Tuesday, July 17, 2007
(Excerpts) Link to Full Article: http://www.stillwatergazette.com/articles/2007/07/17/news/news400.prt

Bob Olson enters 6th District race
St. Cloud businessman to battle Bob Hill for chance to challenge Stillwater’s Michele Bachmann

By Andy Wallmeyer
awallmeyer@acnpapers.com

STILLWATER - Bob Olson, a Democrat who previously planned to run for the U.S. Senate seat occupied by Republican Norm Coleman, said Monday he will instead run for the 6th Congressional District seat held by U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann.

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In a telephone interview Monday, Olson said he made the move after he was “heavily recruited” to do so by Democratic Party officials.

“We have good candidates running against Norm Coleman at the Senate level, and people came to me over the last several weeks asking me if I wouldn’t be willing to run against Michele Bachman,” he said.

Bachmann, a Republican from Stillwater, had no comment on Olson’s announcement.

Olson, a banker and tax lawyer who has never held elected office, said he was open to the idea of running for the House seat because he would be equally able to address his core issues - energy policy, health care and taxes - from either chamber.

“The issues are the same; whether the legislation comes out of the House or the Senate is quite irrelevant,” he said.

Olson’s campaign platform calls for greater support of renewable energy initiatives, affordable health care for all Americans and a tax policy that would shift some of the burden from the middle class to the country’s wealthiest citizens.

Despite his lack of political experience, Olson said his past as a banker, tax lawyer and renewable energy advocate have given him the background he needs to be a capable U.S. Representative.

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Olson said he expects the encouragement he has recently received to translate into concrete support for his campaign.

“Over the last few weeks I’ve been heavily recruited to run against Michele Bachmann. I’ve been very honored by the effort. And along with that enthusiasm comes people who are willing to provide support - not just political support and volunteer support, but financial support, as well,” he said.

“She, in a lot of people’s minds, does not represent Minnesota well and does not represent the 6th District well,” he continued. “In my opinion, even more important than that are the issues I represent: energy, health care, and tax reform.”