State Rep. Tony Cornish doesn’t try to hide his conservative beliefs, clearly enjoys a spirited argument and has made a habit of introducing bills that stir up the hornets nest of gun politics.

But Cornish, R-Vernon Center, said he’s able to put his political feistiness aside and work with Democrats — who have firm control of the state House and Senate — when he needs to pass a bill or get funding for District 24B.

“If I wasn’t able to get along, the DFL majority wouldn’t allow my bills to move forward through committee,” he said. “So I think I’ve been able to work well as a member of the minority.”

Cornish’s challenger — John Branstad of Madison Lake — isn’t so sure, especially when it comes to large bills that are critically important to rural Minnesota.

“I think we’ve seen in the last few years, Rep. Cornish has had instances where he’s put party ahead of the interests of the district,” Branstad said.

Politics and problem-solving

Branstad contrasts Cornish’s opposition on a pair of bills with the positions taken by a pair of area Republican lawmakers. Rep. Rod Hamilton of Mountain Lake was one of five House Republicans who played a key role in the passage of a large transportation funding bill. Sen. Julie Rosen, R-Fairmont, voted for a health care funding bill that brought state-subsidized medical insurance to 37,000 uninsured children in the state.

“It it’s a good idea for southern Minnesota, it doesn’t matter if it’s from a Democrat or a Republican,” Branstad said. “If it’s good for our district, it’s worth fighting for.”

Cornish said he makes decisions based on what he thinks is best for his constituents, not his party. His opposition to the transportation bill centered on how the revenue was disbursed around the state and how it was generated — increases in the gas tax and other fees.

Cornish is seeking his fourth term, and this election has brought a more energetic opponent than Cornish said he’s seen in a while.

“I’d say he’s peppier, full of energy,” Cornish said.

The DFL Party has also shown some interest in the race, mailing a brochure to voters with a photo of a man in a suit with a grocery bag over his head. The headline says, “Tony Cornish Does Not Get It!” and it lists his opposition to the transportation bill and other votes.

But Cornish is approaching the campaign the same way as previous years, emphasizing his nearly 30 years in law enforcement and the skills he’s learned from that service.

“Just talking to people and basically being involved in direct problems that they’re asking you to solve on the spot,” he said. “... I just felt it was perfect training for a job like this.”

Branstad, who makes sure to emphasize his support for sportsmen and gun rights, said his experience in helping get a small business up and running would be a real asset as a lawmaker.

“The idea that you bring people together to make progress and that you’re always results-focused,” he said.

Health and nursing homes

Branstad’s door-knocking has convinced him that rising health care costs are the most pressing problem facing the district, followed by the needs of rural schools and the importance of investing in roads.

“Health care costs are out of control. They’re rising much faster than our wages and incomes are,” he said. “... It makes for some very tough decisions for families. I’ve talked to people who are forced to decide between health insurance and paying the mortgage, or health insurance and putting food on the table.”

Cornish’s first focus in health care involves nursing homes, especially the ones in his district that are struggling because metro homes get reimbursed at higher levels than rural ones.

“It can be up to hundreds of thousands of dollars a year,” he said, adding that makes it hard for rural homes to pay competitive wages to aides and nurses. “Then they run into the problem that their employees are being raided by the hospitals.”

City, country and coalitions

Both candidates also talk about the disparity they see in funding levels for rural schools compared to metro schools.

Cornish said many rural districts repeatedly see taxpayers turn down referendums seeking more operating revenue or funding for building projects.

“It’s a dismal track record right now,” Cornish said. “We have to look at education as a statewide problem. ... We have to figure out a statewide formula to take care of it.”

He also would like to see more transportation funding diverted from metro roads and transit to rural parts of the state.

“The way I work on that is trying to get rural legislators together and somehow work on coalition building,” Cornish said.

Branstad said he doesn’t think Cornish has demonstrated much skill as a coalition-builder. And he thinks voters are looking in all races for a candidate that’s offering a new approach.

“People see the direction we’ve gone in the last few years and they see it’s time for a change,” he said, “government that works for people and seeks results, not just political finger-pointing and excuses.”