Alan Olsen
Encyclopedia
Alan Randal Olsen is a Republican
American politician who serves in the Oregon State Senate
, representing Oregon's 20th Senate district in southeastern Clackamas County
, including the cities of Barlow
, Canby
, Gladstone
, Johnson City
, Oregon City
, and portions of Milwaukie
. He defeated incumbent Democrat Martha Schrader
in the 2010 election
.
. He graduated from 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 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.
Senate District 20 was a battleground race between Republicans
and Democrats
. Democrats
held a majority in both the state House
(36–24) and 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.
Oregon Republican Party
The Oregon Republican Party is the state affiliate of the United States Republican Party in Oregon, headquartered in Lake Oswego. The first state party convention was held in Salem on April 21, 1859, and its first nominee for Congress, Portland attorney David Logan...
American politician who serves in the Oregon State Senate
Oregon State Senate
The Oregon State Senate is the upper house of the state-wide legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. Along with the lower chamber Oregon House of Representatives it makes up the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 30 members of the State Senate, representing 30 districts across the state,...
, representing Oregon's 20th Senate district in southeastern Clackamas County
Clackamas County, Oregon
Clackamas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county was named after the Native Americans living in the area, the Clackamas Indians, who were part of the Chinookan people. As of 2010, the population was 375,992...
, including the cities of Barlow
Barlow, Oregon
Barlow is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. The population was 135 at the 2010 census.-History:Barlow is named for William Barlow, the son of Samuel K. Barlow . Samuel bought the donation land claim in which Barlow is located from Thomas McKay on September 17, 1850...
, Canby
Canby, Oregon
Canby is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. The population was 15,829 at the 2010 census. It is located on Oregon Route 99E, two miles northeast of Barlow.-History:...
, Gladstone
Gladstone, Oregon
Gladstone is a city located in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 11,438. The 2007 estimate is 12,200 residents. Gladstone is a four-square-mile suburban community twelve miles south of Portland at the confluence of the Clackamas and...
, Johnson City
Johnson City, Oregon
Johnson City is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. It was a manufactured housing community owned entirely by one man, whose residents voted to incorporate by a 49 to 10 vote on June 16, 1970...
, Oregon City
Oregon City, Oregon
Oregon City was the first city in the United States west of the Rocky Mountains to be incorporated. It is the county seat of Clackamas County, Oregon...
, and portions of Milwaukie
Milwaukie, Oregon
Milwaukie is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. A very small portion of the city extends into Multnomah County. The population was 20,291 at the 2010 census. Founded in 1848 on the banks of the Willamette River, the city, known as the Dogwood City of the West, was incorporated in...
. He defeated incumbent Democrat Martha Schrader
Martha Schrader
Martha Northam Schrader is a Democratic American politician who served in the Oregon State Senate, representing Oregon's 20th Senate district in southeastern Clackamas County, including the cities of Barlow, Canby, Gladstone, Johnson City, Oregon City, and portions of Milwaukie.-Early life:Born...
in the 2010 election
Oregon elections, 2010
Elections were held in Oregon on Tuesday, November 2, 2010. Primary elections took place on May 18, 2010.-United States Senate:Democratic incumbent Ron Wyden is running for re-election. His Republican opponent is Jim Huffman....
.
Early life and career
Olsen was born and grew up in McHenry, IllinoisMcHenry, Illinois
McHenry is a city in McHenry County, Illinois, United States. In 2005, its population was estimated to be 24,631. McHenry was at one time the county seat of McHenry County...
. He graduated from McHenry High School
McHenry West High School
McHenry West High School is a high school in McHenry, Illinois. The school's current capacity is 1600 students and as of the 2009-2010 school year, 1597 students were enrolled. Its principal is Michael Roberts. The school colors are orange and black, and the mascot is Leonidas the Warrior...
and attended Purdue University
Purdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
where in 1975 he earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
. From 1969 to 1971 Olsen served in the U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. He moved to Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
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
Veterans of Foreign Wars
The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States is a congressionally chartered war veterans organization in the United States. Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, VFW currently has 1.5 million members belonging to 7,644 posts, and is the largest American organization of combat...
and is a past President of the Oregon Bass Federation Nation.
Political career
Olsen was the candidate for Senate District 20. According to Willamette WeekWillamette Week
Willamette Week is an alternative weekly newspaper published in Portland, Oregon, United States. It features reports on local news, politics, sports, business and culture....
Senate District 20 was a battleground race between Republicans
Oregon Republican Party
The Oregon Republican Party is the state affiliate of the United States Republican Party in Oregon, headquartered in Lake Oswego. The first state party convention was held in Salem on April 21, 1859, and its first nominee for Congress, Portland attorney David Logan...
and Democrats
Democratic Party of Oregon
The Democratic Party of Oregon, based in Portland, is the official Oregon affiliate of the United States Democratic Party. It is recognized by the state of Oregon as a major political party, along with the Oregon Republican Party...
. Democrats
Democratic Party of Oregon
The Democratic Party of Oregon, based in Portland, is the official Oregon affiliate of the United States Democratic Party. It is recognized by the state of Oregon as a major political party, along with the Oregon Republican Party...
held a majority in both the state House
Oregon House of Representatives
The Oregon House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 60 members of the House, representing 60 districts across the state, each with a population of 57,000. The House meets at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem....
(36–24) and Senate
Oregon State Senate
The Oregon State Senate is the upper house of the state-wide legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. Along with the lower chamber Oregon House of Representatives it makes up the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 30 members of the State Senate, representing 30 districts across the state,...
(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
Martha Schrader
Martha Northam Schrader is a Democratic American politician who served in the Oregon State Senate, representing Oregon's 20th Senate district in southeastern Clackamas County, including the cities of Barlow, Canby, Gladstone, Johnson City, Oregon City, and portions of Milwaukie.-Early life:Born...
by 227 votes.