>> Eric: LANA, GEORGE, THANKS, CONGRATULATIONS, THANKS.

THERE'S NOT A LOT ON THE BALLOT THIS FALL, BUT ONE RACE HAS THE ATTENTION OF PEOPLE WHO FOLLOW POLITICS ACROSS THE STATE.

POLITICAL REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER HEADED NORTH FOR A FEISTY MAYORAL RACE.

>> I WILL INTRODUCE OUR TWO CANDIDATES.

THE INCUMBENT MAYOR IS EMILY LARSON.

THE CHALLENGER IS ROGER REINERT.

>> Mary: DULUTH VOTERS PACKED AN EVENT CENTER IN CANAL PARK, WHERE THE INCUMBENT MAYOR IS SEEKING AN UNPRECEDENTED THIRD TERM.

>> I AM SEEKING REELECTION BECAUSE THE PROGRESS OF THIS COMMUNITY, THE PROGRESS OF THE LAST SEVEN YEARS IS WORTH FIGHTING FOR.

AND WORTH CONTINUING.

>> Mary: LARSON LOST A PRIMARY TO A FORMER STATE SENATOR WHO SHOCKED THE SYSTEM WITH HIS VICTORY IN THE PRELIMINARY ELECTION IN AUGUST.

>> I'M RUNNING FOR MAYOR BECAUSE LIKE MANY OF YOU, I JUST THINK IT'S TIME FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

IT'S TIME THAT WE EXPECT MORE AND DO BETTER WITH OUR CORE CITY SERVICES LIKE STREETS, UTILITIES, PUBLIC SAFETY.

>> Mary: THE MAYOR POINTED OUT THAT REINERT SERVED IN THE LAST DFL FRY FECT YA THEY CAPITOL THAT DID NOT DELIVER MORE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AID BUT REINERT IS PROUD OF HIS SERVICE IN HE LEGISLATURE AND MILITARY.

>> I WAS AWARDED LEGISLATOR OF THE YEAR FOR WORKING ON THE L.G.A.

ISSUE, FOR BRINGING TOGETHER REGIONAL CENTERS AND THEIR MAYORS AT THE TIME TO REDO THE L.G.A.

FORMULA SO THAT IT WAS MORE SUSTAINABLE FOR ALL OF THANK YOUS GREATER MINNESOTA.

>> DOESN'T SIT WELL WITH ME AND I DON'T THINK IT SITS WELL WITH OUR PUBLIC EITHER.

WE HAVE A BUDGET THAT WE CAN RELY N, THAT IS EQUITABLE, THAT IS FAIR, THAT IS PAYING FOR CITY SERVICES.

MY COMMITMENT TO YOU AND MY VISION WITH THIS COMMUNITY HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE SAME.

IT CONTINUES TO BE ENSURING THAT EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD ACROSS THE CITY, OFFERS A CHOICE IN OPPORTUNITY AND PROSPERITY.

>> Mary: DULUTH IS PROUD OF ITS PUBLIC SPACES AND OUTDOOR AMENITIES WHICH ARE N ISSUE IN THIS RACE.

>> WORK THAT WE ARE DOING IN PARKS IS MY WORK.

IT'S NOT WORK THAT SOMEBODY ELSE CAN CLAIM CREDIT FOR.

>> IF THE ONLY PERSON QUALIFIED TO SERVE IN THE OFFICE IS THE INCUMBENT, WE COULD JUST SKIP THE ELECTION AND SAVE THE TAXPAYERS MONEY AND TIME.

>> Mary: THE CONTEST IS GAINING STATEWIDE TTENTION, EVEN NOTED IN THE DEBATE.

>> WE HAVE HAVE MARY LAHAMMER AND HER CREW UP IN THE TWIN CITIES TO COVER THIS.

>> Mary: ANY PLACE THAT LEADS THE NATION IN VOTING, SO GENERALLY VOTERS HERE PAY CLOSE ATTENTION.

VOTERS IN DULUTH ARE PRETTY FAMOUS FOR THOSE OF US WHO COVER STATEWIDE POLITICS.

THEY VOTE.

YOU VOTE.

YOU SHOW UP.

DULUTH VOTERS REALLY CARE.

WHAT RAWR HEARING AND WHY THIS RACE GETTING SO MUCH ATTENTION?

>> BECAUSE I THINK IT IS A VERY CLEAR CHOICE POINT.

AND I THINK FROM THE OUTSIDE WE MAY LOOK LIKE SIMILAR CANDIDATES.

WE'RE NOT.

AND WE'RE NOT THE OLD DULUTH THAT IS JUST WILLING TO ACCEPT A CANDIDATE.

WE PUSH EACH OTHER.

YOU KNOW, ULUTH POLITICS HAS A LITTLE BIT OF LIKE ERIN RANGE STREEGHT FIGHT IN THERE.

>> Mary: WHAT ARE YOU HEARING?

>> THAT'S ACTUALLY SOMETHING I'M MOST EXCITED ABOUT FROM THE PRIMARY.

IT'S OT THE FACT THAT WE GOT 63% OF THE VOTER.

IT'S THE FACT THAT WE DOUBLED VOTER TURNOUT.

THE CIVICS TEACHER INSIDE ME GETS EXCITED ABOUT THE FACT THAT WHEN YOU HAVE MEANINGFUL CHOICE, YOU HAVE GREAT CONVERSATIONS LIKE THE ONE WE HAD TODAY AND PEOPLE ENGAGE IN THE DEMOCRATIC VOTING PROCESS.

>> Mary: TWO DEMOCRATS, SO WHAT DIFFERENCES REALLY EMERGE BASED ON THIS?

>> OH, IDENTIFICATION SPECIFICITY.

I THINK CLARITY OF VISION.

I THINK A VERY CLEAR DISTINCTION OF STYLE IN HOW WE LEAD.

>> I THINK YOU SAW DEFINITELY SOME OVERLAP IN TERMS OF WHAT WE THINK ARE THE ISSUES.

AND MAYBE SOME OF THE APPROACHES.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THE DIFFERENCE IS REALLY WHAT WE SAW AT THE END.

AND THAT IS WHERE IS THE COMMUNITY AT?

DOES THE COMMUNITY THINK THAT WE'RE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION?

ARE ARE THEY READY FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

>> Mary: STATEWIDE ATTENTION, THE GOVERNOR ENDORSED YOU.

DID DID HELP OR DIDN'T IT?

>> I THINK ENDORSEMENTS ARE ALWAYS REALLY USEFUL AND HELPFUL.

I AM GRATEFUL TO THE GOVERNOR AND I WOULD SAY, WE DIDN'T REALLY TALK UCH ABOUT ENDORSEMENTS HERE, BUT MANY OF THE PEOPLE ENDORSING ME KNOW BOTH OF US AND THEY MADE A CHOICE AS WELL.

>> Mary: THE ROOM WAS PACKED.

THE GOVERNOR WEIGHED IN AND ENDORSED THE INCUMBENT ON THIS.

>> AGAIN, I HINK WE'RE ONE OF THE KEY CITIES IN MINNESOTA, A STRONG REGIONAL CENTER.

WE HAVE A COMPETITIVE ELECTION FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME.

AND I HAVE TO ADMIT, I THINK PART OF IT IS THE FACT THAT I'VE DECIDED TO NOT DO POLITICAL PARTY ENDORSEMENTS TO HONOR THE NONPARTISAN NATURE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND YET WE CONTINUE TO DO WELL.

AND SO THERE MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT OF A DAVID