Mary Olson

Mary A. Olson
Member of the Minnesota Senate from the 4th district
In office January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2011
Preceded by	Carrie Ruud
Succeeded by	John Carlson
Personal details
Born	May 23, 1958 (1958-05-23) (age 53) Willmar, Minnesota
Political party	DFL
Spouse(s)	John
Children	4
Residence	Bemidji, Minnesota
Alma mater	University of North Dakota
Occupation	attorney, legislator
Religion	Lutheran

Mary A. Olson (born May 23, 1958) is a Minnesota politician and a former member of the Minnesota Senate who represented District 4, which includes portions of Beltrami, Cass, Crow Wing, Hubbard and Itasca counties in the northern part of the state. A Democrat, she was first elected in 2006.^[1] On November 2, 2010, she lost her re-election bid to Republican John Carlson.^[2]

Olson was a member of the Senate's Commerce & Consumer Protection Committee and Judiciary Committee. She also served on the Finance subcommittees for the Economic Development and Housing Budget Division and the Health and Human Services Budget Division, and on the Judiciary Judiciary Subcommittee for Data Practices, which she chaired.^[3]

Olson received a B.A. from the University of North Dakota and earned a J.D. from their law school. Prior to her election to the Senate, she served as the Assistant County Attorney for Crow Wing County, and also as an attorney for the United States Air Force at March Air Force Base. Her great-great-grandfather, Peter A. Gandrud, also served in the Minnesota Legislature. She and her husband, John, have four children.^[1]

Electoral history

Minnesota Senate Election District 4, 2010[4]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Mary A. Olson	15,752	45.31
	Republican	John Carlson	18,956	54.53

Minnesota Senate Election District 4, 2006[4]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Mary A. Olson	18,119	52.1%
	Republican	Carrie Ruud	16,635	47.8%

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Minnesota Legislators Past & Present - Legislator Record - Olson, Mary A". Venus.library.leg.state.mn.us. http://venus.library.leg.state.mn.us/legdb/fulldetail.asp?ID=15236. Retrieved 2010-07-20. 
2. ^ http://www.bemidjipioneer.com/event/article/id/100023205/
3. ^ "Senator Mary A. Olson DFL District 04". Senate.leg.state.mn.us. 1958-05-23. http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/members/member_bio.php?leg_id=15236. Retrieved 2010-07-20. 
4. ^ ^{a b} Minnesota Public Radio

Joshthomad

External links

• Mary Olson at Minnesota Legislators Past & Present
• Senator Olson Web Page
• Minnesota Public Radio Votetracker: Senator Mary Olson

Persondata
Name	Olson, Mary A.
Alternative names
Short description	American politician
Date of birth	1958-05-23
Place of birth	Willmar, Minnesota
Date of death
Place of death