Stark differences on taxes, spending and education emerged Friday as gubernatorial rivals Tim Walz and Jeff Johnson squared off at the Minnesota State Fair.
The debate at the fairground's Dan Patch Park, sponsored by Minnesota Public Radio, attracted a boisterous and divided crowd that heartily cheered and booed both candidates. After one batch of jeers, Johnson said, "I love the tolerance of the left."
Following three more genial encounters, the candidates also aimed pointed words at each other with Election Day just over nine weeks away.
Johnson called Walz a "feel-good candidate" with unrealistic goals. Walz in turn criticized Johnson for dwelling on the state's problems. "I don't believe Minnesota is failing," Walz said. "I believe in this state and I'm optimistic."
Johnson, a Republican Hennepin County commissioner, said he supports overall cuts in the state human services and welfare budgets and would audit other programs to find ways to trim spending.
In response to a question about which government initiatives deserve more dollars, he said, "I'm not sure where we should be spending more, because we've seen a 53 percent increase in state spending in the last eight years." Johnson identified his priorities as public safety and education.
His opponent, Johnson said, has made "40 promises to increase spending, many of them by a lot," and delivering those pledges would require "huge increases" in taxes.
"That is not true," said Walz, a DFLer who represents the First Congressional District in the U.S. House. "I have been honest enough with folks to tell them we need to look at the gas tax" to fund transportation infrastructure upgrades.