The highlight event will be the faceoff between incumbent State Representative Phyllis Kahn and her primary challenger, Brian T. Biele. The two DFLer's are in a tight race, and the primary winner earns the right to represent the DFL Party on the November General Election ballot. Former research scientist Kahn has held the seat for 28 years; community organizer and citizen's lobbyist Biele is 28 years old. Kahn claims experience and Biele claims he is more in tune with the people and concerns of the district.

Also invited to the forum are three other candidates for the State Legislature, although South East Como Improvement Association (SECIA) President Bill Dane said "the evening's focus will be the DFL House contest because that is the only contested primary." The SECIA Board of Directors oversees the operations of the Como Resource Center. The League of Women Voters will moderate the forum.

The forum will be from 7 pm to 8:30 pm on August 30. Van Cleve Park Community Center is at the corner of 15th Avenue SE and Rollins Avenue SE. Legislative District 59B is comprised of Southeast Minneapolis, as well as small portions of Downtown, West Bank, and Northeast Minneapolis.

Biele had worked eight years as a community organizer and citizen lobbyist for COACT, the Senior Federation, Clean Water Action, and other non-profit pubic policy groups.

To date, Biele has won endorsement from Minnesota Teamsters, the Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis, and Minneapolis Building and Construction Trades Council, as well as an Acceptable rating from the DFL Stonewall Caucus. He also has the formal support of Minnesota COACT (Citizens Organized Acting Together), the state's largest citizens lobby in the area of health care.

For more information on the forum contact Jennifer Gisslen Lee of the Como Resource Center at 612-676-1731. For more informationon the Biele campaign contact Brian Biele at 612-617-0334 or the campaign website at http://www.biele2000.com.