By Jennifer Vogt-Erickson

Jennifer Vogt-Erickson is a member of the Freeborn County DFL Party.

I was disappointed to learn last week that both state Rep. Peggy Bennett and presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton had engaged in disparaging people from opposing parties.

At the Freeborn County GOP picnic in August, Bennett read a fake David Letterman-style top 10 list of reasons why people vote Democrat. Sample: “I vote Democrat because I love the fact that I can now marry whatever I want. I can even marry my German shepherd.” (Is Rep. Bennett equating gay marriage with bestiality or suggesting that Democrats want to legalize bestiality? I’m not quite sure what to make of it. Audio is available at www.bluestemprairie.com.)

Clinton said at a fundraiser last week that she considers half of Trump supporters to be part of a “basket of deplorables.” She has since apologized for the remark.

If a voter is genuinely “anti-PC,” neither of these instances is particularly concerning, but I think both examples were in poor taste and reflect disdain for people who don’t share the same mindset. It’s the kind of thing that fuels nasty partisan gridlock in democratic governments.

(GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump has led the race to the bottom in this regard, no contest. He ignores boundaries of decorum, a linchpin of functioning democracies.)

Here in Minnesota, working with people of different political persuasions is crucial for state government to function as well, so this has partly inspired a list of my own. It’s the Top 10 Reasons to Vote for Gary Schindler for Minnesota House 27A.

1. Gary is respectful toward people who don’t agree with him politically — even when they’re not in the room.

2. Gary listens. He wants to know what all voters in the district think. He loves being on the campaign trail and hearing people’s stories. He’s a pragmatist, not an ideologue.

3. Gary knows firsthand the anxieties of being laid off as a middle-aged adult and dislocated by the job market. Fortunately for us, after a few years his career path brought him back to Albert Lea, where he’s currently the dean of student affairs at Riverland Community College.

4. Gary favors adopting a comprehensive transportation plan with multiple sources of funding, which will in turn help leverage federal funding. Maintenance of roads and bridges is a top priority and requires a large, sustained investment that will support economic growth and protect public safety. Currently we have no plan. Wheelage and property tax increases are filling some of the gaps in Freeborn county, which is seventh in the state for miles of asphalt.

5. Gary seeks to expand high speed internet access (with 100 megabit download and upload speeds) from border to border. High speed internet has become a utility that people must have in order to fully participate in the economy, whether as a student, job seeker or entrepreneur. A third of Minnesotans, mostly in rural areas, are currently underserved.

6. Gary wants the financial aid system to benefit working class families. Minnesota has one of the highest average student loan debt loads among those graduating with four-year degrees from public universities. The Legislature can help ease that burden by funding more grants. This would be a wise investment since the state needs more college graduates to meet workforce demands in the next 15 years. Workforce development is critical to our state’s economic growth, and as a college dean, Gary has key insights into both student and workforce needs. Education Minnesota endorsed him this spring.

7. Gary supports restoring local government aid (LGA) to levels prior to 10 years ago. This will reduce property tax burdens and facilitate strategic infrastructure planning.

8. Gary seeks incentives to increase the supply of workforce housing. There is a lack of moderately-priced housing, which makes it harder to attract young professionals like new teachers to our area.

9. Gary understands that giving women access to reproductive services and control over their reproductive decisions is the most effective way to reduce abortions and protect maternal health. He wants abortion to be rare and safe.

10. Gary doesn’t view compromise as a dirty word. Voters frequently express to him disillusionment with dysfunctional state government, and he thinks both parties bear responsibility for the breakdown. DFL vs. Republican and rural vs. urban riffs bog down problem-solving, stymie wise investments and obstruct economic growth.

Voters can trust Gary to take into account many sides of an issue. It’s not his style nor in his character to make ugly partisan remarks for cheap applause in friendly settings. He offers substance, study and diplomacy. It’s easy to put “People before politics” on a sign, but a candidate who follows through on it is gold. Vote for Gary Schindler for Minnesota House 27A on Nov. 8.