Iraq war veteran, former mayor to travel District 2 for forums, discussion
Steve Sarvi, who last month filed paperwork to organize a Congressional campaign committee in Minnesota’s 2nd District, will launch a district-wide listening tour on Veterans’ Day, Nov. 11. The tour is scheduled to make 14 stops over the course of seven days, during which Sarvi will meet with voters to discuss issues and priorities for the district looking towards the 2008 elections.Sarvi was elected mayor of Watertown, Minn., three times and has 13 years’ experience as a city administrator in rural and suburban communities. Sarvi also is a decorated Army veteran who returned from Iraq in July after serving there with the Minnesota National Guard 1St Brigade Combat Team of the 34th Infantry Division, also known as the Red Bulls, for 16 months – the longest tour of duty for any National Guard unit in the country. Sarvi also served in Kosovo in 2004.“We’re going to talk about what’s important to the 2nd District,” said Sarvi, 42. “This is about hearing from the people what they want Congress to accomplish and what they expect from their Representative. The residents of this district haven’t had a lot of opportunities to participate in this kind of forum. We aim to change that.”Earlier this year, current 2nd Congressional District Representative John Kline, R-Lakeville, held a town hall meeting only after being petitioned by nearly 700 residents of his district to do so. Other members of Minnesota’s Congressional delegation frequently meet with constituents. Just recently, 1st District Rep. Tim Walz, D-Mankato, and 5th District Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minneapolis, returned to their districts for meetings with constituents about the war in Iraq and health care, respectively; Rep. Betty McCollum, D-St. Paul, held a general-purpose town hall meeting with her constituents in Minnesota’s 4th Congressional District.Geographically, Sarvi’s tour has been planned to allow any resident of the district to participate easily. Most of Sarvi’s tour stops will take place in evenings. He will spend the remainder of his tour time meeting with individuals and smaller groups about specific issues and briefing local media on his campaign.Tour scheduleSat., Nov. 10, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.: DFL State Central Committee – Tour Announcement. Prior Lake Senior High School, 15860 Fish Point Rd. S.E., Prior Lake; 952-226-8600 Sun., Nov. 11, 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.: Cottage Grove, Park Grove Library large meeting room, 7900 Hemingway Ave., Cottage Grove; 651-459-2040 Sun., Nov. 11, 4:30 – 6 p.m.: Apple Valley Veterans’ Dinner, American Legion 1776, 14521 Grenada Dr., Apple Valley; 952-431-1776 Mon., Nov. 12, 5 – 6 p.m.: Farmington, American Legion Post 189, 10 8th St., Farmington; 651-460-9909 Mon., Nov. 12, 7:30 – 9 p.m.: Zumbrota, VFW, 25 E. 1st St., Zumbrota; 507-732-5411 Tues., Nov. 13, 5 – 6 p.m.: Hastings, Hastings City Hall, 101 4th St. E, Hastings; 651-480-2350 Tues., Nov. 13, 7 – 8 p.m.: Red Wing, American Legion Post 54, 218 W. 4th St., Red Wing; 651-388-6223 Wed., Nov. 14, 5 – 6:30 p.m.: Chanhassen, American Legion Post 580, 290 Lake Dr. E., Chanhassen; 952-934-6677 Wed., Nov. 14, 7 – 8 p.m.: Senate District 34 DFL, Chanhassen Library, 7711 Kerber Blvd., Chanhassen; 952-227-1500 Thurs., Nov. 15, 5 – 6:30 p.m.: Prior Lake, Prior Lake Public Library, 16210 Eagle Creek Ave. S.E., Prior Lake; 952-447-3375 Thurs., Nov. 15, 7 – 8:30 p.m.: Burnsville, JoJo's Rise & Wine, 12501 Nicollet Ave., #100, Burnsville; 952-736-3001 Fri., Nov. 16, 5 – 6:30 p.m.: Eagan, Community Center, 1501 Central Pkwy., Eagan; 651-675-5550 Sat., Nov. 17, 10:30 – noon: Northfield, Northfield Library, 210 Washington St., Northfield; 507-645-6606 Sat., Nov. 17, 12:30 – 2 p.m.: Faribault, Java Live, 313 Central Ave N., Faribault; 507-333-7929 Sat., Nov. 17, 2:30 – 4 p.m.: Montgomery, Montgomery Public Library, 104 Oak Ave. E., Montgomery; 507-364-7615