Steve Sarvi
Encyclopedia
Stephen Todd 'Steve' Sarvi is an Iraq War veteran and the 2008 Democratic Farmer Labor Party candidate for U.S. Congress in .
, Victoria
, and Watertown
. He was elected to mayor of Watertown in 2000, 2002, and 2004. During this time he served on the Southwest Corridor Transportation Coalition, the Minnesota State Fire Fighters Training Board, Watertown Chamber of Commerce, League of Minnesota Cities
Improving Local Economies Committee, Southeast Minnesota Initiative Fund, and the Council on Collaboration. He also served several years on the Lanesboro Fire Department/Ambulance Service as a Firefighter and EMT-B
.
, Steve enrolled in ROTC and switched from the Reserves to the Minnesota National Guard
. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant and served as a platoon leader for a tank company based in Chisholm, Minnesota
. In 1985, he graduated from the US Army Airborne School
and in 1987, after graduating from the University of Minnesota with a bachelors degree in Political Science and minor in Humanities, he joined the Active Army with a Regular Army commission.
At the Armor Officers Basic Course at Fort Knox, Kentucky, he graduated in the top 3 of the class. Then he served with the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colorado
as a tank platoon leader, company executive officer, and Assistant Operations Officer for the 3rd Battalion 68th Armored Regiment. In 1992 he left the Army at the rank of Captain. Sarvi joined the Minnesota Army National Guard
in 1999 as a Sergeant and was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 135th Infantry Regiment, stationed at West St. Paul
. Following 9/11 his unit was called upon to provide security at the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport
. Then, in 2003, he was deployed to Kosovo
to provide security on the border between Kosovo and the Republic of Macedonia
.
In 2005, he resigned his mayorship to serve in the Minnesota National Guard
in Iraq
. As Infantry Platoon Sergeant, Sarvi volunteered to serve in the 34th Infantry Division which served sixteen months in southern Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
for Minnesota's 2nd congressional district
seat. He believes that a change in U.S. policy in Iraq
is needed. Although the district leans Republican with a Cook Partisan Voting Index
of R+3, Kline's unwavering support for Bush
and the Iraq War may make him vulnerable to a challenger in 2008. At a rally at St. Olaf College three days before the election,(where the opening act was performed by notable Minneapolis Hip Hop mainstays Ill Chemistry, featuring Karnage and Desdamona) a former congressmen fired up the crowd of 200 or so college students, shouting, "And lets get a big hand for Steve Sarvi! You know, the day after the election, the pundits are gonna go around the country and look at some of these elections where the democrat wasn't supposed to win. They're gonna look at Minnesota's second congressional district and say, 'How did Steve Sarvi do it?'". Sarvi would go on to lose the election by 14.8%.
, is married, and has three school-aged children.
Civic leadership
His experience includes working as city administrator in LanesboroLanesboro, Minnesota
Lanesboro is a city in Fillmore County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 754 at the 2010 census.The town is a popular destination for tourists. The Root River flows through it, with a waterfall on the edge of town. The Root River State Trail and other bike paths also serve the town...
, Victoria
Victoria, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,025 people, 1,367 households, and 1,141 families residing in the city. The population density was 575.4 people per square mile . There were 1,410 housing units at an average density of 201.6 per square mile...
, and Watertown
Watertown, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,029 people, 1,078 households, and 775 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,808.0 people per square mile . There were 1,100 housing units at an average density of 656.6 per square mile...
. He was elected to mayor of Watertown in 2000, 2002, and 2004. During this time he served on the Southwest Corridor Transportation Coalition, the Minnesota State Fire Fighters Training Board, Watertown Chamber of Commerce, League of Minnesota Cities
League of Minnesota Cities
The League of Minnesota Cities , founded in 1913 by a special law passed by the Minnesota Legislature, was initially a part of the Extension Division of the University of Minnesota. In 1974, the League became an independent organization...
Improving Local Economies Committee, Southeast Minnesota Initiative Fund, and the Council on Collaboration. He also served several years on the Lanesboro Fire Department/Ambulance Service as a Firefighter and EMT-B
Emergency medical technician
Emergency Medical Technician or Ambulance Technician are terms used in some countries to denote a healthcare provider of emergency medical services...
.
Military service
At the age of 17, Sarvi enlisted in the Army Reserves and served as an infantryman. When attending the University of MinnesotaUniversity of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
, Steve enrolled in ROTC and switched from the Reserves to the Minnesota National Guard
Minnesota National Guard
The Minnesota National Guard is composed of approximately 14,000 soldiers of the Minnesota Army National Guard and Airmen of the Minnesota Air National Guard, serving in 63 communities across the state. The Constitution of the United States specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal...
. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant and served as a platoon leader for a tank company based in Chisholm, Minnesota
Chisholm, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,960 people, 2,178 households, and 1,287 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,129 people per square mile . There were 2,375 housing units at an average density of 540/sq mi...
. In 1985, he graduated from the US Army Airborne School
United States Army Airborne School
The United States Army Airborne School — widely known as Jump School — conducts the basic paratrooper training for the United States armed forces. It is operated by the 1st Battalion , 507th Infantry, United States Army Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia...
and in 1987, after graduating from the University of Minnesota with a bachelors degree in Political Science and minor in Humanities, he joined the Active Army with a Regular Army commission.
At the Armor Officers Basic Course at Fort Knox, Kentucky, he graduated in the top 3 of the class. Then he served with the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colorado
Fort Carson, Colorado
Fort Carson is a United States Army installation located near Colorado Springs, primarily in El Paso County, Colorado. It is north of Pueblo, Colorado in Pueblo County. The 137,000 acre installation extends south into Pueblo and Fremont counties...
as a tank platoon leader, company executive officer, and Assistant Operations Officer for the 3rd Battalion 68th Armored Regiment. In 1992 he left the Army at the rank of Captain. Sarvi joined the Minnesota Army National Guard
Minnesota Army National Guard
The Minnesota Army National Guard, along with the Minnesota Air National Guard, is an element of the Minnesota National Guard. The Constitution of the United States specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal and state missions. In fact, the National Guard is the only United States...
in 1999 as a Sergeant and was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 135th Infantry Regiment, stationed at West St. Paul
West St. Paul, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 19,405 people, 8,645 households, and 4,875 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,874.2 people per square mile . There were 8,779 housing units at an average density of 1,752.7 per square mile...
. Following 9/11 his unit was called upon to provide security at the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport
Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport
Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport is the largest and busiest airport in the five-state upper Midwest region of Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin.-Overview:...
. Then, in 2003, he was deployed to Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
to provide security on the border between Kosovo and the Republic of Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
.
In 2005, he resigned his mayorship to serve in the Minnesota National Guard
Minnesota National Guard
The Minnesota National Guard is composed of approximately 14,000 soldiers of the Minnesota Army National Guard and Airmen of the Minnesota Air National Guard, serving in 63 communities across the state. The Constitution of the United States specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal...
in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
. As Infantry Platoon Sergeant, Sarvi volunteered to serve in the 34th Infantry Division which served sixteen months in southern Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
2008 U.S. Representative campaign
On October 4, 2007, Sarvi announced he would challenge John KlineJohn Kline (politician)
John Paul Kline is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. The district includes most of the southern suburbs of the Twin Cities, including Apple Valley, Inver Grove Heights, Burnsville and Eagan. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life, education and career:Kline was born...
for Minnesota's 2nd congressional district
Minnesota's 2nd congressional district
Minnesota’s 2nd congressional district covers the south Twin Cities metro area and contains all of Carver, Scott, Le Sueur, Goodhue and Rice Counties. It also contains most of Dakota County and south Washington County including the cities of Cottage Grove and the southern part of Woodbury...
seat. He believes that a change in U.S. policy in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
is needed. Although the district leans Republican with a Cook Partisan Voting Index
Cook Partisan Voting Index
The Cook Partisan Voting Index , sometimes referred to as simply the Partisan Voting Index , is a measurement of how strongly an American congressional district or state leans toward one political party compared to the nation as a whole...
of R+3, Kline's unwavering support for Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
and the Iraq War may make him vulnerable to a challenger in 2008. At a rally at St. Olaf College three days before the election,(where the opening act was performed by notable Minneapolis Hip Hop mainstays Ill Chemistry, featuring Karnage and Desdamona) a former congressmen fired up the crowd of 200 or so college students, shouting, "And lets get a big hand for Steve Sarvi! You know, the day after the election, the pundits are gonna go around the country and look at some of these elections where the democrat wasn't supposed to win. They're gonna look at Minnesota's second congressional district and say, 'How did Steve Sarvi do it?'". Sarvi would go on to lose the election by 14.8%.
Personal life
Sarvi lives in Watertown, in Carver CountyCarver County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 70,205 people, 24,356 households, and 18,778 families residing in the county. The population density was 197 people per square mile . There were 24,883 housing units at an average density of 70 per square mile...
, is married, and has three school-aged children.
External links
- Steve Sarvi for U.S. Congress official campaign website
- Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org