Steve Gander

{{short description|American politician (born 1961)}} {{use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{use American English|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Steve Gander | state_house = Minnesota | district = 1B | predecessor = Deb Kiel | term_start = January 14, 2025 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1961|08|27}} | party = Republican | office1 = Mayor of East Grand Forks, Minnesota | term_end1 = January 7, 2025 | term_start1 = January 3, 2017 | website = [https://www.house.mn.gov/members/profile/15631 Official website] | children = 2 | successor1 = Mark Olstad | predecessor1 = Lynn Stauss }}

'''Steve Gander''' (born August 27, 1961) is an American Republican politician and optometrist who is serving as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, representing the 1B district, since 2025.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gander, Steve |url=https://www.lrl.mn.gov/legdb/fulldetail?ID=15631 |website=Minnesota Legislators Past & Present |publisher=Minnesota Legislative Reference Library |access-date=January 31, 2025}}</ref> He previously served as the mayor of East Grand Forks, Minnesota from 2017 to 2025.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Voigt |first1=Matthew |title=East Grand Forks Mayor Steve Gander, running for state House, endorsed by Minnesota police association |url=https://www.grandforksherald.com/news/local/east-grand-forks-mayor-steve-gander-running-for-state-house-endorsed-by-minnesota-police-union |access-date=January 31, 2025 |work=Grand Forks Herald |date=July 26, 2024}}</ref>

During his youth, he went to school with future state senator Dave Thompson.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Griffith |first=Michelle |date=November 15, 2024 |title=The newbies: Get to know a few newly elected Minnesota lawmakers. |url=https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/11/15/the-newbies-get-to-know-a-few-newly-elected-minnesota-lawmakers/}}</ref>

After incumbent Republican Deb Kiel declined to seek re-election, Gander announced a bid to succeed her.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wenzel |first=Korrie |date=January 13, 2024 |title=East Grand Forks Mayor Steve Gander announces bid for Legislature, hoping to fill spot now held by Deb Kiel |url=https://www.grandforksherald.com/news/east-grand-forks-mayor-steve-gander-announces-bid-for-legislature-hoping-to-fill-spot-now-held-by-deb-kiel |url-access=subscription |access-date=August 7, 2025 |work=Grand Forks Herald}}</ref> Gander took office in January 2025.

== References == {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gander, Steve}} Category:1961 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century members of the Minnesota Legislature Category:Republican Party members of the Minnesota House of Representatives Category:Mayors of places in Minnesota Category:People from East Grand Forks, Minnesota