Democrats visit about the issues at the caucus held in the Media Center at BEA High School, above.

The beginning of the 2022 Minnesota political season kicked off on Tuesday, Feb. 1, with the holding of caucuses around the state.

In Faribault County, the DFL (Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party) held two caucuses, one in Blue Earth and one in Wells.

“We have not had anyone on a local level declare their candidacy as of yet because the announcement of the redrawn district lines has not been made public yet,” DFL Faribault County chairman, Dan Woodring, said.

As per DFL statewide rules, all people attending DFL caucuses had to show proof of vaccination for COVID and wear a mask.

Once the formalities of saying the Pledge of Allegiance, reading a letter from the DFL state chairman and electing a caucus moderator were completed, the caucus participants got down to business.

Woodring, who attended the meeting in Wells along with eight other adults, was elected to serve as the caucus moderator. Approximately 20 people attended the DFL Caucus in Blue Earth.

One of the things a caucus does is prepare resolutions which will be taken to each party’s caucus convention.

The DFL caucus in Wells passed over 10 resolutions dealing with many different subjects.

One resolution called for the state to transfer to 100 percent clean energy by 2050. Another called for common-sense gun violence prevention measures.

Other resolutions dealt with education, whether calling for more equitable funding for schools, universal preschool education, or more funding for meals at schools.

Another resolution called for the extension of voting rights to allow non-incarcerated felons to vote.

Issues involving agriculture were also brought up at the caucus with resolutions calling for more funding for land stewardship and the rapid implementation of regenerative farm practices also passing. Another resolution, involving agriculture, supported adequate payment for landowners when land is taken out of production for buffer strips or waterways.

Resolutions involving transportation were also passed with one calling for the development of a state-wide public transportation railway system and another supporting electric vehicle charging stations in Minnesota.

A resolution supporting funding for a range of different types of affordable housing and another allowing stronger unions in Minnesota also passed.

These resolutions, along with any others which came from the caucus held in Blue Earth, will be considered at the DFL County Convention, which will be held at 2 p.m. on April 2, at the Blue Earth Area High School media room.