The Hutchinson Leader covers the Senate District 18 …

Voters in Minnesota’s Senate District 18, which includes McLeod, Meeker and Sibley counties, as well as Cokato and Cokato Township, will have two choices in this year’s election: incumbent Sen. Scott Newman, R-Hutchinson, and challenger Chad Tschimperle, a Democrat from Cokato.

They asked both candidates a series of questions; both mentioned broadband at some point…

• If [re]elected, what would be your top priorities in the next four years?
  TSCHIMPERLE: I would like work on legislation to make health care more affordable for working people and the self-employed. The MNCare program has helped and could be expanded. There is a tremendous need for affordable health care in our district, and I would like to work on a solution.Another issue I believe is important is rural internet access. When student learning, social interaction and working from home became the norm during COVID-19, the inadequacy of Minnesota’s internet services was revealed. Border-to-border broadband is not a luxury, it is a necessity, and I will work to accomplish that goal.
  
• What do you see as the most important step or steps to bolster rural schools in Minnesota?
  NEWMAN: 1. Provide broadband internet service to all rural schools. Without broadband, students are severely handicapped.