Pete Olson

Peter Graham Olson (born December 9, 1962), known more commonly as Pete Olson, is the 2008 Republican nominee for the United States House of Representatives in Texas's 22nd congressional district, by defeating former Congresswoman Shelley Sekula-Gibbs in the April 8, 2008, run-off election. [cite news |first=Mike |last=Tolson |title=Olson scores victory against Sekula Gibbs,He'll battle Democrat Nick Lampson in general election for District 22 seat |url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5685798.html |work=Fort Bend County News |publisher=Houston Chronicle |date=April 9, 2008 |accessdate=2008-05-25 ] Greg Giroux, [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000002699618 "Texas GOP Runoff Goes to Ex-Senate Aide in Race for DeLay’s Old Seat"] , "CQ Politics", April 9, 2008]

The seat is currently held by a Democrat, Nick Lampson. Lampson won in 2006 when the 11-term Republican incumbent, former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, was indicted. DeLay's resignation came too late for another Republican to replace him on the ballot, so Lampson defeated a Republican running as a write-in candidate. Because of these unusual circumstances, the race has drawn national attention. In 2007, Stuart Rothenberg called the district "arguably the best Republican takeover opportunity in the country". [cite news |first=Stuart |last=Rothenberg |title=New Print Edition: Missouri 6 & Texas 22|url=http://rothenbergpoliticalreport.blogspot.com/2007/06/new-print-edition-missouri-6-texas-22.html |work=The Rothenberg Political Report |date=June 22, 2007 |accessdate=2008-05-25 ] After Olson was nominated, the Electoral-vote.com website identified his campaign as "probably the GOP's best pickup opportunity for 2008." [cite web| title = "Hot House Races in 2008"| publisher = Electoral-vote.com | url = http://electoral-vote.com/evp2008/House/house_races.html| accessdate = 2008-05-25] The Hill, a leading Washington, D.C. political newspaper, has stated that Olson's victory over Sekula Gibbs has set "up one of the top House races in the country in a conservative Houston district." [cite news |first=Aaron |last=Blake |title=Olson tops Sekula Gibbs in Texas runoff |url=http://thehill.com/campaign-2008/olson-tops-sekula-gibbs-in-texas-runoff-2008-04-08.html |work=The Hill |date=April 8, 2008 |accessdate=2008-06-07 ] Olson is expected to be well funded. [Gilman, Todd. [http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/washington/columnists/tgillman/stories/051108dnnattexwatch.ed8bfa78.html "Clinton supporter's plan to stay quiet ends loudly"] , "Dallas Morning News" May 11, 2008.]

Personal life

Born December 9, 1962 in Fort Lewis, Washington, Olson moved with his family to Seabrook, Texas, a southeast suburb of Houston, in 1972, and attended public schools, graduating from Clear Lake High School in 1981. In 1985, Olson graduated from Rice University, where he played college basketball his freshman year, earning a Bachelor's in computer science. Upon graduation, Olson enrolled in law school at the University of Texas at Austin, and after completing the Texas Bar Exam in 1988, voluntarily joined the United States Navy, and served as a Naval Aviator, flying missions over the Persian Gulf following the Gulf War, among other places, before being assigned as a Naval liaison to the United States Senate, assisting Texas U.S. Senator Phil Gramm on military-related issues such as inspecting military installations.

Olson has lived in Sugar Land since last summer. [ [http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/5657820.html Runoff builds for 22nd Congressional District seat | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle] ] He lives with his wife Nancy and their two children, Kate (age 10) and Grant (age 7). He continues to serve as a Naval Reserve officer.

As a Senatorial Aide

Under Phil Gramm

In 1998, Olson joined Gramm's staff to lead the Senator's work on military facilities in Texas, such as the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston, Ellington Field, and various other installations. He later assumed control of some of Gramm's other projects, including funding for NASA, the Port of Houston, the Texas Medical Center, and transportation projects such as Interstate 69. Olson opposes the current incarnation of Interstate 69, which since 2002 has been part of Governor Rick Perry's controversial Trans-Texas Corridor, a project Gramm did not provide funding for as a U.S. Senator. The previous incarnation of I-69 (which Gramm did fund) was slated to go through the current U.S. Highway 59 which passes through Houston and outlying suburbs such as Sugar Land and Humble.

Under John Cornyn

After Gramm retired from the U.S. Senate in 2002, Olson served as Chief of Staff to Gramm's successor, U.S. Senator and former Texas Attorney General John Cornyn, from December 2002 until May 2007. [cite news |first=Leslie |last=Eaton |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=GOP Goes on Offensive For DeLay's Old Seat |url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121660293928869273.html?mod=googlenews_wsj |work=Wall Street Journal |date=July 21, 2008 |accessdate=2008-08-10] Under Cornyn, Olson assisted in attempts to protect funding for NASA, appoint strict constructionist judges, and enforce immigration reform.

2008 Congressional Republican primary race

In 2007, Pete Olson entered the race for Congress in Texas District 22. Twelve candidates entered the general election campaign. He came in second in that field. The 2008 U.S. congressional primary election took place on March 4, 2008. Olson received 20.72%, qualifying for a runoff election in April 2008. He faced Shelley Sekula-Gibbs. [http://enr.sos.state.tx.us/enr/mar04_135_state.htm 2008 Republican Party Primary Election Returns] , Texas Secretary of State's Office, retrieved March 6, 2008] . [Citation| last = Bernstein| first = Alan | title = Sekula Gibbs, Olson set up runoff battle for House seat| newspaper = Houston Chronicle| year = 2008| date = March 5, 2008 | url = http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/politics/5596522.html]

Sekula Gibbs criticized Olson as "a Washington insider ... [who] moved here just six months ago to run." [cite web | title = "Olson Wins Run-Off Elections" | publisher = Fox 26 | date = April 8, 2008| url = http://www.myfoxhouston.com/myfox/pages/News/Politics/Detail?contentId=6234304&version=13&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.14.1 | accessdate = 2008-05-25] Nevertheless, Olson was supported by the majority of the Texas House members in the Republican primary. [cite news |first=Alan |last=Bernstein |title=A congressional chorus backs Olson in 22nd District runoff|url=http://blogs.chron.com/txpotomac/2008/03/a_congressional_chorus_backs_o.html |work= Texas on the Potomac |publisher=Houston Chronicle |date=March 6, 2008 |accessdate=2008-05-25 ]

Olson and Gibbs entered a runoff after Sekula Gibbs failed to gain 50 percent of the vote. In the April 8, 2008 runoff, Olson defeated the former Congresswoman, Sekula Gibbs, with 69 percent of the vote. [cite web| last = Kraushaar| first = Josh | title = "Olson Wins Texas Runoff, Will Face Lampson"| publisher = CBS News| date = April 8, 2008| url = http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/04/08/politics/politico/thecrypt/main4002726.shtml | accessdate = 2008-05-25] [cite news |first=Aaron |last=Blake |title=Olson tops Sekula Gibbs in Texas runoff |url=http://thehill.com/campaign-2008/olson-tops-sekula-gibbs-in-texas-runoff-2008-04-08.html |work=The Hill |publisher= |date=April 8, 2008 |accessdate=2008-06-07 |quote=“Nick Lampson better find himself a flashlight because his reelection chances are quickly growing dim,” said Ken Spain, a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, adding that “Pete Olson has proven himself to be one of the top Republican challengers in the country and we believe he has exactly what it takes to win in November.”]

2008 Congressional general election race

Many election experts have rated the Texas 22nd District race to be highly competitive and one of the best opportunities for the Republicans to pick up a Democratic seat. The Southern Political Report has placed the race on its watch list because the district's roots are solidly Republican and Lampson won the seat with only 52% against a write-in candidate. [cite news |first=Hastings |last=Wyman |title=Dixie’s Competitive Congressional Districts |url=http://www.southernpoliticalreport.com/storylink_526_410.aspx |work=Southern Political Report |publisher=Internet News Agency |date=May 26, 2008 |accessdate=2008-06-04 |quote=Tom DeLay’s (R) old district might return to its roots this fall, since first year incumbent Nick Lampson (D) won in 2006 against a write-in opponent by a mere 52%. Lampson is facing ex-US Senate aide Pete Olson, a GOP-establishment favorite. ]

On June 20, 2008, the Washington Post's The Fix commented on the Congressional race: "it's hard to see Rep. Nick Lampson (D) winning reelection. Lampson's slim hopes got even slimmer" with the nomination of Olson. [cite news |first=Chris |last=Cillizza |title=The Line: Generic Ballot Distress for House GOP |url=http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2008/06/the_friday_house_line_generic.html?hpid=topnews |work=Washington Post |date=June 20, 2008 |accessdate=2008-06-25]

On June 5, 2008, Vice President Dick Cheney visited Houston to raise money for Olson's Congressional campaign. [cite news |first=Todd |last=Gillman |title=Cheney could be charm or curse in GOP's bid to regain DeLay's seat |url=http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/washington/columnists/tgillman/stories/DN-texwatch_01nat.ART.State.Edition1.46c718a.html |work=Dallas Morning News |date=June 1, 2008 |accessdate=2008-06-04 |quote= [Cheney's visit is] not bad for a first-time candidate who's basically broke in his bid to unseat Rep. Nick Lampson, D-Stafford, though Democrats call it a sign of desperation.] [cite news |first=Reid |last=Wilson |title=Strategy Memo: Obama's The Boss |url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/politics_nation/2008/06/strategy_memo_obamas_the_boss.html |work=Politics Nation |publisher=RealClearPolitics |date=June 6, 2008 |accessdate=2008-06-07 ] The event took place at the home of Houston billionaire Dan Duncan. At the end of March 2008, Olson's campaign was technically in debt, with almost $128,000 on hand and a debt to the candidate, who provided a personal loan of $175,000. [cite news |first=Alan |last=Bernstein |title=Cheney to raise funds in Houston for Olson, state GOP |url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/5820770.html |work=Houston Chronicle |date=June 5, 2008 |accessdate=2008-06-06 |quote=Cheney, who has extremely low approval ratings in voter surveys and was criticized in former Bush press secretary Scott McClellan's new book, is more of an asset for Olson as a money magnet than as a campaigner, University of Houston political scientist Richard Murray said. ]

Olson and Lampson have agreed to a debate of the issues on October 20, 2008, in Rosenberg, Texas. [cite news |title=Lampson, Olson Scheduled To Debate In Rosenberg At Chamber Event |url=http://www.fortbendnow.com/pages/full_story?article-Lampson--Olson-Scheduled-To-Debate-In-Rosenberg-At-Chamber-Event%20=&page_label=home&id=84237&widget=push&instance=home_news_bullets&open=& |work=FortBendNow.com |date=June 6, 2008 |accessdate=2008-06-08 ]

One of Olson's main arguments for electing him to the 22nd District congressional seat is that he is a better fit for the conservative south Houston suburban district. Olson told Wall Street Journal reporter Leslie Eaton that "I have conservative values, and he (Lampson) doesn't." [cite news |first=Leslie |last=Eaton |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=GOP Goes on Offensive For DeLay's Old Seat |url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121660293928869273.html?mod=googlenews_wsj |work=Wall Street Journal |date=July 21, 2008 |accessdate=2008-08-10]

There will be a third party candidate in the 2008 election. John Wieder, Libertarian Party, has filed to run also.

Background on 22nd district

The heavily Republican district, which gave 64% of the vote to George W. Bush in 2004, was held by former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay for 22 years and was also previously held by Congressman and 2008 Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul. However, in 2006, DeLay resigned after coming under fire for ties to controversial lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

At the same time, DeLay had also just won the Republican primary in his district against three opponents and faced a difficult challenge against former Congressman Nick Lampson, whose 2004 loss resulted from a controversial redistricting plan that made Lampson's district considerably more Republican. After Democrats successfully contested the Republicans' plan to replace DeLay on the ballot, the GOP resorted to running a write-in bid. Lampson defeated the Republican nominee, then-Houston city councilwoman Shelley Sekula Gibbs, by a ten-point margin. However, Sekula Gibbs was elected to Congress to serve out the remainder of DeLay's term.

With Lampson seen as potentially the most vulnerable Democrat in Congress and Sekula Gibbs considered by some to be too weak to win back the district for the Republicans, Olson was among ten Republicans who filed to run. The field also included Sekula Gibbs, former Pasadena mayor John Manlove, former Sugar Land mayor Dean Hrbacek, State Representative Robert Talton, Senior District Judge Jim Squier, Texas State Board of Education member Cynthia Dunbar, and three minor candidates.

References

External links

* [http://www.olsonforcongress.com Pete Olson's campaign site]
* [http://votimus.com/user/candidate_nonMember.aspx?UID=10496&UT=3&FromME=&All50States=&FMUID=&FMUT=&ElecId=861&rt=us_hotraces&fa=us_tx Biography and issue positions] at "Votimus.com"