Voters in House District 50B, which includes New Brighton and Arden Hills plus portions of Fridley and Shoreview, may be feeling déjà vu at the polls Nov. 4 when it comes time to consider their state legislative race.

DFL candidate and incumbent Kate Knuth, of New Brighton, is being challenged again by Republican nominee and Shoreview resident Lori Grivna, who also ran for the seat in 2006.

We asked the candidates:

What are three major issues for this race and what is your stance on each one?

Lori Grivna

Address: 5960 Ridge Creek Road, Shoreview

Family: Husband, Wally; two sons

Education: B.A. in Speech Communication, University of Minnesota

Occupation: Homemaker

Years in District 50B: 23-year homeowner in Shoreview

Involvement in community/civic organizations: Several decades of public service working with students, families and seniors; elected to two terms on the Mounds View School Board; Past President, Ramsey County League of Local Governments

Contact: www.lorigrivna.com

Q#1: Economy/jobs/prosperity - We must revitalize Minnesota's economy; altering state tax policies, improving the business climate for job providers, and slowing expansive government growth. Households are being squeezed by higher prices for food, energy, health care, and other cost-of-living increases. It is important to get more money into the pockets of our residents by altering tax policy. To help seniors on fixed incomes, we must exempt social security retirement benefits from state income tax. Minnesota is just one of 8 states that tax this entitlement. We should reduce the lowest income tax tier, to make state income tax more progressive. By reducing corporate tax burdens and providing employer incentives we can bring jobs to our state with competitive wages. Small businesses are the bread and butter of our economy. In April, the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council released rankings of the cost of state tax systems based on 16 measures. Unfortunately, Minnesota was 49th, while our business-friendly neighbor South Dakota ranked #1. We use economic growth revenue, not tax growth, to maintain our quality of life.

Property taxes - While visiting doors across the district, residents and small business owners say property tax growth must be addressed. Much of our aging population wants to stay in their homes and neighborhoods they love. I support a property tax freeze on homeowners over age 65 with a household income below $60,000. This would encourage them to stay in our community and not be forced out because of taxes. The Limited Market Value phase-out in 2010 should be postponed. State policy increases the propensity for local jurisdictions to increase levies. Municipalities and now school districts can issue bonds for public employee post-retirement benefits, taxing property owners without limitation taking from our nest eggs to pay for others. The property tax deduction for homeowners who itemize their taxes must remain, despite attempts by the DFL majority to take it away.

Spending policy - The shift in demographics indicates in 12 years there will be more retirees than school-aged children. Spending policy must address the reduction in educated students, a shrinking workforce, and demand for government services setting priorities based on value and results. Currently, legislators do not see all the line items of the current state budget when determining spending proposals. Most state programs carry forward to the following year just adding more money to the base. The legislature should explore budgeting in which an entirely new program budget is developed that does not use prior spending as a base. Place the focus on priorities, value and outcomes. Evaluate whether programs are actually the role of government, are they achieving the desired results, and should they continue, be refined, expanded or eliminated.

Kate Knuth

Address: 2189 Mississippi Circle, New Brighton

Family: Single, no children

Education: M.Sc., Oxford University, Biodiversity Conservation and Management; B.A., University of Chicago, Biology and Philosophy

Occupation: Environmental Educator

Years in District 50B: Born and raised in House District 50B

Involvement in community/civic organizations: President's Cabinet, Boy Scouts of America Northern Star Council; Board member, Vinland National Center; former New Brighton Parks, Recreation, and Environment commissioner

Contact: www.kateknuth.org

Q#1: As I continue to go door to door in the community, I hear increasing concern about the state of our economy in Minnesota, the United States, and internationally. People feel insecure about jobs, health care cost, and retirement savings. We have real challenges ahead in our state. We need to strengthen our economy, address a projected budget deficit responsibly, and realize the benefits of transitioning to a clean energy economy. Working together with each other and people on both sides of the aisle, we can create opportunity out of these challenges and make our state more secure.

Enacting practical solutions to improve our state economy is the top issue. We need both a short and long-term focus. Short-term, I will focus on creating good jobs, and long-term I will invest in priorities that make businesses in our state competitive. A world-class education system, effective transportation, affordable health care, and a fair tax system are all needed to promote job growth and good business in our state.

Minnesota is likely facing a budget deficit, and I will work to balance the budget responsibly. There are a number of tools to balance the budget including cutting programs, using reserves, increasing revenue, and shifting funds. Some of these tools will be more useful than others, but we need to discuss all of them. You can be sure that I am committed to making sure we fund our priorities first. The priorities I hear from you are public safety, schools, nursing homes, and fair tax policy.

In addition to strengthening the economy and responsibly balancing the budget, I will work to make sure Minnesota realizes the many benefits of building the clean energy economy of the 21st Century. Erratic energy prices and the negative environmental impacts mean we can no longer rely solely on fossil fuels to drive our economy. Minnesotans are creative, passionate, and hard-working, and we will find and build effective energy solution. I will build on a nation-leading renewable energy policy and partner with you to grow the green jobs of the future right here in Minnesota.

There is no question that we face real challenges. When I listen to a parent figuring out how to pay for life-saving prescriptions for a child, a college grad looking for work, or a baby boomer wondering whether she will be able to afford retirement, I hear those challenges. Working together, we will see the solutions and create opportunity for Minnesotans. As your State Representative, I want to continue to partner with you in this work. Minnesota is a great place to call home, and by meeting our challenge head on we will come out stronger and more secure.

Q#1: Economy/jobs/prosperity - We must revitalize Minnesota's economy; altering state tax policies, improving the business climate for job providers, and slowing expansive government growth. Households are being squeezed by higher prices for food, energy, health care, and other cost-of-living increases. It is important to get more money into the pockets of our residents by altering tax policy. To help seniors on fixed incomes, we must exempt social security retirement benefits from state income tax. Minnesota is just one of 8 states that tax this entitlement. We should reduce the lowest income tax tier, to make state income tax more progressive. By reducing corporate tax burdens and providing employer incentives we can bring jobs to our state with competitive wages. Small businesses are the bread and butter of our economy. In April, the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council released rankings of the cost of state tax systems based on 16 measures. Unfortunately, Minnesota was 49th, while our business-friendly neighbor South Dakota ranked #1. We use economic growth revenue, not tax growth, to maintain our quality of life.

Property taxes - While visiting doors across the district, residents and small business owners say property tax growth must be addressed. Much of our aging population wants to stay in their homes and neighborhoods they love. I support a property tax freeze on homeowners over age 65 with a household income below $60,000. This would encourage them to stay in our community and not be forced out because of taxes. The Limited Market Value phase-out in 2010 should be postponed. State policy increases the propensity for local jurisdictions to increase levies. Municipalities and now school districts can issue bonds for public employee post-retirement benefits, taxing property owners without limitation taking from our nest eggs to pay for others. The property tax deduction for homeowners who itemize their taxes must remain, despite attempts by the DFL majority to take it away.

Spending policy - The shift in demographics indicates in 12 years there will be more retirees than school-aged children. Spending policy must address the reduction in educated students, a shrinking workforce, and demand for government services setting priorities based on value and results. Currently, legislators do not see all the line items of the current state budget when determining spending proposals. Most state programs carry forward to the following year just adding more money to the base. The legislature should explore budgeting in which an entirely new program budget is developed that does not use prior spending as a base. Place the focus on priorities, value and outcomes. Evaluate whether programs are actually the role of government, are they achieving the desired results, and should they continue, be refined, expanded or eliminated.

Kate Knuth

Address: 2189 Mississippi Circle, New Brighton

Family: Single, no children

Education: M.Sc., Oxford University, Biodiversity Conservation and Management; B.A., University of Chicago, Biology and Philosophy

Occupation: Environmental Educator

Years in District 50B: Born and raised in House District 50B

Involvement in community/civic organizations: President's Cabinet, Boy Scouts of America Northern Star Council; Board member, Vinland National Center; former New Brighton Parks, Recreation, and Environment commissioner

Contact: www.kateknuth.org

Q#1: As I continue to go door to door in the community, I hear increasing concern about the state of our economy in Minnesota, the United States, and internationally. People feel insecure about jobs, health care cost, and retirement savings. We have real challenges ahead in our state. We need to strengthen our economy, address a projected budget deficit responsibly, and realize the benefits of transitioning to a clean energy economy. Working together with each other and people on both sides of the aisle, we can create opportunity out of these challenges and make our state more secure.

Enacting practical solutions to improve our state economy is the top issue. We need both a short and long-term focus. Short-term, I will focus on creating good jobs, and long-term I will invest in priorities that make businesses in our state competitive. A world-class education system, effective transportation, affordable health care, and a fair tax system are all needed to promote job growth and good business in our state.

Minnesota is likely facing a budget deficit, and I will work to balance the budget responsibly. There are a number of tools to balance the budget including cutting programs, using reserves, increasing revenue, and shifting funds. Some of these tools will be more useful than others, but we need to discuss all of them. You can be sure that I am committed to making sure we fund our priorities first. The priorities I hear from you are public safety, schools, nursing homes, and fair tax policy.

In addition to strengthening the economy and responsibly balancing the budget, I will work to make sure Minnesota realizes the many benefits of building the clean energy economy of the 21st Century. Erratic energy prices and the negative environmental impacts mean we can no longer rely solely on fossil fuels to drive our economy. Minnesotans are creative, passionate, and hard-working, and we will find and build effective energy solution. I will build on a nation-leading renewable energy policy and partner with you to grow the green jobs of the future right here in Minnesota.

There is no question that we face real challenges. When I listen to a parent figuring out how to pay for life-saving prescriptions for a child, a college grad looking for work, or a baby boomer wondering whether she will be able to afford retirement, I hear those challenges. Working together, we will see the solutions and create opportunity for Minnesotans. As your State Representative, I want to continue to partner with you in this work. Minnesota is a great place to call home, and by meeting our challenge head on we will come out stronger and more secure.