This post has all the questions asked, and when the responses are have timestamps on them starting from the start of the video.
For the sake of fairness, to start off we will not list the incumbent’s title, just what party endorsed both of them.
Kathleen Bart Endorsed Republican
Clare Verbeten Endorsed DFL
There are 21 questions asked plus opening & closing statements by each candidate. So click the “More” when you come to it below question 4 to see all the questions asked.
Time Stamps from the start of the video above
0:00-6:23 Debbie Magnusson who is a member of the LWV of St Paul does an introduction and explains the rules and where the restrooms are at. She asks that members of the audience to not video the forum, even though SPNN is open to the public. So none of this video is edited on our end (the sound quality of the video is of a very low volume so you might have to turn on the closed captioning, put on headphones or turn up the volume).
The Rules she states are that each candidate can have an opening and closing statement that is 2 minutes long each, and can only have 1 minute to respond to a question. Both candidates have agreed to it. If quoted by another candidate, the candidate can have a 30 second rebuttal.
She talks about questions submitted prior to the forum and questions can be asked from the audience using note cards, then they review them. Questions have to apply to both candidates.
6:27 – 7:59 Kathleen Bart Opening Statement
8:07 – 9:46 Clare Verbeten Opening Statement
10:20 Question 1: If you are elected, what strengths will you bring as a political leader in the Legislature? Where might you learn some new skills? Please answer both parts to the question.
10:40 Kathleen Bart
11:28 Clare Verbeten
12:30 Question 2: Is regarding gun violence. Gun Violence is consistently a top issue for voters. What specific policies do you support to reduce gun violence in our community?
12:47 Clare Verbeten
13:43 Kathleen Bart
14:48 Question 3: Due to the cuts to the Affordable Care Act subsidies for purchasing insurance, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that 7 million Americans may lose health coverage over the next decade. The effect of these Federal cuts could drive up health care costs across the country. In this context, will you work as a State Legislator to achieve affordable healthcare for all Minnesotans? If so, what will you do?
15:20 Clare Verbeten
16:40 Kathleen Bart
17:44 Question 4: In regards to the recent “Metro Surge,” and ICE impact on our state in the past year. Do you believe that ICE’s action in the past year crossed moral or legal lines? If Minnesota were to face another major ICE operation how do you believe the state government should respond?
18:13 Kathleen Bart
19:03 Clare Verbeten
20:14 Question 5: Along the lines of the other question, this is regarding businesses. Do you believe the State Government should offer aid to business who were negatively affected by “Operation Metro Surge” and the increased ICE presence in Minnesota earlier this year? Why or Why Not?
20:29 Clare Verbeten
21:13 Kathleen Bart
21:57 Question 6: If elected what if anything would you do to bring down the cost of childcare?
22:05 Kathleen Bart
23:08 Clare Verbeten
24:06 Question 7: What regulations should there be around the use and sharing of data collected by AI powered surveillance tools such as Flock Cameras by local Police Departments? Should Flock Cameras be used at all?
24:24 Clare Verbeten
25:18 Kathleen Bart
26:29 Question 8: As a legislator, what if any steps will you take to regulate the construction of AI Data Centers in Minnesota?
26:42 Kathleen Bart
27:40 Clare Verbeten
28:36 Question 9: Recent reports on fraud in Minnesota government programs have raised concerns about program oversight and responsibility. How would you work to ensure accountability so that government funds are used as intended?
28:59 Kathleen Bart
30:05 Clare Verbeten
31:12 Question 10: About K-12 Education. As Public Ed [education] and Higher Ed [education] Schools face continued budget crisis, what would you do about special education cross subsidies, school vouchers, and the state grant program?
31:27 Kathleen Bart points out that the last 2 questions started with her and it should go to Clare first.
32:00 Clare Verbeten
32:54 Kathleen Bart
34:24 Question 11: A question of Separation of Church and State. Our Constitution requires the Separation of Church and State [no it doesn’t], but there are significant differences of what this requires. What is your opinion about the separation of church and state and how might your personal belief system affect your work?
34:49 Clare Verbeten
35:46 Kathleen Bart
36:43 Question 12: next question is about Iron Mining. Non-iron ore mining in the Boundary Waters Watershed continues to be an issue. Governor Walz has requested the legislature address this long term. Do you believe the current permitting requirements are sufficient? What would you do?
37:06 Kathleen Bart
37:55 Clare Verbeten
38:46 Question 13: Homelessness and lack of affordable housing is a huge problem in the Senate District 66 and across the Twin Cities. If elected, what would be your approach to lessening the housing crisis?
39:04 Clare Verbeten
39:59 Kathleen Bart
41:00 Question 14: Do you support the Equal Rights Amendment ERA? And will you work to get it passed in the 2027 Legislative cycle?
41:17 Kathleen Bart
41:50 Clare Verbeten
42:26 Question 15: a question about individual rights. Do you believe people have an individual right to make decisions about their own reproductive healthcare, including contraception, abortion, IVF? How will your beliefs about these issues influence your work as a legislator?
42:47 Kathleen Bart
43:26 Clare Verbeten
44:02 Question 16: With increasing costs for gasoline, groceries, and seemingly most other consumer goods, what can you do as a state legislator to address affordability and bring down costs?
44:20 Clare Verbeten
45:30 Kathleen Bart
46:30 Debbie Magnusson asks everyone to take a deep breath. She says there is still time to submit questions.
47:12 Question 17: a question on crime. According to the Council on Criminal Justice, overall violent crime rates are down nationwide except for rates of domestic violence which have risen. Given the appearance of many power political and economic figures in the Epstein files, including the current President, it can seem like we live in a culture where domestic and sexual violence particularly against women and girls are tolerated or even encouraged. As a State Legislator, what would you do to support victims of domestic and sexual violence in this moment? What policy changes would you support or champion?
47:57 Kathleen Bart (she comments about how the moderator called her “Bates”)
49:10 Clare Verbeten
50:10 Question 18: What are the best strategies to bring in more money to the state government in order to fund the many important functions and initiatives that have been mentioned?
50:27 Clare Verbeten
51:25 Kathleen Bart
52:26 Question 19: College tuition has increased dramatically in recent years at both public and private institutions. As a legislator, what will you do to make college or other post-secondary opportunities more affordable for families?
52:45 Kathleen Bart
53:37 Clare Verbeten
54:31 Question 20: Do you support renters rights to repair, rent stabilization, and other similar renter protections?
54:46 Clare Verbeten
55:30 Kathleen Bart
56:17 Question 21: State politics in Minnesota have followed the national trend becoming more contentious and accompanied by a significant rise in hateful and discriminatory speech. If elected, do you believe that you would have a responsibility to address divisive public rhetoric, including from within your own political party? Why or Why not?
56:45 Clare Verbeten
57:40 Kathleen Bart
58:38 Debbie Magnusson forgot that she already had asked Clare Verbeten the question, and the order of asking the candidates questions.
Closing Statements (each has 2 minutes to give their statement)
59:34 Clare Verbeten [she violates the rules by attacking Trump and his party]
1:01:04 Kathleen Bart
Debbie Magnusson thanks the audience and restates the LWV is a nonpartisan group
This post was not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee, PAC, CD4 GOP, nor the MNGOP. We are posting this for voters to hear the candidates talk about their opinions and state their personal positions. Some of the personal opinions by Candidate Bart go against the MNGOP Platform Planks. Voters who want to know what candidates say on a particular issue can skip to the question and note what timestamp the question and the response were at. Wish the LWV & SPNN would do this to save a lot of time in preparing this posting. — admin