Background
Olsen was born and grew up in McHenry, Illinois.
Olsen was born and grew up in McHenry, Illinois.
He graduated from McHenry High School and attended Purdue University where in 1975 he earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry.
He defeated incumbent Democrat Martha Schrader in the 2010 election. From 1969 to 1971 Olsen served in the United States. 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.
Olsen was the candidate for Senate District 20.
According to Willamette Week 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.
A small business owner, Alan works as a general contractor building homes and other structures. Alan holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry from Purdue University. Foreign Alan, getting people back to work is the most pressing issue in our state.
He has worked hard in the legislature on bills to decrease regulations on small businesses, family farmers and homegrown forest industries.
Alan believes that we must cultivate the phenomenal natural resources we have, serving as responsible stewards of those resources while growing Oregon industries and creating jobs. A successful workforce is an educated workforce.
We must keep our education dollars in the classroom where it belongs. Ultimately, the legislature must represent the citizens of Oregon and protect their rights and freedoms.
Alan has worked hard to keep our state government accountable and efficient.
Locally, Olsen is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and is a past President of the Oregon Bass Federation Nation. A veteran of the United States Army, Alan served in the military from 1969 to 1971 and is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Oregon Bass Federation.