House District 8B candidates debate housing, climate change, downtown

DULUTH — In a forum hosted Tuesday night, incumbent Rep. Liish Kozlowski and Republican candidate Shawn Savela presented differing views on fraud, housing, environmental issues and more.

Kozlowski, a Democrat, is running for reelection to build on past successes in securing funding for emergency rental assistance, affordable housing, infrastructure and job investments.

Savela, in his introduction, questioned the endorsement of Duluth candidates Kozlowski and Sen. Jen McEwen by the Twin Ports Democratic Socialists of America, which he considers a radical organization.

Billions of dollars lost to fraud is one concern for voters. Savela expressed skepticism about the new Office of the Inspector General.

“A lot of this fraud started when Tim Walz took over. I think Amy Klobuchar, if she wins, will be an extension of Tim Walz,” Savela stated, recommending using artificial intelligence to update fraud prevention systems.

Kozlowski said they ran “to make sure that we have care in our politics,” emphasizing that funds for people with autism, housing, mental health and substance abuse need to actually go where they are intended.

Kozlowski noted that corporate fraud, in the form of wage theft and misclassification, accounts for about $6 billion to $8 billion in lost taxes.

Both candidates said they are willing to show bipartisanship.

“You will find me not so encouraging for things that are about identity politics or getting a certain race or a certain creed or a certain religion,” Savela said.

But the candidates differed on how to handle data centers.

According to Savela, those in favor of banning nondisclosure agreements “don’t understand business.” In his opinion, banning NDAs would deter companies from investing in the state.

“It’s about not stopping innovation, but how we build it, who gets to control it, and who benefits, and who gets left behind by it,” Kozlowski countered. “We’re asking for a comprehensive regulatory framework to look at air, noise, groundwater and public health impacts.”

Regarding copper-nickel mining, Kozlowski sides with public health and environmental conservation.

“If you’re a company in another state or a country … and you have a proven track record of having a lack of safety for union workers or for child labor, those things are not something that we should be opening the door and rolling out the red carpets,” Kozlowski said.

Savela said the metals are used in everyday products such as phones and cars.

“Nobody wants the Boundary Waters spoiled,” Savela said, noting that mining of state school trust lands generates money allocated to the Permanent School Fund, which distributed $58 million to public and charter schools in 2024-2025. “We need to prove that we can do it right by going through the permitting process.”

The candidates further disagreed on climate change’s influence on wildfires.

Kozlowski added that $10 million in federal cuts resulted in the mass firing of U.S. Forest Service members.

“It was mutual aid by the community that stepped out to fill those gaps,” Kozlowski said. “It’s really the government’s responsibility to step in and make sure that this public health crisis is treated and responded to in that way going forward.”

The trade war with Canada affects the local economy, port activity and manufacturing, Kozlowski said. Savela framed the issue as an opportunity for businesses to become more self-sufficient.

“If the pandemic taught us anything, it’s that we cannot rely on foreign countries,” Savela said. “As far as costs go in Minnesota, it’s not the tariffs that are doing it. It is the unfunded mandates. It’s the extra taxation. It’s the programs that we put in place here that’s causing us to have high costs of living here, and they are just piling it up.”

On a vision for downtown Duluth, Savela said crime must be addressed first. He suggested funding jail expansions to get offenders off the streets.

“We need to make it safer before we talk about doing any housing down there,” Savela said.

Kozlowski’s solution is to provide basic needs such as a livable wage, child care, education and affordable housing.

When Savela asked where the funding was coming from, Kozlowski suggested taxing the wealthiest citizens. Savela cited Forbes statistics, arguing there are five to seven billionaires in the state, with a net worth of up to $12 billion, and countered that taxing not only income but individual wealth is a sure deterrent for those considering investment.

In closing, Savela called for more diversity in the state’s Democratic-run government.

Kozlowski vowed to keep working toward a future that includes justice for ICE, returning public goods and restoring trust and transparency.