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Olson, Mark Douglas


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Map of Big Lake
Big Lake, MN

House 1993-2002 (District 19A); House 2003-08 (District 16B)

Party when first elected:  Independent Republican

Counties Served:  Sherburne, Wright

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 07/01/1955 Date of Death: 
Birth Place: Minnesota Birth County: Sherburne Birth Country: United States
Other Names:
Gender:  Male Religion:  Protestant
City of Residence (when first elected):  Big Lake

Occupation (when first elected):  Carpenter/Log Home Builder

EDUCATION

Becker High School; Secondary; Graduate
Wright Technical Center; Vocational-Technical School; Construction/Carpentry

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Single (when first elected, last listed in 2003); Heidi Jo (married while in office)
Children: Five stepchildren: Cory, Crystal, Todd, Sean, and Dylan
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

He was born and raised on a farm.

Religion provided by the Natural Resources Defense Council's State Directories 2005 and Politics in Minnesota the Directory, 2005-2006.

Legislative Session: 85th (2007-2008)   Session Details term photo
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Body: House Elected: 11/7/2006 Term of Office: 1/3/2007 to 1/5/2009
District: 16B Residence: Big Lake
Counties Represented: Sherburne
Occupation: Carpenter/Log Home Builder
Party: Republican Party Notes: He was reelected as a Republican. However, on December 7, 2006 the Republican caucus suspended him. He then began calling himself an "independent" Republican in January 2007. The Republican members voted to officially expel him from their caucus in early December 2007. After losing the Republican Party endorsement for his Minnesota House of Representatives seat, he ran unsuccessfully for the Republican Party endorsement for the Minnesota Senate in the 2008 primary election. He then ran unsuccessfully for the Senate seat as a write-in candidate in the 2008 elections.
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee: Veterans Affairs Division Minutes
Finance Subcommittee: Education Finance and Economic Competitiveness Finance Division- K-12 Finance Division Minutes
Governmental Operations, Reform, Technology and Elections Minutes
Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs Minutes

Legislative Session: 84th (2005-2006)   Session Details term photo
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Body: House Elected: 11/2/2004 Term of Office: 1/4/2005 to 1/2/2007
District: 16B Residence: Big Lake
Counties Represented: Sherburne
Occupation: Carpenter/Log Home Builder
Party: Republican Party Notes: On December 7, 2006 the Republican members decided to suspend him from their caucus.
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Special Session Bills Authored:  
Committees:
Education Policy and Reform Minutes
Governmental Operations and Veterans Affairs Minutes
Local Government (Chair) Minutes
Transportation Minutes

Legislative Session: 83rd (2003-2004)   Session Details term photo
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Body: House Elected: 11/5/2002 Term of Office: 1/7/2003 to 1/3/2005
District: 16B Residence: Big Lake
Counties Represented: Sherburne
Occupation: Carpenter/Log Home Builder
Party: Republican
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Special Session Bills Authored:  
Committees:
Capital Investment
Education Policy
Environment and Natural Resources Policy
Transportation Policy
Leadership Position: Speaker Pro Tempore

Legislative Session: 82nd (2001-2002)   Session Details term photo
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Body: House Elected: 11/7/2000 Term of Office: 1/3/2001 to 1/6/2003
District: 19A Residence: Big Lake
Counties Represented: Sherburne, Wright
Occupation: Carpenter/Log Home Builder/Qualified Neutral Mediator
Party: Republican
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Special Session Bills Authored:  
Committees:
Crime Prevention
Education Policy
K-12 Education Finance
Rules and Legislative Administration

Legislative Session: 81st (1999-2000)   Session Details
Body: House Elected: 11/3/1998 Term of Office: 1/5/1999 to 1/2/2001
District: 19A Residence: Big Lake
Counties Represented: Sherburne, Wright
Occupation: Carpenter/Log Home Builder/Qualified Neutral Mediator
Party: Republican
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
Civil Law
Education Policy
Family and Early Childhood Education Finance
Health and Human Services Policy

Legislative Session: 80th (1997-1998)   Session Details
Body: House Elected: 11/5/1996 Term of Office: 1/7/1997 to 1/4/1999
District: 19A Residence: Big Lake
Counties Represented: Sherburne, Wright
Occupation: Carpenter/Log Home Builder
Party: Republican
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
Economic Development and International Trade Subcommittee: Housing and Housing Finance Division
Education
Education Subcommittee: Facilities
Judiciary
Labor-Management Relations
Regulated Industries and Energy

Legislative Session: 79th (1995-1996)   Session Details
Body: House Elected: 11/8/1994 Term of Office: 1/3/1995 to 1/6/1997
District: 19A Residence: Big Lake
Counties Represented: Sherburne, Wright
Occupation: Carpenter/Log Home Builder
Party: Independent Republican
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
Education
Governmental Operations
Governmental Operations Subcommittee: Gambling Division
Housing
Housing Subcommittee: Reclaiming and Recycling Vacant Housing
Regulated Industries and Energy

Legislative Session: 78th (1993-1994)   Session Details
Body: House Elected: 11/3/1992 Term of Office: 1/5/1993 to 1/2/1995
District: 19A Residence: Big Lake
Counties Represented: Sherburne, Wright
Occupation: Carpenter/Log Home Builder
Party: Independent Republican
Committees:
Commerce and Economic Development
Commerce and Economic Development Subcommittee: Consumer Protection
Commerce and Economic Development Subcommittee: Occupational Licensing
Commerce and Economic Development Subcommittee: Tourism and Small Business Division
Governmental Operations and Gambling
Governmental Operations and Gambling Subcommittee: Gambling
Governmental Operations and Gambling Subcommittee: State Government Finance Division
Housing

Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, 645 State Office Building, Saint Paul, MN  55155