Precinct Delegate, 2004-present

Executive Board

Candidate, Michigan House of Representatives, District 80, 2008

Candidate, Michigan State House of Representatives, District 80, 2006

Treasurer, Van Buren Democratic Party, 2005-2006

No caucus information on file.

Senior Attorney, Olson Legal Services Privy Council, 1990-present

Training Sergeant, United States Army, Fort Knox and Family Readiness Group, 1982-1986.

Sergeant, United States Army, 1992-1996

Research Attorney, State Appellate Defenders Office, 1987-1989

Auxillary Police Officer, City of South Haven, 1976-1981

No organizational membership information on file.

Awards:

Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster; Army Achievement Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters

Current Car:

1998 Ford Bronco 4WD

Date of Wedding Anniversary:

June 29, 1999

Father's Name:

Theodore Olson

Father's Occupation:

Laborer (deceased)

Favorite Actor/Actress:

Russell Crowe; Alyson Hannigan.

Favorite Athlete:

Paralympic fencer Jin Jing. Dusty Harvard (Oklahoma State University baseball) and last but not least by any means, Dale Earnhardt (if racing is a sport then drivers, and pit crews- are atheletes!)

Favorite Author:

Jeff Shaara

Favorite Book:

Jeff Shaara's "The Civil War"; Vincent Bugliosi's "The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder"; Scott McClellan's "What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington's Culture of Deception."

Favorite Color:

Blue. Deep, rich, royal blue.

Favorite Food:

Hot dogs; Beenie-weenies; Pumpkin Pie.

Favorite Movie:

Gods and Generals

Favorite Musician:

Bob Dylan

Favorite President and Why:

Al Gore

Favorite Quote:

Democracy is 2 wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for breakfast. Freedom is a well-armed sheep contesting the vote.
(see my Blog: "A Well-Armed Sheep" at www.votejessie.blogspot.com)

Favorite Sport:

Target shooting

Favorite TV Shows:

Stargate; Battlestar Galactica.

Favorite Type of Music:

Folk music

Favorite Vacation Spot:

Anywhere rustic - places without names.

Favorite Websites:

Anything funny- www.snopes.com or informational - wikipedia.

First Car:

1970 Oldsmobile Delmont 88

First Job:

South Haven Auxiliary Police

Hobbies or Special Talents:

Writing; Website construction; Target shooting; Motorcycling; Camping.

Mother's Name:

Beatrice Joan Olson

Name one thing you would most like to do before you die:

Change Michigan's anti-gay marriage amendment to allow civil unions, and then legally marry my mate of the last 13 years.

Names of Grandchildren:

Samantha Marie Heikkenen

Number of Grandchildren:

1

Person Most Want to Meet (Dead or Alive):

Alexander the Great

Personal Hero and Why:

My father. He worked his whole life with only 1 thought- make his children's life better- he spared nothing and asked for nothing to make me the first person in my family to go to college (the second to finish high school). For instance he once gave me his car so I could finish a term at U of M when my car died - he walked to work in the snow for several weeks after that. My mother ranks a close second.

Pets (include names):

5 dogs: Rusty, Runty, Abel, Angel and Seaira; 2 cats: Butterscotch, MamaKitty; 2 Birds: Bird 1 and Bird 2.

Priority Issues:

Education and job training; Medical care; Middle class and small business relief.

Publications:

My favorite book that I wrote is the first volume of "Tales of Bear and Deer."

Reason for Seeking Public Office:

I have been sitting around complaining and saying I have all the answers. Its time to put my money where my mouth is. There is much going wrong today and we ALL have to do is step up and change it. The rich and big business are cleaning up at the expense of small business and the middle class. Money is spent on prisons instead of schools. Most everyone I know cannot afford medical care of any kind. Living expenses for the regular person are totally out of control. The Republican party gets away with this by pandering to people's worst instincts: racism, homophobia, xenophobia. The keep us busy fighting each other so they can clean up what's left over. We have to unite and take back the country- stop hating and take care of each other.

Spouse's Occupation:

Emergency Medical Technician.