Gov. Mark Dayton and his Republican counterpart Jeff Johnson faced off in the Governor Candidate Forum at the Duluth Playhouse this morning in Duluth. Beginning at 8 a.m. the forum was set up in a question and answer format so that citizens could ask questions of the candidates.
Roger Wedin, director of policy and education for the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce, said these forums are helpful for people who aren’t sure who they support in the upcoming election.
“Seeing (candidates) in action, so to speak, in a real-time setting without getting the questions in advance will be valuable to someone trying to make up their minds,” Wedin said.
The forum gives the citizens of Duluth a chance to familiarize themselves with Dayton and Johnson. By not having the questions prearranged, it gives an added sense of surprise to the event that is unique.
“Candidate forums are important for the public interest. These two candidates have many contrasts. Johnson has not been very visible out of the metro area and has only recently begun running television ads,” said Wedin.
Many critical issues were expected to be discussed at this forum including tax increases, pipeline expansion and sulfide mining across the state.
“Many differences between the two candidates is what I think attendees of the forum should expect,” said Eleanor Bacso, events coordinator for the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce.
Dayton, the incumbent governor, is looking for his second term as governor of Minnesota. The Yale University graduate was born in the Minneapolis area and grew up in Minnesota.
In the past, Dayton has voted in favor of same-sex marriage equality and has pushed to make college tuition completely tax deductible, according to ontheissues.org, a non-partisan website that provides information about candidates to voters.
Johnson, the Republican the challenger is a graduate from Concordia University and Georgetown who has a strong law background. He was born in Detroit Lakes and has roots in northern Minnesota.
He is a strong believer of tax cuts for Minnesotans, wants to protect citizens rights to bear arms and is pro-life according to his official website.
Chuck Frederick, the editorial page editor for the Duluth News Tribune, said these forums are important for the citizens of Duluth so that we as a community and state can better solve issues effectively.
“The main purpose is to increase voter knowledge of the candidates and their positions. Voters have a right to hear from the candidates and we have an obligation to ask hard questions and to get information and disseminate it,” Frederick said.
Although these forums can be useful, there are some who question who they are aimed at. Being held in the morning during the workweek, it can be difficult for students and persons with a 9-5 schedule to attend.
“I would love to ask a question about why these forums are held on Tuesday mornings. It seems only the elderly are being catered to,” said Katie Johnson, a junior at UMD.
“I’m not the most informed person in the city, but I would like to think it could be more accessible for people my age to go and learn something.”
The question of whom these forums are catered to has also been brought up. With the forums normally being held during the week and in the morning, it is difficult for college students to lend their opinions in such forums.
“Mostly middle age and white, business people, and it appears quite a few from the Iron Range come down,” said Wedin when asked about the types of demographics at a typical Duluth public forum.
The forum was co-hosted by The Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce and the Duluth News Tribune.