Steve Sarvi

Steve Sarvi is the DFL- and Independence Party-endorsed candidate in the 2008 congressional elections for the 2nd Congressional District (map) of Minnesota. As the Democratic nominee, he will challenge incumbent Rep. John Kline (R-Minn.). He ran unopposed in primary elections which took place on September 9, 2008.

Positions, record and controversies
See http://www.stevesarvi.org/issues and http://www.stevesarvi.org/theklinerecord.

Bio
Steve Sarvi was elected Mayor of Watertown, Minn., three times, and formerly served as city administrator for the communities of Lanesboro, Watertown and Victoria, Minn. Sarvi is a member of the Minnesota Army National Guard who served in Kosovo and for 16 months in Iraq. He previously was both an Army Reservist and member of the active duty Army.

One of Steve’s most rewarding experiences in the military was using his experience as a mayor and city administrator to teach Kosovar villagers about local government. Steve worked with United Nations leaders to hold an election in a multi-ethnic village. Following the election, Steve mentored the new village council on democratic governance.

In Iraq, Steve was then selected to become the Civil Military Affairs Officer for Task Force Wild. In this role, Steve supervised the building of new schools, the upgrading of roads, and the distribution of water storage tanks and irrigation pumps. He also assisted with logistical support and training for the Iraqi Highway Patrol. Task Force Wild completed hundreds of thousands of dollars in reconstruction projects, making much-needed improvements and providing rural Iraqis with jobs.

Steve worked in local government from 1994 to 2008– first as city administrator/clerk in Lanesboro, Minn., and later as city administrator in both Watertown and Victoria, Minn. After returning from Iraq, Steve resumed the role of city administrator in Victoria. He resigned to campaign full-time for Congress.

Steve was elected mayor of Watertown in 2000 and reelected in 2002 and 2004. Steve is held in high regard for his ability to bring people together, his understanding of government issues, and his high regard for fiscal responsibility. As mayor of Watertown, Steve enacted city budgets that either kept city tax rates flat or declining and worked hard to coordinate city growth with the local school district and other players to manage the impacts of development.

In both Lanesboro and Victoria, Steve instituted Business Retention and Expansion projects to help existing businesses grow and add employees. He helped create the Lanesboro Chamber of Commerce. In Watertown, his work led to the redevelopment of the downtown area and the building of a baseball complex paid for by park dedication funds rather than city taxes.

As a city official and on his own, Steve has been involved in the Southwest Corridor Transportation Coalition, Minnesota State Fire Fighters Training Board, Watertown Chamber of Commerce, League of Minnesota Cities—Improving Local Economies Committee, SE Minnesota Initiative Fund, and the Council on Collaboration. Steve also served for several years on the Lanesboro Fire Department/Ambulance Service as a Firefighter and EMT-B.

2008 elections
Sarvi isthe Democratic nominee seeking to challenge Rep. John Kline (R-Minn.) in the 2008 congressional elections. . Sarvi received the endorsement of Minnesota's Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party on May 3, 2008, and later the cross-endorsement of the Independence Party. He ran unopposed in primary elections which took place on September 9, 2008.

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Campaign contributions
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See www.fec.gov.

Committees
Sarvi will be assigned committees if and when he is elected to Congress.

Contact
Sarvi for Congress 1970 Rahncliff Court, Suite 400 Eagan, MN 55122

steve@stevesarvi.org

External resources

 * 2008 Race Tracker page on Minnesota's 6th Congressional District
 * "Iraq war vet to challenge Kline in Minnesota's 2nd District," Star Tribune, October 4, 2008.
 * Steve Sarvi for Congress
 * See www.stevesarvi.org/news for more.