Former Watertown, Minn., Mayor Steve Sarvi was endorsed by the DFL Party for the state's 2nd Congressional District at the district's convention Monday, May 5, in Fairbault.

Sarvi will take on Republican incumbent Congressman John Kline of Lakeville.

Sarvi said Kline has been going down the wrong path with President Bush in the occupation of Iraq.

"To get our country back on track, we need to come together and act and elect members of Congress who serve us - not their party leaders, not the president, not lobbyists," Sarvi said in an interview following the convention.

"I'm running for Congress because I believe our nation needs to change course. People the world over who used to look to our country as an inspiration, today resent us, associating us with Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo Bay and the occupation of Iraq."

Minnesotans deserve to be represented in Congress and right now that's not happening, he said.

"Steve Sarvi will bring the right priorities to Washington, as well as a roll-up-your-sleeves attitude to actually getting things done," said Brian Melendez, state DFL Party chair. "Now that's what I call change."

Sarvi has been a three-time mayor, a veteran of Iraq and Kosovo, and a city administrator.

Melendez said, "Sarvi has shown that he can reach across warring factions and party lines to balance budgets and meet people's basic needs."