All 67 Senate and 134 House seats in Minnesota are on the November 8 general election ballot. In District 64B, DFL incumbent Representative Dave Pinto is being challenged by Republican Lorraine Englund.
District 64B encompasses Highland Park, the southern portion of the Macalester-Groveland neighborhood and the western part of the West End neighborhood (see map below).
MyVillager asked Pinto and Englund about their qualifications for state legislator, their priorities for the coming term, what they would do to fight the rising incidence of crime, and if they advocate any changes in the regulation of abortion following the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade.
Pinto, 50, is seeking his fifth term in the House. A graduate of Harvard University with a juris doctorate and MBA from the University of Virginia, he works as a prosecutor in the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office.
“I’m running for reelection to help build a Minnesota where every person can thrive,” Pinto said. “My top priority continues to be getting every young child off to a great start. The best way to support children is to support their families and communities. I’ll continue to work toward a strong public education system, living-wage jobs, affordable housing and health care, clean water and air, and racial and gender justice.
“I’ve dedicated my life to public service,” Pinto said. “I serve as a prosecutor with a focus on domestic violence and sexual exploitation. At the Capitol, I’ve led the fight for gun violence prevention. The House DFL majority passed my bill for criminal background checks. We’ve also passed funding increases for policing and community violence prevention, regulatory changes to fight catalytic converter theft, and reforms for greater accountability in the criminal legal system. All of these would increase public safety and reduce crime; all have been blocked by the Republican Senate.”
As for abortion, Pinto believes “people should be able to make their own health care decisions, including abortion and reproductive health care, with their physician and without government interference. In our state, the right to an abortion is currently protected only by a court interpretation. I favor putting it into statute, increasing protections and support for patients and providers, and supporting those traveling from other states for their care.
Englund, a resident of Macalester-Groveland, did not return MyVillager’s candidates questionnaire and could not be reached for comment or a photo.
— Dale Mischke
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