On The Mark: Finding out what makes politicans tick

Have you ever wondered why our neighbors decide to run for office? What life encounters led them to do so? Here are my endorsements for three local candidates - Michelle Lee, Mike Sundin and Quinn Nystrom - along with some background exploring their paths and priorities.

Michelle Lee

A Moose Lake resident and former news anchor/reporter for KBJR 6 in Duluth, Lee is running as a Democrat for Minnesota Senate District 11 seat. She grew up in Minnesota in a family of seven children. When she was 13, her father and mother divorced, and she moved with her mother and the younger boys to Hill City.

At Grand Rapids' KIX 92 FM, she spun records, cleaned bathrooms and began investigative journalism. During three years at KSTP in the Twin Cities, she covered news at the Capitol. She landed a job at CBS 3 in Duluth, serving as a reporter and news anchor before moving on to KBJR 6 as news anchor.

Retiring in late 2016, she took a bus trip to the January 2017 Women's March in Washington, D.C. When she returned, she got involved with the local DFL party, participating in the Paul Wellstone "day camp" for candidates.

Lee's priorities for our State Legislature include affordable and accessible health care for families and working folks.

"We need portable health insurance so that people can seek better jobs," Lee said. "I'm supporting single-payer health care for all Minnesotans and raising the income level to let people buy into MinnCare." If elected, she will work to keep smaller local hospitals independent and open.

Other priorities for Lee? Fully funded public schools, living wages for teachers, good-paying jobs, green energy, better farming practices, and new jobs of the quality of those in the metro area, decentralization of state departments and programs, a $15/hour minimum wage. An energetic "main street" program for smaller cities. She would work with local chambers and councils to attract more people to live here, especially younger families whose parents were raised and educated here.

Mike Sundin

Incumbent Minnesota House District 11A representative Mike Sundin is running again to represent us for two more years. Mike grew up in Ray, Minnesota, in a family of eight kids. When the family stopped dairy farming, his father became the local postmaster. His mother was an elementary and music teacher. Mike's parents were politically engaged.

In Cloquet, he has served on the Cloquet school board and as a union leader. "In these positions, you are closer to people's families - their income challenges and distress - than in any other position. I experienced some very intense, electrifying events with parents and union members. Even if you don't agree with them, you have to listen. People often want to vent. They are looking for solutions."

Sundin chose public service as a part of his life's work. "I saw, in the union, the importance of politics. Lech Walesa was my role model. He demonstrated, in his work to democratize Poland, what can be changed for working people. No college course or training program equips you to do this." He also admired Paul Wellstone, whom he remembers teaching that "sometimes to win a fight you have to go out and start one."

Among his accomplishments as a state rep, he's worked to eliminate wage theft, raise the state's minimum wage and adopt paid family leave. He supports broadband expansion and is working to secure statewide equalization of the cost of excluding veterans from paying property taxes. "I do everything through the single lens of working families," he said. "For every issue that comes up, I ask: "How is this going to affect working families? They are carrying the loads."

Quinn Nystrom

Democratic candidate Quinn Nystrom is taking on U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber, who currently represents Minnesota's 8th Congressional District.

Nystrom was born and raised in Baxter, Minnesota. She's married to an Iron Ranger from Hibbing and is mother to two stepdaughters. A small business owner, she makes her living speaking to medical professionals and caregivers on how to communicate with chronic illness and diabetes patients.

A Type 1 diabetic, Quinn began state and federal health care policy work at age 16. In recent years, as insulin prices have soared, she has organized three "caravan to Canada" trips, where insulin is 10 to 12 times cheaper.

Nystrom began her work in politics by running for the Baxter city council. "We had an all-man council, and all men running for council. My mom encouraged me ... so I ran, and won."

Quinn decided to run for the 8th District seat after meeting with Stauber in Washington, D.C. during an insulin advocacy effort. He promised to be an advocate, but did not follow through.

Nystrom's priorities include legislating consistent and fair funding for public education, better pay for teachers, raising the minimum wage, and getting money out of politics. She advocates for giving Native Americans a seat at the table. She supports combating climate change through policies such as public funding for weatherization and renewable energy such as solar and ground-source heating that will also create lots of good-paying jobs.

Because educational employment disparities are increasing, especially between urban and rural, she supports ensuring internet access to all. "Farmers are selling online. Many of us are working at home. Students are studying at home. We have an obligation to provide all of our citizens with the same opportunities."

Ann Markusen is an economist and professor emerita at University of Minnesota. Her opinions are her own. A Pine Knot board member, she lives in Red Clover Township north of Cromwell with her husband, Rod Walli.