City and legislative candidates addressed issues at the second Austin Chamber of Commerce Forum Saturday at the Austin Country Club.

This time, Austin mayoral and city council candidates were featured with legislative candidates for Senate District 27 and House District 27B.

The moderators were Rod Nording and George Brophy with assistance from Sandy Forstner and Jerry Reinartz.

The DFL-endorsed House district candidate, Poppe was criticized when final remarks were sought from the candidates.

Jeff Anderson, the GOP-endorsed candidate, said Poppe's proposals would "squeeze business and not government," when seeking new revenue proposals to defeat the state's budget crisis.

When it was Poppe's turn, she began, "I may not be the candidate of choice of every body in this room, but I want you to know I am the same person today I was eight years ago and I will remain the same person when I'm elected to the Minnesota Legislature."

When asked why he wanted to leave his 1st Ward post to run for the At Large post held by Dick Chaffee, Wayne Goodnature likened it to "strapping on my guns at high noon," a reference to the challenges he faced as the former long-time Mower County Sheriff.

Bothun, who is attempting to unseat an 1st Ward council member incumbent Mickey Jorgenson, distinguished himself by wearing a straw hat throughout the morning breakfast and forum.

He was asked about his criticism of Hormel Foods Corporation.

Bothun, who recalled being a golf caddy at Austin Country Club, when he was a child for H.H. Corey, a top executive at the former Geo. A. Hormel & Company, said it was a "perception only."

City hopefuls

On the subject of the relationship between the Austin City Council and Mower County Board of Commissioners, incumbent Mayor Bonnie Rietz said monthly city-county meetings help nurture it. Mayoral challenger Gary Hanson said, there is "too much conflict."

On the subject of improving the local economy, Bothun said "We need to get government out of business."

Jeff Kritzer, a candidate for the 2nd Ward council seat being vacated by Poppe, said, "Government should stay out of running business, but I think, we need government to stay involved in nurturing business."

Incumbent At Large council member Chaffee said city government's involvement is the reason building construction values in the city have grown from $13 million to $45 million in six years and that Austin now surpassed Owatonna in that barometer of economic growth.

Goodnature lamented that a way to assist individual small businesses grow doesn't yet seem to exist.

Gloria Nordin, who is unopposed for re-election to the city's 3rd Ward, said more marketing and promotion are needed and both the pubic and private sectors can partner in accomplishing this.

Mickey Jorgenson, incumbent 1st Ward council member, praised the creativity of city administrator Patrick McGarvey in suggesting business development ideas. She also liked Nordin's idea.

"We have to market Austin and government can help do that," she said.

Dick Pacholl, who is seeking the 2nd Ward council seat, said he learned a long time ago, "You have to look for something that fits your town," when chasing smokestacks of economic development.

Incumbent Mayor Rietz said a brainstorming session between government and the private sector was, in part, responsible for a renewed interest in developing the Cook Farm site.

Hanson recalled how the city lost an archery business located in that area to the state of Wisconsin.

The nine mayoral and council candidates dominated the morning's forum with more than 54 responses to questions submitted from the audience.

Legislature hopefuls

Then four legislative candidates answered five questions on a sales tax, services, balancing the state budget, Sparks' television ads calling for a "crackdown on corporate fraud," a state owned and operated casino at Canterbury Downs racetrack, the disparity in education funding, repeating the so-called "sick tax," and Local Government Aid's future.

Sparks repeated his pledge not to raise city and other local levies or to cut LGA as a means of reducing the state's budget red ink.

He also did not link himself with Senator Roger Moe's tax hike proposal to reduce the red ink.

Schwab had a detailed response to a question when she announced a three-step proposal for balancing the state budget.

Anderson had the details to support his opinions. As a high school teacher, the GOP candidate said he "sees the disparity of educational funding up close." Then, he ticked off figures -- 40 percent at Austin High School and 50 percent at local elementary schools -- of students receiving free- or reduced price meals as one example of his numbers acumen.

Poppe, an educator herself, said the debate on education funding must not ignore post-secondary education's needs.

Brophy was so impressed with the candidates' responses, he remarked, "I am so pleased and so proud of all of you."

Kelley is 'no show'

Conspicuous by his absence was Terry Kelley, the Independence Party's endorsed candidate for Senate District 27. Only last Wednesday, Kelley made his first public appearance at a forum conducted by the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities at the Austin Municipal Building.

Still to come are forums to be held by the Austin chapter of the American Association of University Women, League of Women Voters and Austin American Legion Post No. 91.

Lee Bonorden can be contacted at 434-2232 or by e-mail at :mailto:lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com