WILLMAR

— The retirement of a longtime lawmaker means House District 16A in west-central Minnesota will have new representation next year.

Republican Scott Van Binsbergen and Democrat Kathy Hegstad both worked on the campaign trail before Election Day.

Macy Moore / West Central Tribune

Voters in District 16A must choose between the two political newcomers after Rep. Dean Urdahl decided to retire. The district extends from Chippewa County to Renville County and includes parts of Kandiyohi and Meeker counties.

Van Binsbergen owns a business in Montevideo. His company, Van Binsbergen and Associates, is a property management company based in Montevideo and employs around 100 people.

Over the past 25 years, Van Binsbergen has established and owned several businesses in the region, working in economic development, real estate, insurance, agriculture, banking and healthcare, according to the his campaign website.

Contributed

“My family and I have very deep roots in Montevideo. We have a real passion for the region. One of my real interests is our youth and our young people. I want to see opportunities for them to raise their families in rural areas like we did,” Van Binsbergen said in an interview with the West Central Tribune.

Throughout his nearly year-long campaign, Van Binsbergen focused on a few key issues. For him, rural development and housing play an important role in the growth of rural communities. Van Binsbergen hopes to reduce state government overspending and help support rural voices in government.

“It’s important to me that we have a seat at the table in St. Paul. I think it comes down to leadership. There is a battle going on, a battle between rural areas and metropolitan areas and that’s where I think a strong leader from a rural area can have a real impact and make sure that we get our just share in this part of the situation. the state,” Van Binsbergen said.

The campaign gave Van Binsbergen the opportunity to march in local parades, travel to county fairs, and meet face-to-face with voters while going door-to-door. Being able to meet with voters gave him the opportunity to listen to the issues they are facing.

According to Van Binsbergen, voters are concerned about the cost of living, from high gas and grocery prices to unaffordable homes and insurance.

“I think we have a lot of politicians talking and I believe in listening. People talk to me and I listen. I think it will be a good year for the Republicans because the Democratic Party has moved heavily to the left,” Van Binsbergen said.

Originally from North Dakota, Hegstad moved to Minnesota to work as a soil conservationist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. With a background in agronomy and now working as a teacher, Hegstad, of Morton, is running for House seat 16A as an endorsed Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party candidate. However, while in North Dakota, Hegstad ran for the state legislature as a Republican.

Contributed / Kathy Hegstad

“After (Donald) Trump came along, I decided I was being disenfranchised because of the Republican Party and the way it was going. I thought it was very misogynistic, as Trump is. I am very attached to women’s rights. I’m strong for the rights that people worked hard to get,” Hegstad said in an interview with the West Central Tribune.

On the campaign trail, Hegstad said he raised many issues close to his heart, including increasing access to affordable child care in rural communities and fostering the next generation of farmers.

“I would like to see more support and ways in which the legislature can help young producers who want to either take over the family farm or start their own farm. There are a lot of obstacles. The average farmer today is in their 60s and that’s not a good projection for the future,” Hegstad said.

During parades and events in which she campaigned, Hegstad said she heard testimonies from young families who were unable to afford to raise a family on shoestring budgets and limited food options. childcare.

For her, the campaign was a lot of work. With the support of the DFL, Hegstad worked to recruit volunteers, knock on doors and attend events.

“I walked in most of the parades and was active in the Democratic Party, attending meetings and helping raise money. I pretty much did everything myself, right down to getting the panels. It’s kind of a one-woman show,” Hegstad said.

Levi Jones is the business reporter for the West Central Tribune. After growing up in the Twin Cities, Jones attended Hamline University for journalism and media communications. After graduating in 2020, Jones worked as a journalist covering everything from sports to politics.