Steve Sarvi touts his military, public service experience
by Tad Johnson
Thisweek Newspapers

Steve Sarvi is counting on his military and local government experience to propel him to the Democratic nomination and into the 2nd District House seat.

Sarvi, who served 19 years in the U.S. military and 13 years in local government, is vying for the Democratic nomination against Dan Powers and hopes to square off against U.S. Rep. John Kline in the November 2008 election.

With these two backgrounds, Sarvi, a Watertown resident, says he is well-quipped to represent the wide range of constituents in the 2nd District.

War in Iraq

Sarvi, who volunteered with the National Guard to serve in Iraq in 2005, advocates for a careful plan to immediately begin withdrawing troops from Iraq.

"People there think we're going to stay there until the last drop of oil is taken from the sand," Sarvi said. "There's nothing I can say that will convince them otherwise."

Having supervised reconstruction projects in Iraq, Sarvi said a withdrawal plan is important so the work that's been done to rebuild the country is not left unfinished, as it was in one region when Italy's troops were suddenly withdrawn in 2006.

Sarvi advocates for working with the Iraqi political leaders to ensure that the country does not fall into the hands of others.

"They don't want Iranians or Al Qaeda running their country. They want to run their own country," Sarvi said.

While he was serving in Iraq, Sarvi supervised the building of new schools, road repair and the distribution of water storage tanks and irrigation pumps. He also assisted with logistical support and training for the Iraqi Highway Patrol.

Regarding how the military will perform beyond the Iraq War, Sarvi said: "We need to have a strong military that is agile and helps respond quickly to get at the root causes and respond to people who preach hate."

He advocates for changing the way the United States is perceived in the world after its preemptive strike in Baghdad.

He said the current administration has the view that: "We are right and everyone against us is wrong." He said he wants to rebuild America's image to the time when "people used to look up to us as a good force in the world."

While Sarvi's experience on the ground in Iraq informs his politics, his years of public service as a mayor and city administrator also influence his viewpoints.

In regard to transportation, Sarvi said providing for bus park-and-rides, commuter rail, roads and trails should all be part of the mix.

"The answer is not simply more roads," he said.

He said the current slowdown in the new housing construction market is an opportunity for cities such as Lakeville, which is projected to become one of Minnesota's most populated cities, "to take stock and learn from each other."

He said cities such as Burnsville, Chaska, Chanhassen and Victoria have done good work in setting aside open space and connecting neighborhoods with roads and trails, and planning for downtown gathering spaces.

Background

Sarvi enlisted in the Army Reserves at age 17, later switching to the Guard and joining the Army after graduating from the University of Minnesota with a bachelor of arts degree in political science in 1987.

Sarvi served in the Army until 1992, leaving with the rank of captain. He rejoined the Minnesota Army National Guard in 1999 as a sergeant.

He was stationed at the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport to help with security, following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

His unit was activated in 2003 to serve in Kosovo, where he not only helped with riot control but worked with Kosovar and United Nations leaders to hold an election in a multiethnic village.

Sarvi was hired as Lanesboro city administrator/clerk in 1994, and later became city administrator in Watertown and Victoria. Currently, he serves as Victoria city administrator.

Sarvi was elected mayor of Watertown in 2000 and was re-elected in 2002 and 2004. He left his post as mayor to serve in Iraq in 2005.

More information about Sarvi can be found at www.stevesarvi.org.

Tad Johnson is at editor.thisweek@ecm-inc.com.

Burnsville DFLer joins congressional race
by John Gessner
Thisweek Newspapers

Iraq war veteran Steve Sarvi of Watertown got the early headlines in the DFL Party's bid to unseat 2nd District U.S. Rep. John Kline.

But a Burnsville Democrat has also filed for Kline's seat, forcing an intraparty contest that will begin with precinct caucuses Feb. 5.

Dan Powers, a 43-year-old roofing salesman, is seeking DFL endorsement to challenge Kline, a Lakeville Republican, in the general election. The 2nd District DFL's annual convention is May 3 at Faribault High School.

Powers said he didn't know there was a DFL candidate when he filed with the Federal Election Commission in late December. Had he known Sarvi had filed and was building a campaign organization, he probably still would have joined the race, Powers said.

"I don't expect it's going to be real bloody," he said of the contest for delegates, "because both of us are going to concentrate on just knocking John off."

Powers said policy differences are minor between him and Sarvi, a former Watertown mayor and the city administrator in Victoria.

"I honestly think that the voters are going to be happy there are two strong candidates whose views are not extremely liberal but who will give them much different viewpoints than the Republicans," Powers said.

He has dipped his toes in politics before. Powers lost in a 10-way race for two Burnsville City Council seats in 2002. He has served on the city's Board of Appeals. And, Powers said, he was on the executive committee of Senate District 40 Republicans from 2002 to 2004.

His allegiance ended in the summer of 2004.

"Honestly, I didn't feel like they were listening to me at all," Powers said. "We had a very big divergence. I totally disagree with the entire Iraq war, and that was not a popular position to hold for the Republicans. That, and I'm also a pro-choice person."

The 17-year Burnsville resident works in sales for Sela Roofing. He has been a general contractor and subconractor.

He said he opposed the war from the start and doesn't like the United States' international posture.

"It's unconscionable, in my opinion, that we keep going around as if we're the only people that matter," Powers said. "And the Republicans don't get it. I don't think they ever will."

He praised Kline's record on veteran issues but said there's little else to like about the retired Marine colonel's two terms in office.

Powers criticized Kline's decision to no longer seek congressional funding earmarks for projects in the 2nd District.

"To me it just seems like, ‘Well, my party's not in control now, so let's look like a conservative on spending,' " Powers said. "He wasn't a conservative on spending before, so why is he now? Different election year."

Border patrol is so lax, the federal government doesn't know how many illegal immigrants are entering the country, Powers said.

"We have the jobs; they need the jobs. That's a perfect combination," he said. "But if we don't have control over the situation, we're vulnerable."

Encouraging use of renewable fuels and clean energy is a top national priority, Powers said.

"I'm in the group that don't think there's a silver bullet," he said. "But what needs to change is the attitude. We can do it. We're Americans. There's nothing we can't do."

He and Sarvi may disagree on military deployment, said Powers, who wants worldwide reductions of U.S. troops.

"He's ex-military," Powers said of Sarvi. "He's very interested in a strong military, and I think that includes much more of an international presence than I think we need."

John Gessner is at burnsville.thisweek@ecm-inc.com.