Select A Candidate ®

This survey is not intended to tell you who you should vote for in the 2010 election for governor. Rather, it is an opportunity for you to meet the candidates and get a quick introduction to their political views. On the results page, you'll see links next to each candidate's name. By clicking each, you can listen to the candidate's response on a number of issues, listen to debates, and read stories about each candidate. There is absolutely no scientific value to the cumulative results and MPR does not at all claim they are representative of the electorate.

Minnesota Governor (2010) Survey

Which of the following statements most closely matches your vision for K-12 education in Minnesota?

Increase teacher salaries, lower class sizes, fund all-day kindergarten, redesign testing to diagnose each student's learning needs.
Identify good teachers and get rid of bad teachers, pay teacher salaries that are competitive with jobs in the private sector.
Move toward a merit-based teacher pay system, support traditional teacher licensure and fast-track licensure programs for professionals who'd like to become educators.

Is this issue important to you?

Not at all  Somewhat  Very

Should public schools have to seek voter approval for operating funds?

No. Public school funding should be increased through a progressive income tax.
Yes. Local taxpayers should have the ability to approve or disapprove property tax increases.
Yes, but schools should be able to renew levies, with some restrictions.

Is this issue important to you?

Not at all  Somewhat  Very

Should the state's investment in public colleges and universities be greater or smaller?

Increase investments to keep higher education affordable for middle-income families.
Instead of focusing on dollars spent, reform should improve teacher and school accountability, address teacher effectiveness, and facilitate innovation within our current system.
Spending more or less on higher education isn't our first question. What do we need from our great two-year and four-year schools? How do we keep building a world-class research university? When we answer those questions we can decide the funding question.

Is this issue important to you?

Not at all  Somewhat  Very

Which of the following proposals most closely aligns with your opinion on how to balance the state's budget?

Find savings by eliminating state agencies that duplicate services, move toward sales tax-based system and away from income tax-based system.
Reduce government spending, pay only for programs that have demonstrated value.
Increase the tax rate for single filers with taxable annual incomes of $130,000 and higher. Couples would pay that higher rate if their income after deductions is above $150,000 a year.

Is this issue important to you?

Not at all  Somewhat  Very

When it comes to building a new stadium for the Vikings, what is your opinion?

Support public money being used if the project benefits the public.
Oppose public funding, but open to other ideas.
Support using taxpayer funds for new stadium.

Is this issue important to you?

Not at all  Somewhat  Very

What is your opinion on same-sex marriage?

Support a constitutional amendment that defines marriage as between a man and a woman.
Support allowing same-sex couples to marry.

Is this issue important to you?

Not at all  Somewhat  Very

Which of the following statements most closely matches your view on job creation and economic development in Minnesota?

Pass "jobs now" bonding bill and stimulus package, invest in energy saving and alternative energy retrofits of every public building in Minnesota, increase state tourism advertising and promotion, grow Minnesota small business through micro-lending, streamline business regulation.
Give students the opportunity to attend college or job training programs, eliminate unnecessary regulations, create smart tax and investment policies, attract entrepreneurs.
Strengthen Minnesota's economy through business retention, relocation, and development in the private sector. Create jobs by supporting tax incentives, streamlining permitting, and reducing mandates.

Is this issue important to you?

Not at all  Somewhat  Very

Which of the following statements most closely matches your view on the issue of health care in Minnesota?

Give tax deductions to individuals to purchase their health care, eliminate costly insurance coverage mandates, and allow Minnesotans to purchase health insurance products across state lines.
Hold people accountable for preventive care and good health habits, move toward a system that pays for outcomes, not procedures, give people ownership of their health records, reform public health programs, but don't eliminate coverage for the poor and pretend that it saves cost.
Push for a bill that gives the state enough time to transition from the current HMO model to a government-run model.

Is this issue important to you?

Not at all  Somewhat  Very

Which of the following statements most closely matches your view on renewable energy policies in Minnesota?

Develop incentives that will bring green energy industries to Minnesota.
Oppose government mandating mandatory levels of wind, solar and biofuel energy.
Support conservation and efficiency efforts, reopen the debate on nuclear energy, create incentives for energy companies to provide reliable, affordable and environmentally safe energy.

Is this issue important to you?

Not at all  Somewhat  Very

Should Minnesota end its current ban on building new nuclear power plants?

Leave the moratorium in place until a permanent repository for nuclear waste is found.
Yes.
Lift the moratorium, but not necessarily to build a plant right away. Lifting the ban would force discussion of the nuclear waste problem.

Is this issue important to you?

Not at all  Somewhat  Very

Which of the following statements most closely matches your view on agriculture policies in Minnesota?

Support state and federal policies that support parity prices, biofuels, and other value-added processes.
Support the Green Acres program, let farmers expand their livestock operations by reducing government regulations.
Invest in basic and applied research that uses Minnesota's people, water, agricultural commodities and energy.

Is this issue important to you?

Not at all  Somewhat  Very

Where do you stand on the right to abortion?

Support a woman's right to an abortion.
Oppose a women's right to an abortion.
Work to reduce abortions, but continue to use public funds for abortions; end the required 24-hour waiting period before a woman can have an abortion.

Is this issue important to you?

Not at all  Somewhat  Very

Which of the following statements most closely matches your view on immigration policies in Minnesota?

Support an Arizona-style immigration crackdown.
Grant amnesty to undocumented immigrants.
Oppose an Arizona-style immigration reform, because it is a federal issue. Insist the federal government maintain border security and create a comprehensive policy for the country. Oppose English-only statutes. Support status verification by employers. But we must also encourage legal immigration for the investment in community they make.

Is this issue important to you?

Not at all  Somewhat  Very

Do you support an expansion of gambling to generate revenue for the state?

Yes, through the construction of a state-run racino at Canterbury and Running Aces.
It depends: Yes, if the legislature passed a proposal for purposes of expanding economic opportunity and allowing for competition in the existing gaming industry. No, if the proposal was presented as an attempt to avoid taking responsibility in seeking meaningful, serious government reform for our state.
Yes, through the construction of one state-owned casino at the Mall of America to fund five-day school weeks and lower class sizes in our public schools.

Is this issue important to you?

Not at all  Somewhat  Very

How would you fix the State's public pension system, which is struggling to cope with rising costs?

Find the money in the State budget.
Move state employees to 401(k)-style retirement package.
Cut benefits, require more contributions from employees and increase amount of public money to pay for pensions.

Is this issue important to you?

Not at all  Somewhat  Very

Should Minnesota change its approach to environmental protection?

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency should be renamed the Pollution Reduction Agency, and its mission should become to reduce pollution throughout Minnesota. It also needs to streamline its review procedures so that they take less time, while still providing the protection Minnesotans want and deserve.
Review Minnesota's environmental protection laws, which are some of the strictest in the country, to ensure our economy is not hindered and our environment remains protected. Be responsible with our resources and demand efficient and effective permitting of projects that will create jobs.
Streamline environmental oversight, which will require more cooperation between state and local governments and the reduction of state agencies. That will make oversight quicker, more predictable and more consistent -- a boon to economic development.

Is this issue important to you?

Not at all  Somewhat  Very

Critics say nickel-copper mining has never been done anywhere in the world without significant pollution of nearby waters. The U.S. EPA has criticized as inadequate the DNR and U.S. Army Corps of Engineer's environmental review for the proposed Polymet nickel-copper mine--which has taken more than four years so far. Should the state permit the project based on the current study, without further revisions?

No.
Yes.

Is this issue important to you?

Not at all  Somewhat  Very

What should be done to end homelessness?

Look beyond bureaucratic programs to support groups and initiatives outside of government. Other states' successes could be used for guidance.
Set aside $25 million to address the issue and additional money for mental health programs and other support services. More government intervention is needed to help families hit hard by the economic downturn and veterans struggling to adjust to civilian life.
Reverse Gov. Tim Pawlenty's funding cuts to group residential housing, county mental health services, the renters' credit, and chemical dependency services.

Is this issue important to you?

Not at all  Somewhat  Very
Listen Now

MPR News Radio

Hourly Newscast
On Air All Things Considered®

Most Shared

  1. Temple Grandin explores the autistic brain
  2. Appetites: Inside the newly expanded Cossetta's
  3. Richard Carlbom: 'Quiet,' 'brilliant' general behind Minnesota's same-sex marriage law
  4. 1 child dead, 1 missing in St. Paul landslide
  5. Mayo Clinic celebrates state funding approval, but questions remain on expansion details
Minnesota Public Radio ©2013 All rights reserved