Mary A. Olson (born May 23, 1958) is a Minnesota (US) 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 the Republican John Carlson.[2]

Mary A. Olson
Member of the Minnesota Senate
from the 4th district
In office
January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2011
Preceded byCarrie Ruud
Succeeded byJohn Carlson
Personal details
Born (1958-05-23) May 23, 1958 (age 66)
Willmar, Minnesota, U.S.
Political partyDFL
SpouseJohn
Children4
Residence(s)Bemidji, Minnesota, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of North Dakota
OccupationAttorney, legislator

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. Before her election to the Senate, she was 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, was also a member of the Minnesota Legislature.[4] She and her husband, John, have four children.[1]

Electoral history

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Minnesota Senate Election District 4, 2010[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Mary A. Olson 15,752 45.31
Republican John Carlson 18,956 54.53
Minnesota Senate Election District 4, 2006[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Mary A. Olson 18,119 52.1%
Republican Carrie Ruud 16,635 47.8%

References

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  1. ^ a b "Minnesota Legislators Past & Present - Legislator Record - Olson, Mary A". Venus.library.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
  2. ^ http://www.bemidjipioneer.com/event/article/id/100023205/[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ "Senator Mary A. Olson DFL District 04". Senate.leg.state.mn.us. 1958-05-23. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
  4. ^ "Gandrud, Peter Anners "P.A., Peder, Peter Andrew" - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present".
  5. ^ a b Minnesota Public Radio
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