Early life and career
Olsen was born and grew up in McHenry, Illinois. He graduated from McHenry West High School, McHenry High School and attended Purdue University, where in 1975 he earned a Bachelor of Science in chemistry. From 1969 to 1971 Olsen served in the United States Army, U.S. Army. He moved to Oregon in 1978 and has been the owner and operator of Custom Construction Services since 1987 specializing in the design and construction custom homes and commercial projects. Locally, Olsen is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and is a past President of the Oregon Bass Federation Nation.Political career
Olsen was the candidate for Senate District 20. According to Willamette Week Senate District 20 was a battleground race between Oregon Republican Party, Republicans and Democratic Party of Oregon, Democrats. Democratic Party of Oregon, Democrats held a majority in both the state Oregon House of Representatives, House (36–24) and Oregon State Senate, Senate (18–12). The Republican Party of Oregon for the 2010 election cycle hosted the first online primary. On July 30 the primary results were released announcing Olsen as the nominated candidate for senate district 20 from the Republican Party of Oregon. Olsen narrowly defeated incumbent Martha Schrader by 227 votes. In 2014, Olsen proposed a referendum to end same-day voter registration; voters rejected his proposal. From June 20, 2019, all 11 Republican state senators for Oregon, including Olsen, 2019 Oregon Senate Republican walkouts, refused to show up for work at the Oregon State Capitol, instead going into hiding, some even fleeing the state. Their aim was to prevent a vote on a cap-and-trade proposal that would dramatically lower greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 to climate change mitigation, combat climate change. The Senate holds 30 seats, but 1 is vacant due to a death. Without the Republican senators, the remaining 18 Democratic state senators could not reach a quorum of 20 to hold a vote. On December 11, 2020, Olsen and 11 other state Republican officials signed a letter requesting Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum join Texas and other states contesting the results of the 2020 presidential election in Texas v. Pennsylvania. Rosenblum announced she had filed in behalf of the defense, and against Texas, the day prior. Olson resigned from the Senate effective January 10, 2021.References
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