As part of a state-wide tour, Governor-Elect Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor-Elect Peggy Flanagan were at Cofe’ in Crookston Saturday to a packed standing room only
crowd. Walz spoke with the group about a variety of issues from daycare to a gas tax, to a need to look at changes in the funding formulas for school districts. He also took the time to urge talk about filling the different commission postings in his administration.
Representative Deb Kiel urged Walz to ensure that the commission positions be filled by individuals willing to be open and work with both sides of the aisle. “It’s not possible for the governor to be in every meeting, but we need to trust that the messages we share with the commissioners will be shared with you,” she said.
Polk County Commissioner Joan Lee also discussed concerns over the Department of Revenue’s track record for taxing incorrectly and the strain that puts on local governments, specifically Polk County as it awaits a court decision on the Enbridge lawsuit.
After the meeting, KROX caught up with Walz before he left to continue on his tour to Hallock. “Grateful to see the civic participation here in that room,” said Walz. “We are calling this the ‘One Minnesota’ tour, and folks from all walks off are here to make sure they are articulating what they want to see out of government and see us be responsible to them and see us succeed.”
Walz called Crookston a vibrant community saying, “There is deep civic pride and folks know the state needs to be a partner not telling Crookston what to do,” said Walz. “We talked about local government aid, making sure school equity funding is there and helping communities deal with some of these crises that come upon us in mental health care and opioid addiction.”
Walz added we’re in this together and that’s the strength he felt in Crookston. Walz will take office following with his inauguration on January 7 but will still need to fill nearly two dozen cabinet positions and begin working with a divided Minnesota Legislature. Walz was clear in saying, the governor’s office can’t be successful without working closely with the legislature and across the aisle to do what is best for Minnesota.
A jam-packed Cofe to see and hear Governor-Elect Tim Walz on his visit to town (Pictures by University of Minnesota Crookston Communications/Media Relations)
Governor-Elect Walz shakes Representative Deb Kiel’s hand at the visit
