As Deb Kiel campaigned door-to-door, she repeatedly heard a question she wasn't initially anticipating.
"They asked if I was an incumbent," she said. "That tells me people were ready for change."
In District 1B, Kiel was the change, ousting 26-year legislative veteran Bernie Lieder by 134 votes out of almost 13,000 cast. A Crookston School Board member, she was running for state office for the first time after three unsuccessful attempts by husband Lonn for the same position.
Kiel was a part of the surprising Republican takeover of both the House and Senate. "People want less government spending and less government all the way around," she said. "Voters were disappointed and frustrated."
Kiel said she doesn't have specific legislation to push. She said her first job is to learn how things work in St. Paul.
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Lieder said Kiel never strayed from the consistent message that Republicans shared of less government and lower taxes. "Balancing the budget will be the big issue next session, but we never got a specific answer from her about how she would deal with it," he said. "She skirted the issue.
"She's in for a big surprise if she thinks that big of a budget deficit can be balanced without doing something drastic. We're going to pay for her learning experience if everything is done with cuts."
Kiel said she represented an "average, every-day person, not a career politician" to voters.
"After being on the school board, I understand that you have to work with the group you're with," she said.
Reach Bakken at (701) 780-1125; (800) 477-6572, ext. 125; or send e-mail to rbakken@gfherald.com .
