Candidates meet for county-focused forum

• Senate candidates

Republican Ted Lillie of Lake Elmo listens to an answer from Sen. Kathy Salztman, DFL-Woodbury, during a Tuesday forum in Stillwater.
• Bunn, Lohmer and Martin

House District 56A candidates, from left, DFL Rep. Julie Bunn, Republican Kathy Lohmer and independent Jim Martin participate in a Tuesday legislative forum about state issues affecting counties. All three candidates are from Lake Elmo; the district includes part of Woodbury.
• Andrea Kieffer

Republican Andrea Kieffer of Woodbury responds to a question at a Tuesday legislative forum in Stillwater. She is a candidate in House District 56B, which includes most of Woodbury.
• Marsha Swails

Rep. Marsha Swails, DFL-Woodbury, answers a question during a legislative candidate forum Tuesday in Stillwater. Swails is seeking a third term representing House District 56B.

Talk about it

Candidates for Woodbury-area legislative races gathered Tuesday for the first local candidate forum of the campaign season.

The 90-minute forum focused on state issues affecting counties and county government, from health programs to property taxes. Candidates pledged to work with counties, but offered varying positions on how to address state budget issues that have affected counties in recent years.

The Stillwater forum was sponsored by the Minnesota Inter-County Association, a county advocacy organization, and the Washington County Board.

The forum included: Senate District 56 Sen. Kathy Saltzman, DFL-Woodbury, and her Republican challenger, Ted Lillie of Lake Elmo; House District 56A candidates DFL Rep. Julie Bunn, Republican Kathy Lohmer and independent Jim Martin, all of Lake Elmo; House District 56B Rep. Marsha Swails, DFL-Woodbury, and GOP challenger Andrea Kieffer; and Rep. Matt Dean, R-Dellwood, and Democratic challenger Sten Hakanson of Stillwater.

Democrat Jen Peterson of Cottage Grove, in House District 57A, also participated.

See the upcoming print edition of the Woodbury Bulletin for more on the forum.

Tags: daily updates, washington county, election, politics, government