughout the country. This was a bit was a big election for Democrats in the administer Sota the message of cutting taxes giving people economic freedom. And and the the Republican Victory I think in many ways is very gratifying if I figured if we want a battle I certainly lost a war but I think that's the Jessie I was typhoon Jesse that that phenomenes what would be on that? There's a lot that Republicans have to Can't say hey, we got through we connected and that the challenge has had to keep connecting. Did you ever have what point did you realize that Jesse Ventura was going to win golden state election at 10 Tuesday night, even if this stuff and we ran Gary a very much by the numbers and he can always reflect Leonid if we were in a by-the-numbers campaign, we know we we we were running against again one of the most famous and and the well-established political figures in the state bird. And again, it will serve the state incredibly. Well, we were down substantially and in the polls right after the primary and we focus then on what we had to do to beat we thought the front runner which we did in the end. I tell people if I have somebody said that I'd wake up on Wednesday morning and I read the papers Republican majority in the house and then I beat the dfl endorsed candidate by 120000 votes. And by the way, I'm not the governor is something we miss something and we really did even the exit polls early. Suppose we were getting from CVS at 4 with for 5 in the afternoon when it was Humphrey Coleman dead even vent or four or five points behind that at that point. We figured we were going to win this race, but it became very clear that the kind of magnitude of what Jesse tapped into was was such that the even with those Southeast Southwest typical Republican areas if it wasn't enough to it to win, so it was really I got to tell you Tuesday night. We look and said hey this thing is not going to happen that Jesse is Humphrey isn't getting enough votes in areas that he should Jesse was getting more than he couldn't and and that was it but it was something that I don't think anybody saw it on the political Doppler radar didn't seem didn't see this storm brewing. Do you think that the election represents a sea change of sorts of Minnesota politics or is it a more of a blip on the screen when one man's opinion? What's a the sea the sea changes his at the era of big government is over. I mean, I think that's the reality of if that's a sea change it with all respect for the Reform Party. I don't think this represents a major shift in the two-party alignment of the party that division of a cutting taxes giving people more economic freedom and opportunity that being the path to our future versus the dfl vision of of programs for every problem clearly the voters chose 72% of the people who voted voted for our vision that clearly the economic Vision. I don't think there's a sea change that this is you got to give Jesse Ventura Chris. Just Jessie as a spokesperson. He he was here he thought he was seen as being The Fighter 4 what Minnesota wanna die and I was seen as the guy that nothing govern the city well and I was going to cut taxes and Skip was going to raise in the simple message of people chose the guy that really resonated with them, but I don't think there's any major see change here. If you look at the other reform candidate right there, you know that it wasn't there. When all is said and done at the challenge for the dfl has to go back and say Hey, how do we reach will iMessage for Republicans it is how do we reach out and and make sure that those folks who I was some story level didn't vote for a candidate. Are there next time do you think this might change the time I suppose for lack of a better word the language of politics wear. People like yourself candidates are more inclined would be more inclined in the future to speak more directly. I guess you got to look at these dynamics of of this race are battle. If you look at what we had to do in this race in order to win, we we we knew we could win on the tax issue like cut tax cut projected we were going to do that skip again with a good heart and and in good service, he and Rodger did reflect that Vision of Love More government. And so we won that battle if it was a different race pass we could have done differently. So I don't I'm not seeing him and maybe I'm missing something. I'm not seeing any great sea change. I'm not saying that well we're going to reach will the way we do everything we ran a race that we had to run we were successful and we thought we had been what we thought the success would be and that is again beating the dfl while later endorsed candidate. Play A different race may have done it differently obvious, and I've run a couple of races back is being mayor. I will continue to do what I have done and articulate see that the message that I have I wish is about confidence and in whole peeled investment. I'll keep doing that. So I'm not sure I could be missing something here. I'm not I think you got to give Jesse Ventura great credit. He tapped into something on that Tuesday last week at a certain point in time. He tapped into something that ignited, you know enough voters to to beat me in to be skipping and give him the credit for that. Say Palm-Aire Norm. Coleman is our guests this hour course, he was the Republican Party's candidate for governor many second in Tuesday's voting like to join our conversation. If you got a question for the Mets r227 6000 outside the Twin Cities one 802-422-8284 callers from Stillwater Kirk. Go ahead Place. Good morning. I am a pro-life voter and on the reasons that I voted for you and I'm deeply sorry that you didn't win. A lot of people said including a political commentator on the station this morning that one of the reasons that you may have lost his you're pro-life stand like to know what you think about that this race it in the end Jessie one cuz he tapped into something that got more votes than what I tapped into. I I I I think people they know they can't wait if you're pro-life the fact is y dreams and I'll be there in a minute when he ran last time. I rode repurpose pro-life Kevin, right? I think that issue is important to certain number of people. It's clearly who I am and what I'm about and end it may have gotten me votes. It may have lost my voice but I don't think I don't think you're winning and losing on those issues it if you kind of look at what was on the political radar screen up their first, you know, Jesse tapped into something and it even if you didn't talk much about abortion. That wasn't a central issue of him. Jesse had had positions on issues raised some things that I think you would look in the majority of old is he when he raised it and it just you said considering he was very careful after it said I didn't say what to do but consider prostitution issue some the other things. I don't think it was an issue thing. I think it was a he tapped into the heart of of enough of every man and every woman that he got more votes than I did. So I don't think the issues the ultimate issues in this race. We're not about whether you're pro-life pro-choice. I don't think that's what most people in and I don't think of a pro-life candidate. Is it somehow you could going to say? Well I can't win this steak diagrams did perpich did there was something else that was at the Forefront of Voters Minds for said that issue. I I can't tell you in for mentally fit in the end maybe got more votes than I lost. But but that is not what was at the center of this race and that was at the center people's minds and election-day back to the phone Steve-o's question for me or, go ahead. Are you doing today? All goodness gracious telling someone to take kids? I've been knocked down enough in my life. I got his being run over by Six others getting the food before you do so. I know you're at your wake. I came back into work the next day and the next day to tell if my the folks in my office. Hey, we got work to do. I'm already working on those things today. And then so not yet. You gotta take you accept. What would God in the voters. Do you know the hand that they deal you and and then you move on in life in and you do the best you can do all the time and I really believe that nut that gives me my sense of Peace by supported you last week was the way that you've been able to create an economic and cultural strategy for st. Paul basically kind of Reviving The City over the last few years and I'm interested in what you see is the next Ducks both principal and for all of us has a region. I mean, that's the thing the opportunity that I see that we may be losing yours your touch at the governor's Are you sure if you will love being able to craft that have a strategy for Minnesota? I appreciate the campaign weight. Did you didn't you didn't see we got Media One to announce his Regional headquarters in st. Pauls a thousand jobs. When I took off as a good five years ago, we would have lost a hundred fifty-two hundred yards would have been a big story and I'm going to Erin Condren Staples paper with a written story about House St. Pauls collapsing. We got a thousand jobs as a little piece a little piece that the key to that has been a being focused on a few things that has been about cutting taxes and government serving people while it has been about using the river at as a tool to bring people together. I would hope we say this I would hope that when things Jesse does is he picks up my tax plan? We had a really we had a very clear vision for cutting taxes Jesse believes and he said this that he believes that that do we got to cut taxes and got to return surpluses. I would hope that that the governor picks up a Coleman tax plan. And can Cuts income tax with a second highest tax state in the nation. He understands that I that we get rid of the marriage penalty tax that we get rid of the sick text. When you do that you cut taxes you you said that you sent a message of economic confidence that the end is one of the factors that generates a job growth and opportunity. So if if I would hope that that Jesse picks up a Coleman tax plan and moves with it makes it his makes it to Ventura plan. And then I would hope in and I will continue to stay focused on a few things one of the things that didn't receive its going to not a central issue in the campaign, but I think I'm working on it already is the whole issue of using competition to drive quality in government. I put together a task force compete same flag at the Union's working with me the challenge for government in the next century is to deliver the very best product at the least cost. And if you do that again these real confidence Builders, like I keep my want my people every day to reflect are we doing things that generate confidence? If you do that you get people to invest where they grow jobs where they raise their families where they retire and I think that's the key to a bright a few. Okay, the campaign is over Democrats kept pounding away at you during the campaign on the the issue of City indebtedness. Are you essentially? Have you built a house of cards here? Is there a real danger of that the all of this development is going to go Splat Netgear. That was really that that that was pure politics in the fact is that per capita indebtedness in Minneapolis? I think maybe two three times what is in St. Paul. Not the same that the indebtedness we have in st. Paul is not paid for by Saint Paul taxpayers the way you grow jobs the way you grow jobs is what we did with Minnesota Mutual Austin you bring in in about the Washington projects and bring it as a thousand new jobs. It's going to bring in a new restaurants new retail tax rate in the same. People are paying for that and and what happens if you got lost and software they largest software tool open the state and you have St. Paul companies the oldest Corporation in the state and they then their lease payments pay the indebtedness. So what you have is you have revenue streams now, you know exactly what I call the chicken little crowd know the sky is falling folks in this a while. You shouldn't do that in the end because what if Lawson goes under and what a saint Companies go Sunday. Well, if you take that approach girl, you walked on Wabasha Street today and instead of that home of 4006. You have the close McDonalds. You have the fantasy has sex shop light breeds light. So what you're really had was a in politics people to create an issue, but am I concerned at Alderwood back it up? Is that some rest yet? There's arrested st. Paul companies in Washington, And I don't think that's a great risk of the arena is the same thing the arena their revenue streams that pay for the indebtedness. We use the Cities Credit to lower the rate of lending you get a better rate, but the test sample taxpayers aren't paying for it and the only way they'd be on the hook is everything collapsed. But then what you do is you put guarantees and you have reserves you do all sorts of things to make it fiscally prudent. So so that was a non-issue thee, you know, the critics said well the Standard & Poor's issued a warning about Saint Paul and deadliest if they did that when we made a commitment to bring hockey puppy, For the legislature came in with a 65 Million Dollar Loan. Once we got the loan that was taken care of but they didn't say that so, you know who ran for office people try to create issues play politics at the bottom line is is that we have had no problem with $10,000 jobs in Saint Paul and I took office at city taxes have been cut the city portion taxes every year that Saint Paul property tax payers are not directly on the hook and that we have adequate guarantees to take to cover. This should have been the end. It is a win-win-win for the people of Saint Paul and I think owes me for the people to State now that you're past the campaign back to being met. Are you going to take a run at the twins? Try to build him a stadium in St. Paul? That's a very good question Gary. I hate that. You can't take a run without knowing what the state wants to do. The state has to be a partner in New York. Clearly that that was an interesting political issue in that there is such an anger about public subsidies of of stadiums it on the other hand what I'd always supported and said, let's let's talk about user fees. Go to use the facility let them support it. So the question really has to be you know, what is the legislature prepared to do? Was it something that's in the worse? I got it. That's one guy got to sit back. I got I got enough on my plate right now in st. Paul to move forward. But do I believe that is responsibility to try to keep the twins going away the taxpayer say it's a good deal when that stuff and some down the throat. Yeah. I do believe that if I probably lost votes on that one Gary, but I believe that you got to figure out a way to keep those Community assets here in the way that makes sense of taxpayer. So I certainly be at the table. I'd work with folks if they want me to work with that so call now for the governor, that's a call for the legislature. I think it would be a shame if we lost the twins. I think we should try to figure out a way to do it again with the taxpayers say hey, this is a good deal. You got stuff in something down our throats those who are going to use it going to pay for it. If you miss a polity where it's located it was in Minneapolis St. Paul there at the table. I certainly be willing to help but I haven't I can't take a lead on that one guy that something with the legislature and the governor really have to dispute a kind of set the course. Your question for me or Coleman? Yeah. I just think it's kind of funny. Now that the election is over that both the both the Republicans in the dfl are trying to claim credit for all Jesse's ideas, you know instead of realizing where he's coming from one of the places he is coming from his that he is against making the taxpayers back up with business. Does he know making it the average working person responsible in the end for the expenditures government for helping out the business that oughta be paying its own wig? You know, I can look at Jesse's proposal for stadium financing. You don't use use a really against making the taxpayers responsible for it in the end and I just think it's kind of amazing. You don't know that that you're willing to take credit for this yourself Mary Coleman clean the fuser. These are your ideas that he's running with say Mom that I'm not taking credit any Jessie's I'm telling you how I run a city and the things that we've done it and then the reality is that you work to create jobs that they don't just manually. Happen automatically without them what you have then is is you have like what you have is Ultimate increased burden on the taxpayers. I go back to you know, Saint Paul before I was the mayor that we had. We had a lot of bad loans. We lost a lot of jobs City wasn't in good shape. So you change that and the fact is you do work with business and you do work with them to to grow jobs in this community. That's it get this and that's a good thing. It's a very good thing and it's something that I will continue to do because that's what cities need you don't do. The worst thing we need is to have Urban blight. The worst thing we need is to have businesses decide. They don't want to locate your so I will continue to govern the way I've government and I believe it has been successful continue to do that and work with with business again on the stadium issue. That's something told me legislation. The governor have to decide. Is there something that can be done there while I'm saying is I'm willing to work with whoever because I do like to grow jobs. I do like economic vitality and I have always believed that the End of the war of the Vikings and Saint Paul's case the wild are good for Urban Development. And if we can figure out a way the taxpayers like that, you know that they have support then I'll try to come to that conclusion never stuff something down anyone's throat never said that and haven't done it but I try to be creative and doing something that people say makes sense and then brings economic Vitality stadium is a side effect Ventura said during the campaign that he doesn't believe government has a role of state government doesn't have a role in economic development that that's something best left the private sector maybe the local. I mean it's a polity can municipalities get by without State assistance in terms of Economic Development projects. I think you work with the state and certainly we as a community work with business to grow jobs here and it's not a matter of if I will give him these big hand doesn't have a licence project is a great example. They could have developed less cost to them less cost for development. Let's go switch parking West Coast for rent. To go into Suburban with a cold Green Space area to Detroit tough Gary to develop in a core city. So we use things like tax increment financing which in which we use the additional tax generated to pay for just the cost of cleaning up the plants not a subsidy of the business, but that allows you then to bring the jobs York or city. If you don't do that as City simply become centers of of Have Nots if cities in the end becomes sentence of light decoration, we will suffer at that. They've the blight spreads. So is there a role for government to play and working with business to grow jobs here? Absolutely. Jesse is a supporter of private-sector Economic Development. Absolutely. I mean that's at the center. We want private sector jobs not government jobs, but in the end you want less government, then that's what I've done it st. Paul but in the end government does work with busy. That's why it's important that we don't roll back workers comp reform. That's why it's important that we cut taxes. Those are all government actions that create a climate that makes it more likely that a business will grow jobs. The people of this state understand jobs are a good thing. Jesse understands that I understand that the nicer and look forward to working with them to grow jobs for both in St. Paul. And anywhere else in Minnesota Eric. Your nose is still your question from are thank you. I just like to digress a little bit and kind of compare the the current Governor's race to the previous Senate race where we had a Reform Party candidate Dean Barclay. I'm going against wellstone in Den Bosch was and I think part of the and I guess I favorited Norm I figured you doing in the governor's race. Wish they were more of you a more liberal than I am. But I favor him and that previous election because he seemed to have a hand on every man, you know. When is made out of people and when you bring Berkeley into that race into the debates wellstone seem to have taken him as a as a q? It's worth it with a prompt for him to to show to us that that he can he was he cared about the concerns at Barclays represented, which I think represented every man. And at the same time was able to deliver in a way that that show that he was more experience and Barkley. So I think I think Normandy and Skip handed to you know, I might be wrong with my impression. Was it the tended to dismiss Jesse Ventura a little bit more than they should have and in should have kicked up a little more on on did they everyday concerns of people use the debate of the other is a dialog for conversation rather than you know, attacking one another I think of the biggest skip the handgun issue which I thought was little I don't even think he believed. I think I was off base. Paul wellstone I had the tremendous capacity inability to kind of tap into every man would if if I want to cut a look back in hindsight and say you know, what have you done diff what you did not know about the way weather would change the outcome number different Dynamics again. I was running against the guy who is the front-runner Humphrey and in clearly on the on the issues on taxing and spending card Nicole Richie Diet glad the record and inflated very dry. We beat him on that issue and ultimately I'm being a very very handily but we failed and personal to do exactly what you talked about. And Jesse did a great job. We did this missing man in and I went to dismiss him. What we did is we ignored him be kind of what you know, he did his thing and when we did as we concentrated on each other and in the end, you can look back and see what you would have done a different it might have been different. I don't do that. I can engage in that we we fought kind of the fight. It's strategically that we thought we had to end in the end as I take my pill. I said Mario going to beat the weather be the dfl candidate by 46 points on Election night while he was right, but he didn't figure on the other piece and end that's where you got to give that's where I give Jesse credit at end. Could we have done it different? I mean, is there more heart and soul to Norm Coleman? Then perhaps people people see in the course of race at that's that's true all the time with the Bob Dole. Now you he's out there kind of smiling Fritz Mondale afterwards people say gosh if they just would have shown that part of them during the campaign. It might have been different now if it could have been should have been would have been about the dynamic of political campaigns or traditional political campaigns because clearly Jesse Ventura surmount managed to get past this but is there something in the way campaigns are are run thought about that prevents the real Norm Coleman from coming through or the real Bob Dole are the real Walter Mondale or fill in the name. Perhaps I mean they're there is a process to this that you got to say. How do you can get more voters than the other guy and that's part of it. So you focus on a corset of issues of which kind of it and that you're correct shame and I'm not guy and a tax cut. I believe that cutting taxes January 2nd aumack freedom and then ultimately is is good for people but there is something about looking answer key. How do you how does the Republican candidate overcome a dfl candidate that starts out with a huge lead? How do you do that? And in the end you you know, you ignore them the reform candidate who had this capacity to kind of do but the koala talked about. If if if it had snowed on Tuesday or the results were different and all the folks around Norm Coleman will be Geniuses. We came from 20 points behind it and beat the attorney know 112000 volts. Wow, but there is there is something mechanical. You say hey, I want to really take this on I will marry you got us to know it. So you got to kind of stick to this message and end at this time. But in hindsight is always perfect when you're in the middle of a we did what I believed we had to had to do to win the race. We thought we had to win but it was in the end not the guy that that beat us. So this is an unusual race with with an unusual personality in the race who did it again with the quality and I think reflecting a kind of touched the more of that every man more than I did in more than skip did and in the end. He was Victorious. Other another thing we've heard repeatedly since last Tuesday's election you and Skip Humphrey and the news media all gave Jesse Ventura Free Ride didn't hold him to account for what he was saying. I didn't push him hard enough didn't force him to to to flesh out his ideas in the same way that we dealt with. The two of you is that fair. I think it's it's I think it's fair and it's a fair statement. But you know part of that then it's our fault if if you then discount somebody and end and don't then challenged him the media act like I think did the did the same in that sense, but I say that by not by or not. I'm not complaining and whining I got to tell you Jesse full credit and full do because he did he ran a great campaign. He did the right things at the right time and ended up being Victorious but you know clearly we didn't I meant part of our strategy was astronaut the challenge member was Humphrey said I wasn't trying every debate and every he's got to be there. So, you know we didn't do so at some of the things that had we done. I don't know why I don't want to get into you know, what could have been I think the media and in the end I will say this. I don't think they gave Jesse his do I think they did in the beginning kind of saw him was just you know, well. Some unusual ideas and he's pretty outspoken, but they didn't do the kind of critical analysis. That's that's kind of a reality. But again, you don't want to go back. You got to give the guy credit for tapping into what he did with nobody so it could be done Gary and that is he got young people to vote. You got young people to go. That's a phenomenal thing. I got to tell you. I'm in meetings with folks are there is no way all those folks who are cheering for Jesse going to show up and vote for him. Will he did they did that's a good thing by the way, and I hope all those young people stay involved. Hope they're energize. I hope they continue to understand the impact government has on their lives. So he did some some things you give him credit for you know, did we challenged him know we didn't that was a tactical decision the Coleman campaign made. I presume that I know that I'm free campaign made it but on the other hand give the guy credit for doing what no one thought could be done and getting a lot of people to show up who in the end in before had to show cuz they weren't on the polls. You didn't say Didn't see him. So that was the even the McCarthy campaign you go back to the gene McCarthy campaign and in a lot of young people dating myself here and I was Bobby Kennedy guy than in those years, but it was if you like talk to her, you know, kind of folks and analyze this stuff. We didn't show up in massive numbers to vote and that I wasn't what move Jenny McCarthy in this race. Jesse did a job good job of bringing a lot of young people bring a lot of folks who didn't Jones Road in the same coming. I brought him to the table and that's a good thing. That's good for democracy. It's good to get the I hope they stay involve. I hope they'll I hope they hold Jesse's fit. If I hope to hold my feet to the fire. Hope they hold all of us and I hope they are involved and stay involved and if they are then this will be an f+ for everybody something of your question for the mayor. What I want to say first that I really admire mayor Coleman and and attorney general Humphrey and I appreciate their service to the state of Minnesota. I did not vote for Jesse Ventura and I was really appalled when he won that election. I have to say but in talking to my friends who didn't vote for him. I was really surprised at who did and and Y and the mayor kind of said, you know, there was this Jesse factor and there was something besides the issues. I think some of it did but I don't think it can all be dismissed as Jesse Ventura, although I think that's a big part of it. But I think that my feeling is that the Reform Party represented something that was outside the two major parties and I think that was Kind of an individualism that with the two major parties you're really tied into these platform and serve people like me who are morally very conservative but maybe socially more liberal and and you know, and then when it comes to two fiscal responsibility, maybe more conservative to you know, it didn't really know which way to go with Coleman and Humphrey and I did end up voting for one of them over Ventura, but I think a lot of my friends just said hey with the Reform Party not having that strict platform structure. They felt like they could find a place with this candidate. Let me get let me give you a different analysis. See if I'm if I'm a in that excite. I really don't believe I'm going to upset some folks and reform party here, but I really don't believe that this was a reform party thing. I had two observations one. I do think people upset with the party's I think upset with no getting rich, I think as a republican, I think that our folks Washington didn't make it easy for us out in day out in the Hinterlands out in the heart of America here and I think you saw that across teeth at the cross the country. I think in a way there. They are angry Bill Clinton. I just did that that whole mess about we know why we know why we going through this in America today. And so Jesse prezz, it was an alternative and in a way, I mean, I understand and agree with kind of it that the challenges of the party structure, but the fact is I got the endorsed over the candidate who was so they partying do I see for years ago who represented the more conservative, you know, right elements of the party. Skip guy didn't want a primary over that the best that the dfl had to offer including their endorsed candidate. We were in it in effect that you know mainstream for whatever that means we know for all parties. I think I had a big tent I had to the social conservatives the economic and start pull them all together, but people are I do believe there. Angry about what's about Washington about what's happening and not happening there and I think on that Tuesday in November in Minnesota and elsewhere they stood up in the end. Jessie was a way to express that and again, he did a good job of giving them cause I think making them feel good about Express that's will give him his due look at the Dynamics and washing it around the country in the end though. We got two parties in Oslo to party country of the two party system. I appreciate the Reform Party being there but aside from Jessie and not seeing massive numbers. I don't think you're seeing any structural shift here. And I think there are enough dynamics that you touched upon but particularly the washing Peas I died and I cannot lie people should feel pretty good today. Minnesota most most people who voted but on the other hand, there is a frustration that they will these games are going on. These politicians are in Reno dealing with our needs and and certainly I think you saw some of that the last Tuesday, what about the money factor in campaigns? I think one of the things again, we've heard from listeners and so on. After they found a pill Call Jesse Ventura was that basically have no don't pack money. No special interest money, whatever. He can raise selling T-shirts and then he got his Public public money. And that was it. And he was and he sold himself as a free man and he would just make the best decisions when he took office without being beholding to anybody. Do you think there's a need to change the way we pay for campaigns in Minnesota? I'm not sure how yet how you change it. And that is the the best solution for that is full disclosure. Let people know who gave and and and that that's that's it. It it is no democracy to people have a right to participate in to contribute. You should know who that is. And you should know how much and in the in the end you can you do it just on public financing. Is it that did that Anna wakes again except for Jesse which is highly unusual that that's that's usually the ticket for friend compensate. The folks will have the name recognition. You want to talk about keeping your system as is. They just have public financing because the folks have been in office who have the name recognition who have ways they've got their name out that you they do it on the public dying consistently. They've got a huge Advantage. I believe in change. I'm I'm going to serve two terms as mayor and move on. I believe in change. I believe in self-imposed term limits. I don't want to see a system whereby because of just public financing. What we have is is Ino incumbents have a you judge if Jesse had a lot of a piano quality is going for a mini communicated well and he connected with people but don't be changing the whole system just because of the Jesse Factory the and yet you may get something you don't expect which in the case of if you just did public financing for incumbents. It would be a field 8 Because unless they were Jesse personality. They going to have a huge Edge in particular house races and other races in and so what unites the answer is full disclosure full disclosure. Let people know who gives there are limitations, but I don't know if you want to be throwing the baby out with the bathwater on that one, Gary. Time your next go ahead place. I've heard a lot of people over the last week talking about why they voted for who and guessing about things and I think the underlying thing is Tom guessing. This is expert analysis. We offer on this station. Well, you know, you close that curtain but I think the the big difference is that we had two lawyers running against someone who's not a lawyer that you have very complicated funding screen streams. I've heard a lot of people talk about tax excrement financing, but all these government schemes are very complicated. The average person wants to believe that they have a stake in government and they want to understand what that steak is. They don't want to have to spend a weekend taking economics courses to to find things out and I think that like the stadium issue. Jessie was simple he said Making pay these guys 30 billion or 30 million then they can figure out how to put a roof over their heads. If you know, this thing is only 16 years old. I'm not going to rebuild it. That's simple. That's something people understand both. You know, Humphrey said no, but he had mr. Moe standing right behind him. You know, it's shaking his head. Yes, and then ignore him again, you know says there's there's economic ways, but they're complicated and people don't want life is complicated people are complicated complicated lot more simple and I think that that's what the educated people who voted for Jesse believed, you know, that things should be simple and much more clear-cut and I think that Jesse rang true, he he he was hanging onto his Integrity real strong. Nobody had to question people from St.Paul were saying now st. Paul's in debt up to their eyeballs. So that's so the What's complicated as well, Don't let me tell me the truth, then it's okay. But if he's not and that's all of a sudden makes it complicated to two opposite to observations at first the the communication communicating in a very straightforward way. I agree with them and that's part of the challenge. That's that's what you need to do to be successful and it isn't the lawyer thing Abraham Lincoln was a lawyer Bill Clinton lie mainly in the Warriors conserve where they have like him or not. They don't get donuts. Shakespeare said kill all the lawyers. I'm not going back to being loyal by the way when I'm done. I got to spend that recovering attorney. But the 22.1 communication simple absolutely the time the business of government is complicated and I put in I got to tell you. I mean, I work 12:14 Center 16 hours a day struggling with and I got a half billion dollar business the state of the city of Saint Paul state of Minnesota. Say 23 billion dollar by annual business. Very complicated. How do you do the best thing for US citizens in the text? How do you do the right thing and it is not a simple it is not simple. You bring in the best Minds in the best talents and and then you in the end you can I use your brain and use your gut but you struggle to work this stuff out and you deal with the political economic and you deal with the press and you deal with it. So it is a complicated business to do the challenges is to articulate it in a very straightforward simple way, but is it complicated Don Wright that that way without a doubt and I got to tell you I work hard at it and I bring in great talent and I can always say I get it right. So I agreed that we got a communicated in a more straightforward way. That's a challenge of being a better communicator, but it is complex and it is difficult and it is something that Jesse will will deal with as Governor. I deal with his mayor that it is it is it is not an easy business to do the right thing. And I mean to say that I talk a lot of CEOs and then are there. Who is dumping on government at to do the business I do we got the Press hanging outside your door. If your every decision you do is going to be challenged and people are going to apply the kind of the political flavor to it as they did listen to spending thing in st. Paul. This is not simple stuff. And so and I'm not apologetic for saying that that's a reality it's truth. But on the other hand we have I think the challenge is candidates to communicated in a simpler way. So people can say yeah, I get it. They understand what I need there were there fighting for me and if you do that you're successful and if you don't do it well enough then you're not successful. You're not going to run for mayor again. You're lame duck. I have three liberated. I don't have to deal with any of the special. I just going to do the right thing for Saint Paul cuz I'm not worried about re-election. So I'm liberated just to even be a better me than I've been before Gary. You're not going to be an attorney. Does that mean you're running for the US Senate then? No. No. I am going to serve three years as mayor long-term. I'd like to be able to take care of my family. I believe in free enterprise. I believe in make-believe making money is a good thing Democrats are convinced that you're going to run for president or vice president was the last one that I'm running for. My term is running for public office. Holding public office is something that's absolutely wonderful. It's hard. It is difficult on your family, but it is very rewarding you make a difference in people's lives. I look at this fabulous city. That is Saint Paul and look where it was five years ago. And where it is today and will be in a couple years when the many of the things that we've laid out will be in place. And so that's a real blessing to have that opportunity. I'm not ruling out continued service somewhere, but I I I have said I'm going to serve the self-imposed term limits bringing some new blood and Saint Paul after I'm done options. Something else politically may be making money for my family so I can afford to send my kids to a good college love to do that. Love to do that. I think and if I'm able to do that and in the end in America that I'm going to do it, so I did George W bush called you up and said Mayer love to have a life. I told about my hopes in my dreams. I don't I don't think I'm getting that call Gary Joe your question for me or call me is pro-business and I appreciate that but my question is about his willingness or wanting the residency requirement for Saint Paul lifted for two of his political appointment. And the reason that I asked that is it surprises me that he supports that because being such a strong supporter of pro-business that he is and myself being in private business. Take a job in the private sector and you know what your cracked requirements are. Give me to take it or you don't take it. You got to make the decision right then and there and his his age of the two of them. Name is I mean, they've had a year to move into Saint Paul and they have it and you know, let's face it. We're all replaceable in society. There is there's not one person who is meant to do that one job there as many people and you just let me let me jump in on that one and and tell you why I disagree with what I am. I Am pro jobs and the worst right. Now the worst thing you could you can do for growing jobs in st. Pauls to say we have a residency requirement. If we can't find enough people for some of the jobs that are out there to the issue. We are you concerned about about four more concerned about substance. I got a great Deputy Mayor doing a great job of the only people by the way in the entire city of st. Paul, they're affected by residency or a few of the mayor's appointees have for the rest of the day the City My City employee. Tweed Court ruling threw that out if this is a fundamental fairness issue, I don't believe in I don't believe that you need to have residency requirements for folks who work for you want to bring the best talent to the table. And so the whole range of reasons residency in this environment of this economic environment just doesn't make sense. It doesn't make sense for the private sector. I don't think it makes sense for the public sector when I got let me stop you back a little bit when I got elected in 93, I actually support a residency and when I got elected that's why I changed my position on that. I want to tell you because I hired Larry biegler is head of economic development for the city of Saint Paul is the guy that worked his whole life in the city former head of North Norwest Bank Fresno West Bank st. Paul that he was he was the best guy for the job and he was part of the economic development opportunities because I had the best talent than having to live a half mile from the same bulb order. The dumbest thing in the world would have been to say Larry. I can't I can't hire you because you live a half mile. Lesson that you've worked your whole life and saying for he came in and I are we going to be alright up 20 million dollars in bad debt because before I took over we didn't have some X Files for loans a whole way. I mean I brought in town that help us manage the city better. So I have to tell you you can agree or disagree with me to in today's environment don't think residency make sense as a fairness issue in the city of st. Paul it all my classified as what my other employees that they are not impacted by residency. And so it's a fundamental Church these two people it is an email appointees and I think my supervisors you and your way to get there the only folks that that this point still have a residency rights. They get rid of it for everybody other than the mayor I'll be here and then there is yet but but beyond that ring in the best talent, this is not the end. It's not a game of government and it's not I'm out of all we have this rule the people of Saint Paul deserve the very best talent to make sure that this city is doing the best for them. That's the business of government and sew in today's environment. Economic environment, I disagreed with both the private sector the public sector. I don't think it makes a lot of sense. Let's get another caller on the line Deborah all your question place near Coleman when you were first elected as mayor over a hundred of the poorest people in St. Paul invited you to come and visit get to know them and you made some brief visits and you held a nice question answer Center nice question answer session at Dorothy Day Center you visited listening house in the mission what's become of that and I have two questions. Do you think it's important for you is married to sit down and visit face-to-face with some of these people the homeless people on welfare disability the poor people. And what are you doing right now about that? I think the most important thing you do is make sure that this Economic Opportunity make sure their jobs that's what we've done in st. Paul thousands of jobs in the second piece of that. I used to make sure we connect people with the jobs. I believe that through the work we've done with Workforce Development Susan Kimberly and PD has been leading that effort lately working with the county. It's probably anyway, I say I've had most change in the way in which government operates. So we're looking at having operations within the community so we can do a better job of connecting people with the opportunities are out there and passionate about that. I spend my life. I spend my time visiting and listening throughout the city so we know what are you doing? Don't just talk about it do something about it. I hope that I have been successful in both creating more job opportunity and putting a major emphasis on retooling the way in which we connect people with jobs and I'll continue to do that. So I like I do what I can do. I work very hard at it. believe that we're doing the very best that we can do in the city to get a couple more questions on here quick ones John if a good education business and jobs come from education, but when I peel back a layer Skip Humphrey and then Coleman send the kids to private school and our best and the brightest people are abandoning public school for private school, and I'm wondering how we can cope with the fact that people that stay there for public school work for the public and support Public Schools. Don't send their own kids to public school percent of teachers don't send the kids to public school. Every every member of Congress president United States was a strong supporter of public schools and every member of Congress and their kid other than public schools. I don't think that's the measure of where they support Public Schools. I'm a product of Public Schools public school 197 in Brooklyn, New York Junior High School. We had numbers in those States not names to our schools and end my kids go to a religious school because of a faith issue on my wife very very strongly not follow her lead in this I felt it was important to have a great a discussion of God and my kids education and I support that and that's not saying you don't support Publix Hwy to make different choices, but the refund it can you believe Even understanding something without having to do it yourself darn, right? We do that we all do that in life that I've been having spent most of my career in the public sector and yet on the on the business candidate cuz I understand the importance of private-sector economic growth and I worked on hard to make sure we got private sector jobs in the city and we cut government jobs and we've done that so I don't I don't think that's a fair measure the fact is that in a week and in many families make some of the decisions may be about faith and maybe four whole range of reasons. They there we know what we're doing wonderful things of public education in St. Paul when I started as mayor we had one charter school. I think we have 12 now the Public Public Schools Charter Schools right of the parents of kids nose charter school. So so happy that their kids have more choices more option. I believe that every child has a right to a quality education. I believe that shouldn't be determined simply by your economic status in life. I've supported with the governor has done to expand opportunities for school choice and I say that with a deep commitment to public education, but because she knows people choose to Send their kid to a faith-based school doesn't mean that you don't have a commitment to public education. That is the future of our city of our state of our country is quality publication. But let's make sure their options as to make sure their choices us make sure that every child has an opportunity for Quality education. Let me say this and let's free our teachers to do what they do best wishes to teach and get rid of some of the bureaucratic mandates that the state is imposing on then I think we'd even doing a better job and I'll Publix is like a teacher's alright, I support him. I want to support and let's free him to teach and then they certainly if I was governor, I would move vigorously in that area 30 seconds is prize that you finished third in the voting in your own City here in St. Paul Begley Silla de dfl size stronghold in the way. Thank you see that and third Gary piano part of our reality. I spent a lot of time in Greater, Minnesota and answers. Should I be surprised that I want all those boats and fun? You know, and I know none of this stuff surprise me. We we ran the race that we thought we had to win run to win. We ended up being Lee the flds camp 120000 votes and yet Jesse's the governor cuz he did and he tapped into something that was magical on that Tuesday, and I give him great credit, and I pledged to work with him to do whatever I can to help move, Minnesota forward pressure. Appreciate you coming by today rate to be at with you guys. Thanks in last week's election finishing second in the election now if you miss part of the program will be rebroadcast in his program at 9 tonight. So I get a second chance to hear what time are called my dad to say rebroadcast at 9 tonight are on Minnesota Public Radio reminder that programming an NPR supported by medical career Expo sponsored by the Star Tribune Monday, November 16th 10 a.m. To 5 p.m. At the Sheraton Minneapolis Metrodome. 612-673-4035. That's it for midday today Gary. I can hear thanks for tuning in now tomorrow during one of our hours. Not sure which we're going to be joining the from Washington National Public Radio is legal correspondent. Nina totenberg will be joining us to talk about the impeachment process phone lines will be open big money in less time. That's the mantra for a membership drive on Minnesota Public Radio. It starts Wednesday. Think about the value you get from NPR decide what it's worth and get ready for a shorter drive with a big goal one 800-227-2811 You're listening to Minnesota Public Radio. And your two indicator W FM 91.1 Minneapolis. And st. Paul Weather Service says the rain we've been having should change over to snow by mid-afternoon. We could get 3in or so during the rush hour. That'll be fun 60% chance for more light snow tonight with a low in the mid-twenties and then partly cloudy skies are forecast for the cities tomorrow.