MANKATO — While the recent focus has been on many state and federal politicians refusing to have town hall meetings with constituents, about 200 local constituents crowded into the Mankato Room of the Intergovernmental Center Saturday morning to attend a town hall hosted by Sen. Nick Frentz, DFL-North Mankato, and Rep Luke Frederick, DFL-Mankato.
The third elected official from the local District 18, Republican Erica Schwartz of Nicollet, told Frentz she was unavailable to attend the town hall.
“We have a good relationship,” Frentz said of Schwartz.
Questions answered in the first hour were those written down by audience members, with the last half hour or so seeing audience members stand and ask questions.
The crowd was generally supportive of the two Democrats, often clapping and cheering when they talked of the need to make education the top priority, support for any needed tax increases to be put on millionaires and billionaires, opposition to school vouchers that would have taxpayers fund private religious schools, and support for unions.
The lawmakers said the Legislature needs to make cuts and serious decisions to try to address a state budget deficit that is expected to be around $6 billion by 2028.
Frederick noted that education and human services/health care consume the major share of the state budget.
“Education will remain our No. 1 focus (for support),” Frentz said. “This district supports education.”
Both said they won’t support providing more state money to parents who send their kids to private schools.
“I’m always concerned when the state spends money on religious schools,” Frentz said.
Frederick noted that while public schools are required to accept any student and are required to provide any extra services some students might need, private schools aren’t.
Several questions focused on what state lawmakers and residents could do to stop Elon Musk and President Donald Trump in “trying to destroy democracy” or dismantling the federal education department.
Frederick said defending and promoting democracy is most important whether someone votes for him or his opponent. He said people need to “show up and support democracy” in any way they can, be it protests, going to town halls, voting or advocating “for what’s right.”
Frentz said he’s confident American citizens will protect democracy, even if the current administration is attacking it and causing confusion.
“There’s a limit to what citizens will take.”
One audience member asked if the Legislature could pass a law requiring elected officials to hold town halls.
“I like that idea,” Frederick said.
“Part of our job is showing up in front of people who may disagree with me.”
Frentz said he thinks voters are smart and know that those politicians who won’t face constituents aren’t doing their jobs while elected officials who face constituents, even those who don’t agree with them, deserve respect.