Contact Information: 273 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155. Phone: (651) 296-4929. E-mail: rep.torrey.westrom@house.mn.

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2008 MCA Candidate Survey Results: Candidate did not respond to survey.

2006 MCA Candidate Survey Results: Candidate did not respond to survey.

Additional Notes from MCA: None.

Contact Information: 445 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155. Phone: (651) 296-3201 or (800) 709-0796. E-mail: rep.maryellen.otremba@house.mn.

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2008 MCA Candidate Survey Results:

1. Minnesota’s nearly 1600 non-profit arts and cultural organizations provide access to the arts and support quality of life in every corner of the state. While providing over 22,000 jobs, arts organizations served nearly 4.5 million people in 2004.

Question: What arts activities have you attended, participated in or supported in the last year?

Music, Theater, Visual Arts, Literary Arts, Dance, Other

Answer: Music, Theater, Visual Arts, Literary Arts, Dance

2. Over the last several biennium the Minnesota State Arts Board and Regional Arts Council appropriations were cut by 34.5%. These are substantially larger cuts than the cuts to the overall state budget.

Question: Would you support an increase in arts funding to restore the cuts that were made, in recognition of the important role the arts and culture play in our economy and in our quality of life?

Enthusiastically Support; Support; Neutral; Opposed

Answer: Support

3. The Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment will be on the ballot this November, asking if citizens want to invest in clean water, open areas, arts and parks and trails. Over 80% of the initiative is for outdoors conservation, but 19.5% will also support arts, arts education, arts access and to preserve Minnesota’s history and cultural heritage.

Question: Do you support the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment?
Yes; No; Don’t know

Answer: Yes

4. Nonprofit Organizations provide social services, health services, education, and arts to the public. Under Minnesota law, nonprofit organizations have been free from paying sales or property taxes because their services benefit the public.

Question: Do you agree or disagree that nonprofit organizations should continue to be free from paying taxes?

Strongly Agree; Somewhat Agree; Somewhat Disagree; Strongly Disagree

Answer: Strongly Agree

5. Research shows that students with high levels of arts participation outperform other students on virtually every measure from standardized tests to community participation, and that learning through the arts has a significant effect on learning in other areas, particularly in the early years. The arts are required both by No Child Left Behind and also by Minnesota’s school standards, but our schools are not required to report how they are meeting those standards.

Question: Would you support policies to increase accountability for school standards in the arts?

Enthusiastically Support; Support; Neutral; Opposed

Answer: Support

6. Comments: We would welcome any additional comments you would like to make with regards to the arts in Minnesota. Please use additional pages as necessary.
NONE

2006 MCA Candidate Survey Results:

1. Minnesota’s nearly 1600 non-profit arts and cultural organizations provide access to the arts and support quality of life in every corner of the state. While providing over 22,000 jobs, arts organizations served nearly 4.5 million people in 2004.
What arts activities have you attended, participated in or supported in the last year?
Check all that apply: Music, Theater, Visual Arts, Literary Arts, Dance, Other.

Answer: Music, Theater, Visual Arts, Literary Arts, Dance, Art Classes.

2. Over the last three biennium the State Arts Board and Regional Arts Council appropriations were cut by 34.5%. These are substantially larger cuts than the cuts to the overall state budget. Would you support an increase in arts funding to restore the cuts that were made, in recognition of the important role the arts and culture play in our economy and in our quality of life? Select One: Enthusiastically Support, Support, Neutral, Opposed.

Answer: Support.

3. During the 2006 legislative session the legislature considered a constitutional dedication of funds for water, hunting and angling and various cultural purposes including the arts. Would you support a similar constitutional amendment in the 2007 legislative session? Select One: Yes, No, Don’t Know

Answer: Yes.

4. Research shows that students with high levels of arts participation outperform other students on virtually every measure from standardized tests to community participation, and that learning through the arts has a significant effect on learning in other areas, particularly in the early years. Would you support policies and funding to increase the availability of the arts in our schools? Select One: Enthusiastically Support, Support, Neutral, Opposed

Answer: Enthusiastically Support.

5. We would welcome any additional comments you would like to make with regards to the arts in Minnesota.

Comments: I support the Arts. I design and sew costumes for local theater programs.

Additional Notes from MCA: May 2000: Rep. Otremba voted YES to override the Governor’s veto of $1 million in bonding money for the Lanesboro Center for the Arts, and $3 million in planning money for the Guthrie Theater. The override was successful. A ‘Yes’ vote is a good arts vote.

2006 MCA Candidate Survey Results: Candidate did not respond to survey.

Additional Notes from MCA: None.