SD 61 Candidates: Kris Heuer

Last week, state Sen. Linda Berglin (DFL-Minneapolis) announced her retirement after a long career in the state Legislature. The DFL candidates running to replace her will face off in a Sept. 13 primary election, and face off against any Republican challenger in a special election on Oct. 18, although it is widely expected the DFL primary winner will sweep the October election. All candidates must file by 5 p.m. Wednesday.

For political newcomer Kris Heuer, his desire to win Sen. Linda Berglin's (DFL-Minneapolis) longtime seat in the state Senate is simple.

"I'm fed up with what's going on in St Paul," he said. "I'm taking (Berglin's retirement) as an opportunity to throw my hat in the ring and help fix the problems our state is facing."

In very matter-of-fact tones, he described what he sees as "partisan bickering for the sake of bickering" choking the state Legislature and helping cause last month's government shutdown. If elected, Heuer claimed he would try to untie this Gordian Knot of ideologically driven politics in one-on-one conversations with Republican fellow lawmakers, even though, as a freshman legislator, he would have little power to influence legislative deals.

"I would take a reasoned approach," he said. "I would ask them 'Does this ideology (of no new taxes) benefit your constituents?'"

"We can't continue to cut taxes without having an adverse effect on our state," he said. "The solution is an increase in state revenue."

By his own admission, Heuer has not been very politically active in the 10 years he's lived in Minneapolis—no party caucuses, no conventions, not even running for a seat on his neighborhood association's board.

However, he said he believes this is an advantage for him, and accused Rep. Jeff Hayden, the favored contender in this race, of being closer to party activists in the district than to the average voter. In an interview with Southwest Patch on Friday, Hayden said his long service in neighborhood organizations and other local political bodies made him a strong candidate for Berglin's seat.

He accused Hayden of "being part of the problem" of ideology-powered politics because of this closeness, and claimed he would represent "ordinary people."

"Those groups (neighborhood groups and local party caucuses) are in touch with the people who want to be in touch with that organization," he said. "The average Joe and Jane on the street could care less (about local political groups)."

"I would run my campaign like Paul Welstone," Heuer added. "He took time to talk to people from all walks of life."

Heuer said this distance from party organizers is needed in the Legislature. 

"The state is probably somewhat overcommitted," he said. "Some legislative obligations can be done more efficiently and effectively."

"We need the legislative leadership to take a leap of faith" to help redesign some programs, he added.

However, he said that process should be deliberate.

"It would take an equal mix of legislators and outside experts" to find the efficiencies, he said.