HIS BASE.

>> Eric: VERY GOOD.

THANKS FOR COMING OVER AND WE LEARNED A LOT TONIGHT.

THANKS.

>> ERIC: STATE SENATE CONTROL IS ALSO AT STAKE THIS ELECTION THANKS TO JUST ONE SPECIAL ELECTION ON THE BALLOT.

MARY LAHAMMER CONTINUES HER SERIES OF RACES TO WATCH WITH THE ONE AND ONLY BUT IMPORTANT SENATE CONTEST IN THE WEST METRO.

>> I'M ANN JOHNSON STEWART.

I'M A CIVIL ENGINEER, A FORMER STATE SENATOR, A FORMIER BUSINESS OWNER AND I TEACH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

>> Mary: THE DEMOCRAT IN THE RACE IN SENATE DISTRICT 45 IN THE WEST METRO IS SEEKING A RETURN TRIP TO THE CAPITOL AFTER REDISTRICTING.

>> WHAT I LEARNED IN MY TERM AS A STATE SENATOR WAS HOW MUCH OF OUR DAILY LIVES ARE CONTROLLED IN ST. PAUL.

>> Mary: YOU MUST HAVE LIKED IT ENOUGH TO WANT TO DO IT AGAIN TOO.

>> THE OTHER THING I LEARNED IS THAT EVERYONE WHO IS A LEGISLATOR, MOST PEOPLE, ARE REALLY GOOD PEOPLE.

AND REALLY SMART.

AND REALLY PASSIONATE.

>> Mary: CONTROL AT THE CAPITOL WILL BE DECIDED IN THIS SPECIAL ELECTION WITH THE SENATE CURRENTLY STANDING AT A 33-33 TIE.

>> I AM A PROUD MOTHER, GRANDMOTHER, AND BUSINESS OWNER.

>> Mary: THE REPUBLICAN IS MAKING ANOTHER RUN AFTER SENATOR KELLY MORRISON LAUNCHED A BID O REPLACE CONGRESSMAN DEAN PHILLIPS CREATING THIS OPEN SEAT.

>> I LOVE THE STATE, AND I BELIEVE YOU NEED TO FIGHT FOR WHAT YOU LOVE AND I'M NOT READY TO GIVE UP ON MINNESOTA - JUST WRET.

THIS IS HOME.

AND DO ALL THAT E CAN TO BRING BALANCE BACK TO ST. PAUL.

IT'S DEFINITE LEAFLT DAUNTING, BUT I BELIEVE THAT IF, LIKE I SAID, IF YOU REALLY CARE BOUT THE PEOPLE, AND YOU ARE CARE ABOUT THE ISSUES, YOU JUST NEED TO PUT YOURSELF FORWARD.

>> Mary: THEY'VE BOTH RUN BEFORE, BUT UNDERSTAND THIS SPECIAL ELECTION IS DIFFERENT.

TO BE THE ONE AND ONLY SENATE RACE, HOW DOES THAT FEEL DIFFERENT?

>> WELL, IT IS ONE AND ONLY SENATE RACE.

GETTING THROUGH THE PRIMARY, GETTING THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW WHO I AM AND WHAT I CARE ABOUT, IT'S JUST A DIFFERENT METHOD THAN IT WAS BEFORE, BUT THE FACT THAT IT'S THE ONLY SENATE RACE, THERE'S A LITTLE PRESSURE THERE.

>> NO PRESSURE, RIGHT?

NO PRESSURE AT ALL.

IT'S ABOUT LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE, MAKING SURE THAT THE PEOPLE'S PRIORITIES ARE FIRST AND NOT THOSE THAT ARE RUNNING.

IT'S NOT MACHINE RACE.

IT'S ALL OF OUR RACE.

IT'S MORE OF THE ONE-SIDED GOVERNMENT.

IT'S ONE SIDE PHILOSOPHY.

AND I THINK THAT IF WE REALLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT A GOOD GOVERNMENT BRINGING ALANCE BACK TO THE GOVERNMENT, WE NEED TO LOOK "AT ISSUES" ON ALL SIDES.

>> Mary: LAST TIME THE SENATE RACE HERE IN THE WEST METRO WASN'T PARTICULARLY A LARGE MARGE YINL WITH A 12 PERCENTAGE VICTORY OR THE DEMOCRAT.

BUT WITH ONE SENATE RACE ON THE BALLOT THAT WILL SETTLE A TIE, THE STAKES ARE HIGH.

>> THAT IS TRUE.

IT DOES DECIDE WHO WILL BE IN THE MAJORITY.

AND I FEEL VERY FORTUNATE THAT I HAVE THE D.F.L.

ENDORSEMENT.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME THAT THE D.F.L.

MAINTAIN CONTROL, BOTH AS A CANDIDATE BUT ALSO AS SOMEBODY WHO'S LIVED HERE FOR 40 YEARS.

>> Mary: DO YOU THINK THAT MEANS YOU COULD HAVE A CLOSER RACE, BECAUSE IT WASN'T THAT CLOSE LAST TIME?

>> I THINK IT COULD BE A CLOSER RACE THIS TIME AROUND.

THOSE THINGS MATTER TO BOTH SIDES.

AND I REALLY BELIEVE THE BEST GOVERNMENT IS A BALANCED GOVERNMENT.

AND THAT MEANS ELECTING ME.

I THINK AN ALL REPUBLICAN SITUATION WOULDN'T BE GREAT EITHER.

>> Mary: THE TOP ISSUES HERE VARY DEPENDING WHO YOU TALK TO.

>> I CARE VERY MUCH ESPECIALLY AROUND THINGS LIKE ABORTION RIGHTS, FUNDING PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND FOR ME AS AN ENGINEER, FUNDING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, ALL THOSE THINGS ARE IN JEP JEOPARDY IF THE D.F.L.

DOESN'T STAY IN CONTROL.

>> VERY SIMILAR TO LAST TIME AROUND.

ECONOMY, OF COURSE, OUR HIGH TAXES.

OUR WASTE AND ABUSE THAT WAS CAUSED BY NO OVERSIGHT.

OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM IS REALLY FAILING OUR KIDS.

AND IT'S REALLY TOO BAD.

AND WE CAN DO BETTER.

WE DON'T HAVE TO JUST THROW MONEY ON IT.

CRIME OF COURSE IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT.

AND THEN OF COURSE WHAT'S HAPPENING TO MENTAL HEALTH AND OUR SENIORS LIVING FACILITIES, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE SUPPORTING THEM.

>> MAKING SURE THAT IN NURSING HOMES WE HAVE DEQUATE PAY.

>> Mary: ELDER ISSUES WERE THE FOCUS OF THIS FUHRMAN.

WHAT ABOUT ELDER ISSUES TODAY?

>> SO MY MAJORITY USED TO LIVE RIGHT THERE.

MY MOTHER IN LAW USED TO LIVE RIGHT THERE.

WAS TO REACH OUT TO EVERY OVER 55 AND SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITY.

>> A MILLION PEOPLE THAT RE GOING TO NEED CARE AND NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDE THEM THE BEST CARE.

>> Mary: THE CANDIDATE FUHRMAN ALSO REFLECTS THE COMPETITIVE HOUSE STREET SEATS HERE THAT SPLIT, D.F.L.

AND G.O.P.

>> I REALLY HOPE WE CAN STOP THE DIVISIVENESS AND STOP WITH THIS MESSINESS.

THIS DISTRICT TO ME IS VERY REFLECTIVE OF OUR COUNTRY.

WE AVE THE A-SIDE AND WE HAVE THE B-SIDES.

WE HAVE MORE LEANING RED AND MORE LEANING BLUE.

WE NEED TO PUT OUR OLICIES AND OUR POLITICS BEHIND AND DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THE PEOPLE.

>> Mary: BOTH WOMEN HAVE HAD LONG AND VARIED CAREERS AS EXPERIENCE.

>> I'M LOOKING AT THE SIDEWALK AS WE SPEAK.

>> Mary: AND WHAT'S YOUR ASSESSMENT?

>> THE SIDEWALK'S IN GOOD CONDITION, SO LET'S MOVE ON.

>> Mary: HOW UNIQUE DID THAT MAKE YOU TO HAVE THAT ENGINEERING BACKGROUND?

YOU CARE ABOUT PAVEMENT.

>> I CARE A LOT ABOUT PAVEMENT.

I HAVE A MASTER'S DEGREE IN PAVEMENT ENGINEERING.

I WAS THE FIRST CIVIL ENGINEER TO EVER SERF IN THE SENATE.

>> Mary: ALL THESE DIFFERENT CAREER PATHS, SMALL BUSINESSES, EDUCATION, HOW DOES THAT AFFECT HOW YOU THINK ABOUT POLITICS THEN?

>> I THINK WHAT IT DOES IS IT GIVES YOU A VIEW FROM THE HUMAN SIDE.

THE HARDWORKING PERSON THAT'S OUT JUST TRYING TO MAKE A BUCK.

I HINK IT BRINGS