Ron Lischeid, Independence Party candidate for State Representative, District 59B

Many politicians nationally have been talking about change recently. What do you think needs to change in Minnesota, and how do you plan to address that?

I think that the change that the election in 59B can produce can be electing someone that is not a Republican or Democrat to the Minnesota House of Representatives. I think that one of the problems we have in St. Paul is the fact that the majority of the people there are Democrats and Republicans and they can’t get along and can’t get anything done.

How would you encourage economic growth in Minnesota?

I think that the essential items are education … we have to have a work force that is capable of producing income. We need to have jobs that pay better than minimum wage.

Government needs to spend money as wisely as possible, to keep taxes as low as possible so that those people that are producing income have more to spend and invest in their own future.

With tuition costs rising, what, if anything, would you do to make college more affordable?

I would call for a tax credit. There are some steps that have to be followed; if you graduate from high school in Minnesota … complete a two or four year college program in Minnesota, continue to stay in Minnesota to become a member of the work force then I would support a program that would allow you to basically take your Minnesota income tax, it would be refunded back to you, and that would be money that people could use to pay their student loans. I also think we need to look at a cap on state tuition.

What is your stance on gay marriage?

I am fully supportive of civil unions. I think that people who don’t follow traditional marriage patterns should have the same rights and benefits as a heterosexual couple.

What is your stance on abortion?

I think abortion is a private issue that government should stay out of.

Do you think more money should be invested in mass transit, and if so, where do you think the money should come from?

Yes, I do believe we need to look at multiple forms of mass transit. I think that we are going to be served better in the future by having a system similar to the street car company.

We also need more busses and bicycle opportunities. I think we need to figure out a way to get people out of cars.

Minnesota voters will have the opportunity to vote on the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment, which would increase the state sales tax to fund the environment and the arts in Minnesota. How do you feel about this amendment?

I personally am going to vote against it. I’m not voting against it because I’m opposed to the funding of arts and clean water … but I think that passing constitutional amendments dedicating funding to a particular cause is a bad precedent. I would look to try and see if we can find ways that funding could be found to replace what may not be available if that amendment fails.