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Questionnaires were emailed to the registered addresses of each of the 2022 state legislative candidates for Senate District 9. Each candidate was given word limits for each response and nearly two weeks to return the questionnaire with a profile photos. Responses may have been edited for style and grammar.
Name: Nathan R. Miller
Age: 35
Hometown: Battle Lake
Education: BAS Energy Management
Family members (name/age): Wife, Anna; son, Malachi, 6; daughters, Liberty, 4 and Rosalina, 3.
Past offices held, if any: Election judge and Republican State/CD delegate
Most recent employment: Boiler operator, rental property owner/manager.
What makes you the best candidate to represent the MNGOP in the upcoming November election?
I am hard working, blue collar man. I love the Lord with all my heart, my family, our country and the constitutional republic that we have been blessed with as a nation. I am not a career politician nor do I strive to be. I am a man of strong conviction who knows there is truth, justice and honor in this world. I have been an operations manager in the private sector as well as an entry level employee. I know how to work with a variety of individuals and not compromise my convictions.
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What are the main issues you will focus on when you are elected to the Minnesota Legislature?
How would you describe your position on:
Abortion is a sugar coat word for murder. I will never vote for any legislation that promotes the death of the innocence in our land. We must stop the dehumanization of the preborn children in this state and country.
In reality this money belongs to those who continued to work during the COVID shutdowns. This is the front line workers’ money. The people who were not taking government assistance for their rent, extra unemployment benefits or other handouts. This state received over $70 billion from the federal government of the $5.7 trillion that was added to the national debt to “stimulate” the economy. If you do some simple math, you will find that all who continued to work didn’t get their share. Now the governor wants to spend that portion on everyone to buy votes and support big government agendas. I say give it back to whom it belongs, the front line workers.
Yes. The evidence continues to build daily. The confirmation of 100%-plus voting of registered voters in areas inside the battle ground states. The midnight drops, the mail in ballots and face coverings to promote ballot harvesting. The state laws that were broken to change how the election would be handled. Not putting cameras on every drop box as was required. The instantaneous attempt by the current regime to make elections federally run after the 2020 election.
We need to drop the ERIC system in our state. It artificially keeps our voter rolls inflated and does not purge the system as it claims.
What changes, if any, would you make to how local government aid is distributed to Greater Minnesota?
We need to vote on these government aid projects individually. No more pork added onto the bills. Vote on each for their merit instead of large massive bills.
Name: Jordan Rasmusson
Age: 29
Hometown: Fergus Falls
Education: Fergus Falls High School graduate, Harvard University graduate
Family members (name/age): Wife, Emma
Past offices held, if any: State representative, 2021-present
Most recent employment: Small business owner
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What makes you the best candidate to represent the MNGOP in the upcoming November election?
I understand and live our community values — my family has lived in Otter Tail County for six generations — and I have a proven conservative record of fighting and upholding our values at the State Capitol.
During my time in the Minnesota House, I was one of only six legislators out of 201 to oppose all omnibus spending bills in 2021. Last year, the Minnesota Legislature enacted a 12% increase in state government spending — and I voted no, because Minnesotans cannot afford it. I will continue to oppose wasteful government spending in the Minnesota Senate.
I am the proven conservative leader in this race. My track record in the Legislature has earned me the endorsements of Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen, Rep. Bud Nornes, Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life, the Minnesota Police & Peace Officers Association, the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, and the National Rifle Association.
I am also honored to be the Republican Party’s endorsed candidate, having earned the support of grassroots activists across Senate District 9.
What are the main issues you will focus on when you are elected to the Minnesota Legislature?
Minnesotans are overtaxed, and I support returning the state budget surplus to taxpayers. I authored the bill to eliminate the state tax on Social Security income (House File 3752) and also authored a bill that would reduce the income tax on all Minnesotans (House File 4777). My top priority is to deliver permanent tax relief to you.
We need government to live within its means and stop adding costly regulations onto Minnesota businesses and consumers. I was awarded the “Guardian of Small Business Award” by the NFIB and am endorsed by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce for working to reduce costly mandates that drive inflation.
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Public safety is a key role of government, and I will continue to back law enforcement and first responders. I am honored to be endorsed by the Minnesota Police & Peace Officers Association for my work on public safety.
I will also always fight for our constitutional rights, including the 2nd Amendment. I am the only candidate in this race endorsed by the National Rifle Association.
How would you describe your position on:
I am honored to be the only candidate in this race endorsed by the Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life because of my pro-life work. I authored legislation (House File 1934) to end taxpayer funding of abortions. I have a 100% pro-life voting record in the Minnesota Legislature and have worked to provide women with support when they choose life.
Minnesota has some of the highest taxes in the nation. With our record surplus, I support returning the state budget surplus to taxpayers in permanent tax relief. I authored the largest tax cut in Minnesota’s history, including eliminating taxes on Social Security (House File 3752) and reducing income taxes for all Minnesotans (House File 4777). My top priority is tax relief.
Government spending at the state and federal level is out of control. Last year, I was one of only six legislators out of 201 to vote against all omnibus spending bills. These bills increased state government spending by 12%, which is unsustainable for Minnesota taxpayers. My business background puts me at the forefront of budget debates, and I will always look out for taxpayers and fight against wasteful spending.
It should be easy to vote and hard to cheat in Minnesota’s elections. That’s why I authored the Minnesota Elections Integrity Act (House File 2732) to make sure we have secure and fair elections in Minnesota. I support requiring Voter ID, banning ballot harvesting, and increasing criminal penalties for voter fraud.
In 2020, Minnesota’s Secretary of State willfully ignored Minnesota election law on absentee ballots. We need election officials who will enforce election laws, not undermine them.
I will work to ensure that Greater Minnesota communities get their fair share of state resources, including local government aid. Local government aid should be prioritized toward property tax relief and maintaining local infrastructure. In addition, I oppose local government aid going to cities that are defunding their police departments or otherwise not enforcing laws that keep communities safe.
Name: Cornel Walker
Age: 75
Hometown: Fergus Falls
Education: BA, Southwestern University; J.D., St. Mary’s University School of Law; US Army JAG Corps
Family members (name/age): Jane Stock, 69; four adult children; and six grandchildren.
Past offices held, if any: None
Most recent employment: Retired attorney, and I am a trained mediator.
What makes you the best candidate to represent the MNDFL in the upcoming November election?
My goal is to move effective legislation forward in education, health care, and the economy — what impacts individuals, families, farmers, and small businesses. My life experiences make me uniquely qualified to accomplish this. I have worked successfully with people from all walks of life and will continue to strive to build trust among voters. Senators should represent the views of their district and not just those of a political party.
I would be honored to work for you as your state senator. If elected, I pledge to regularly hold Town Hall meetings in each county within SD 9, to listen to anyone who speaks up, then to return to St. Paul with you in mind and to bring your voices to the Capitol. My aim every day is to improve the lives of the people who call this district home.
What are the main issues you will focus on when you are elected to the Minnesota Legislature?
I will invite legislators from outside rural Minnesota to SD 9 to meet with individuals and groups in order to hear what is best for our communities. We need to be a part of the solution instead of the urban areas dictating to us.
Our legislators must make decisions to maintain the Minnesotan quality of life that you, your families, and your communities worked so hard to obtain. Minnesotans deserve a living wage and a fair tax system. You deserve quality child care and a guarantee of excellent public education that gives Minnesotans the opportunity to reach their potential. Our children should feel secure attending school.
You should feel safe in your home and while driving on our streets and county roads.
You deserve well-staffed hospitals and clinics. Our assisted living and long-term care facilities should attract residents because of their caring and well-trained staff.
Family farmers must be given the ability to thrive.
I will wake up every day and try to improve the lives of the people of SD 9.
How would you describe your position on:
From a legal point of view, the Supreme Court’s majority decision in Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization reversed established precedent. A judge’s well-reasoned decision is based on precedent and the rule of law.
When the rulings of the Supreme Court and the laws enacted by state governments make criminal a medical procedure, then what other laws might be passed and ruled unconstitutional that infringe upon an individual’s right to determine what is best for them?
The decision to terminate a pregnancy should rest with the person or persons involved and their health care provider and not the government.
A working agreement on how to spend $4 billion of the surplus had been reached and the parties walked away from that agreement. As a result, federal monies designated for specific uses will not be available for our use. That is money that would have reduced or supplemented our state taxpayer contribution to public education, healthcare institutions, and infrastructure. The surplus would have allowed the State of Minnesota to cease taxing Social Security benefits. Some sum should be set aside in a rainy-day fund in the event there is a future budget deficit. Tax cuts for the middle class are appropriate.
Money should be spent on incentives for farmers and manufacturers that will lead to the production of goods without polluting our rivers, lakes, and air. We need to spend some of the surplus on the training of the underemployed and unemployed.
For young families, we must continue to incentivize the wide availability of quality daycare and preschools with trained staff who require a living wage. For those who live in long-term care facilities, we must address staffing needs and meet these needs with training for a career in caring for others.
The 2020 presidential election was fair and without fraud. This is based on the rulings of multiple courts that investigated voter fraud across states and found no evidence that any election fraud occurred. The recent testimony of administration officials within the Trump White House, including former Attorney General Barr, substantiates the courts’ rulings that there was no election fraud. The election was not stolen.
Minnesota has an excellent record for secure elections. We have high voter turnout and need to continue with what works well.
The state government should not diminish the authority or role of local government in how to distribute aid. The township, county, and town/city governments are best positioned to make decisions on how to distribute aid locally. They do not need the state to dictate how they are to accomplish a local government task.
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