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State Rep. Ron Erhardt and his Republican challenger Dario Anselmo met face-to-face at a forum at Edina City Hall Monday, agreeing more than they disagreed.

The tone was civil, genial even, which masked how competitive the race is.
Republicans need to flip seven seats to win the House majority, and they are aiming at the incumbent Erhardt in District 49A.

Both candidates struck a centrist tone on the state budget, transportation, health care and natural resources. Both can boast centrist bona fides -- Erhardt was once a Republican while Anselmo is a longtime small businessman.

Erhardt, who chairs the Transportation Policy Committee, said his top priority is a major infrastructure bill that would ease traffic and maintain roads and bridges.

Anselmo, longtime owner of the famed Fine Line Music Cafe until selling the business last year, said he would work to improve Minnesota's business climate while also focusing on the educational achievement gap that leaves some poor and minority children behind.

Both said they would work to curb flight path noise from the nearby Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Both said more needs to be done to fight invasive species.

Both acknowledged problems with MNSure -- the state's Obamacare health insurance exchange -- and said it needs improvement.