This interview was conducted by Fox 9 News on October 20, 2025 by Amy Hockert, the video is from Fox 9 Minneapolis-St Paul’s YouTube Channel. Amy Hockert calls Candidate Hilborn a Republican even though he is listed as being an independent. Mike Hilborn did run for office in 2024 for House District 65B where he lives in St Paul MN and was endorsed by SD 65 Republicans for office.

Recently, he talked about his campaign last year where he campaigned, knocked on doors and showed up to forums whereas his opponent the incumbent Rep Maria Isa Perez-Vega didn’t campaign as if she already knew the outcome before the race started. Mike Hilborn said “She did not show up to the two forums.  The forums were held.  I raised about $19,000.  Knocked on doors.  Had a meet and greet at McGovern’s.  Was on the radio and cable.  Put forth a full campaign.”  He said he did not do the normal “paper candidacy” that some candidates do. The League of Women Voters of St Paul likes to cancel forums at the convenience of the DFL candidates’ schedule.

We will list what questions are asked and when they are answered, so you can skip to a question you want to hear first. — admin

The interviewer Amy Hockert mentions the rules are Candidates can’t mention other candidates and they have 10 minutes total. All the same questions are asked of the other candidates with Candidate specific follow up questions. (We’re using the closed captioning to get the questions exact, and it’s delayed a half second or so, and the interviewer does some double starts of words). The square brackets are comments to clarify what the interviewer means or to set the record straight.

0:43 Amy Hockert introduces Mike Hilborn as a Republican

0:49 Mike Hilborn corrects her saying he is an Independent

2:02 Question 1: Public Safety & Policing: The Department of Justice is suing St Paul for it’s so-called Sanctuary City Policies which results in the release of dangerous criminals in the city. So when it comes to Federal Law Enforcement working in the city, Mike, what role does St Paul Police have?

2:17 Mike Hilborn

2:57 Question 2: As far as gun control goes, a group of Mayors from across the Metro, including St Paul, is asking state lawmakers to give individual cities the authority to make their own gun ordinances. They want to ban high capacity magazines and assault weapons. How do you feel about that? And would you join that group?

3:14 Mike Hilborn

3:31 Question 3: What would be your message to those? Because we’ve seen obviously out of the tragedy at Assumption [church shooting on August 27, 2025, Minneapolis MN], we’ve seen so many groups coming out to ask for this exact thing. We’ve seen doctors and faith leaders. We’ve seen clearly parents and family members those who lost loved ones in this. What would your message to them be in this?

3:53 Mike Hilborn

4:24 Question 4: Let’s talk about the Economy. What are 2 things you would do to revitalize the downtown? We’ll talk about 1 short term right away and then another in the next year or two. What would you be looking at if you had to narrow it down?

4:39 Mike Hilborn

5:49 Question 5: As long as you brought it up. Homelessness, encampments, these are issues that cities like St Paul are facing right now. What specifically would you do as it pertains to encampments and homelessness, to try to find solutions that are humane, also reasonable? We have to worry about budgets, right? When you’re mayor, what are some of the things that you would do specifically?

6:14 Mike Hilborn

7:00 Question 6: Mike tell me a little bit more about your experience as a business owner. I read somewhere sort of a second chance [employer], business owner is what you are described as by one by one outlet. What does that mean?

7:13 Mike Hilborn

9:04 Question 7: I want to address the cyberattack that shut down the city services and threatened to do more damage if a ransom wasn’t paid. Which the city said it wasn’t. Where does cyber security fall on your list of priorities? And then how much are you willing to spend to bolster it?

9:21 Mike Hilborn

10:06 Question 8: St Paul is a Blue City you’re in a primarily blue state. So what makes you believe that you are somebody who can break through and have people vote for an independent candidate in this case?

10:27 Mike Hilborn

We’re posting this interview between Amy Hockert (at no time does she introduce herself) and St Paul Mayor Candidate Mike Hilborn. This is a courtesy for St Paul Voters. Mike Hilborn was not endorsed by the Republican Party of Minnesota, he is the only candidate who is not for the polices that have failed the businesses, and the residents of St Paul. The other candidates want more government involvement which will mean more expensive government and more of your income. We suggest you vote for him and no one else. There is no one else in this race for which Republican Voters can choose from who want to lower taxes and make St Paul an affordable place to live.

This post wasn’t authorized by Mike Hilborn nor any candidates committee. HD 66B Republicans are from the Areas near Lake Como, the neighborhood of North End north of Maryland Avenue, and the Near East Side out to Arcade St of St Paul Minnesota — Admin