WINONA, Minn. –  The Winona city manager for 5-1/2 years, until October when the City Council sacked him, has applied for the top county job. Yes, Steve Sarvi submitted papers to succeed Ken Fritz as county administrator. Fritz is retiring effective December 31. Sarvi’s departure as city manager was cloudy, with Council members secretive about their motivations. It appears the Council didn’t agree with Sarvi’s course to navigate a budget shortfall – despite his 26 years experience in municipal governance in six Minnesota communities. Now Sarvi is among six candidates whom the County Board will interview. The position pays $133,500. As city manager he was $125,300.

Tess Kruger

Theresa Arrick-Kruger, once an executive at Winona State University, is on the short list to be interviewed by the County Board. Kruger also applied to be county administrator in 2015 but was runner-up to Ken Fritz. For 12 years Kruger has been personnel director for Houston County in Caledonia. At Winona State she was a vice president under President Darrell Kruger. She had risen through the ranks in the university’s personnel office and under Krueger largely ran the university day to day. She left when Judith Ramaley became president and began a purge of administrators to remake the top staff in her own image.  Kruger, who lives in Winona, holds a law degree.

Other candidates

Non-local candidates:

> Erik Hansen. City administrator for Tracy in southwest Minnesota, population 2,200. A former local elected official in Colorado.

> David Johnston. Former city manager for Covington, Kentucky population 41,000, and Maple Valley, Washington, population 22,000.

> Sam Landercasper. Manager of human services for Pitkin County, Colorado, population 17,000. This is where Aspen is located.

> Dana Schoening. Former assistant city manager of Sweetwater, Texas, population 11,000.

Interim exec

Until new county administrator is hired, Fritz’ assistant, Maureen Holte, will be hold the position interim as well as continuing her duties as county personnel director.

Earlier:  City Council fires city manager: Why? Nobody’s talking

Fritz. Retiring as Winona County administrator. Humorist and author of 2014 book “Lottery Losers.”

Sarvi. Former Winona city manager, who was DFL candidate for Congress in 2008.

Kruger. Personnel director in Houston County. Former administrative vice president at Winona State.