Andrew Lang, Fernando Alvarado reiterate stances on issues during forum for Minnesota Senate District 16 seat

Tom Cherveny, West Central Tribune, Willmar, Minn.
·4 min read

Oct. 15—WILLMAR

— Two familiar adversaries are vying for the new Minnesota Senate District 16 seat as Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party-endorsed Fernando Alvarado challenges Republican incumbent Sen. Andrew Lang.

Both are military veterans, and both emphasized their willingness to work across the aisle when they spoke in a League of Women Voters forum hosted Oct. 11 in Willmar.

Lang is a helicopter pilot with the Minnesota Army National Guard, and a Willmar High School graduate. He and his wife, Susie, and their two sons live in Olivia.

Alvarado served in the U.S. Navy for four years and moved in 1986 to Willmar, where he made a career with Auto-Owners Insurance Company. He and his wife, Cindy, are parents to two grown daughters.

Alvarado and Lang previously squared off in 2020 for the District 17 seat, which Lang has represented for nearly six years now. The new District 16 includes much of the same geography as District 17: Kandiyohi, Renville, and Chippewa counties along with the addition of the western portion of Meeker County.

At the forum, Lang emphasized his work in the Legislature, stating that he is proud of what he has accomplished. Being a legislator requires a "people's person" who can work with others, he said. He pointed to his ability to work with members of both parties in both houses, as well as the governor's office. "And that is not every Republican," he said.

Alvarado touted his service on the Willmar City Council and his role as a leader of community organizations, all of which required an ability to work with people of differing views. "I know how to work. I know how to hustle," he said.

Tax reduction, including ending Minnesota's income tax on Social Security, is a top priority for Lang, along with building infrastructure, and supporting local government aid and county program aid to lessen property taxes.

The top three priorities for Alvarado include completing the work of the last session, when $4.5 billion was available yet not committed, as well as supporting funding for education and defending women's right to health care choices.

Alvarado said he supports women's reproductive rights and said he is concerned that Republicans will support restrictions on abortions as advocated by Scott Jensen, the Republican gubernatorial candidate.

Alvarado warned that while many Republicans state they do not plan on changing Minnesota's laws on abortion, they still might. He pointed to Supreme Court justices who he said had testified during their nomination hearings that they would not consider changes to Rode v. Wade. "We've seen what happened there," he said.

Lang said he has always been open about his pro-life position, but appreciates that Minnesota doesn't always agree with what he thinks personally. He said there were legal issues with Roe v. Wade that the Supreme Court had legitimate reason to overturn. He said it was the right decision to return authority on abortion to the states.

When asked about election integrity, Lang said he is concerned about voter confidence. "In the last couple of years, we've seen a lot of voters who are (not) confident in our elections, not a good situation," he said.

The incumbent urged more transparency in the Secretary of State's office. He said he believes there is a middle ground for Democrats and Republicans to resolve their differences over election access and security.

Alvarado said he believes Minnesota does not have a problem with its elections and that the Secretary of State has been on top of it. The state does have to be on guard against cyberattacks, he added.

On economic issues, Alvarado said he would serve as a promoter for Minnesota's business and agricultural sectors. Inflation is a global problem, and not something that is easily handled by the Legislature, he said. He said the state can do some things, such as keeping taxes down and working with the federal government.

Lang said Minnesota needs to lower its corporate tax rates to be more competitive. He said that many large corporations are outsourcing due to the state's tax rates. He also voiced a need to support agriculture and, in particular, help more young people start farming.

Asked about gun violence today, both candidates said they are defenders of the Second Amendment right to bear arms. "I am all for people to own guns," said Alvarado, while also emphasizing the importance of responsible gun ownership.

Lang emphasized the need to enforce laws against those who illegally possess guns. Lang asserted that the No. 1 dropped charge in Minnesota's court system is a felon in possession of weapons, yet felons in possession of guns represent about 85% of the crime. He did not cite the source of his data.

"We can talk about the Second Amendment all we want to, but at the end of the day, the people that are on the street and should be in prison are not, and that is an issue," Lang said.