Vote Eric Olson for State Representative As you make your decisions on who to vote for in the coming election, I wanted to make sure you have the information you need. I am Eric Olson and I am running to be your next State Representative for District 11 B. WHO AM I? I grew up in Pine City. The support- ive community gave me a place to grow securely and the experiences that prepared me to face the world. While I have lived many other places in my adult life, I have returned here because I value what our area is and what it can be. I am running because I want to see our communities grow and thrive. Education: I am the son of teachers and spent time as a teacher myself, including at Pine City High School. I believe that education is core to our future. It prepares the people who will lead us and draws new members to our communities. Environment: My first work was as a Ranger for the National Park Service on the St. Croix. This taught me that we must balance our use and enjoy- ment of our natural resources with the need to leave them unimpaired for future generations. As our popu- lation and capability grow, this bal- ance becomes more critical. Science and Technology: I have de- grees in Physics and Math and value thinking objectively. The two great- est assets of human character are the strength to hold firm to the truth and the humility to acknowledge it and change when logic proves our beliefs are wrong. I spent most of my career at a startup computer compa- ny that was among the fastest grow- ing in Minnesota until purchased by a much larger company. This gives me experience working with the technology that drives and connects us in the new economy. I have done work for many of the world's largest corporations. These skills are needed more than ever in our legislature. Religion: I am active in my church (Our Redeemer Lutheran) and my Christian faith informs all of my val- PAID ADVERTISEMENT Prepared and paid for by the Campaign Fund of Eric Olson Committee: ues and my decisions. With that said, 725 3rd Ave SW, Pine City, MN 55063 in my travels, I have found friends of many faiths and of no faith at all. That has taught me much and made S my life richer. All these beliefs are a key part of the many that make up our one nation. WHAT DO I PROPOSE TO DO? First and foremost the job of a State Representative is to listen. Should I be elected, I promise to hold town halls in each of the main towns in our district before and after each session. These will be open to the general public so that I can gather your ideas and input before and your feedback after. If you want to talk to me now, I can be reached at Eric. Olson.DFL@gmail.com. Local Development: It used to be that 4 1/2 % of the taxes paid to the State were returned to local gov ernments. That has shrunk to about 11/4%. This leaves us short of the money to repair streets, manage wa- ter and sewer, update housing, and all of the other things that our local government does. Second, it forces local governments to raise property taxes to make up the gap. Property and sales taxes are paid dispropor- tionately by lower income people when compared to the income tax where wealthier people and corpo- rations pay more of their fair share. Perhaps worst of all, this breaks the connection between people and government. This disconnect leads to much of the anger that we see too much of in politics today. I advocate strongly for restoring the distribution to the older level. Education: Very similarly, Minneso- ta used to adjust school funding by property values. Why? Schools need to maintain buildings and have simi- lar expenses that are not proportion- al to the number of students. As local governments, they can only raise that money by raising property taxes. In a district with low property val- ues (like ours), those taxes must be raised by a lot to bring in the same amount as a much smaller raise in a wealthier district. A very large part STATE 006 ERIC OLSON HOUSE Percentage of State Taxes Returned to Local Governments of the property tax levies that we see for schools is to compensate for the loss of that adjustment. We all know that schools need to be funded across the state so this adjustment should be restored to remove the conflict between a quality education for all and property taxes. Environmental Protection: Climate Change is here now and we need to adapt. Any Minnesotan who sees our shorter, warmer winters, the longer dry times, and the heavier rains when they come know that climate change is here today and is already hurting us. Adapting to this is the greatest challenge of our time and calls for us to work to- gether. The good news is that there is funding available to help us with this. We need to make sure that funding comes to us locally. To help, I believe that we should implement Energy Districts like those done in low. They provide a local resource to help farmers that want to put up wind turbines, businesses and peo- ple that want to convert to solar, or simply people that want to make their homes more energy efficient. They guide those people to the fund- ing and tax breaks available, provide unbiased information, and make sure that the money out there is spent lo- cally and responsibly on things that will make a difference. Vote Eric Olson for State Representative As you make your decisions on who to vote for in the coming election , I wanted to make sure you have the information you need . I am Eric Olson and I am running to be your next State Representative for District 11 B. WHO AM I ? I grew up in Pine City . The support- ive community gave me a place to grow securely and the experiences that prepared me to face the world . While I have lived many other places in my adult life , I have returned here because I value what our area is and what it can be . I am running because I want to see our communities grow and thrive . Education : I am the son of teachers and spent time as a teacher myself , including at Pine City High School . I believe that education is core to our future . It prepares the people who will lead us and draws new members to our communities . Environment : My first work was as a Ranger for the National Park Service on the St. Croix . This taught me that we must balance our use and enjoy- ment of our natural resources with the need to leave them unimpaired for future generations . As our popu- lation and capability grow , this bal- ance becomes more critical . Science and Technology : I have de- grees in Physics and Math and value thinking objectively . The two great- est assets of human character are the strength to hold firm to the truth and the humility to acknowledge it and change when logic proves our beliefs are wrong . I spent most of my career at a startup computer compa- ny that was among the fastest grow- ing in Minnesota until purchased by a much larger company . This gives me experience working with the technology that drives and connects us in the new economy . I have done work for many of the world's largest corporations . These skills are needed more than ever in our legislature . Religion : I am active in my church ( Our Redeemer Lutheran ) and my Christian faith informs all of my val- PAID ADVERTISEMENT Prepared and paid for by the Campaign Fund of Eric Olson Committee : ues and my decisions . With that said , 725 3rd Ave SW , Pine City , MN 55063 in my travels , I have found friends of many faiths and of no faith at all . That has taught me much and made S my life richer . All these beliefs are a key part of the many that make up our one nation . WHAT DO I PROPOSE TO DO ? First and foremost the job of a State Representative is to listen . Should I be elected , I promise to hold town halls in each of the main towns in our district before and after each session . These will be open to the general public so that I can gather your ideas and input before and your feedback after . If you want to talk to me now , I can be reached at Eric . Olson.DFL@gmail.com . Local Development : It used to be that 4 1/2 % of the taxes paid to the State were returned to local gov ernments . That has shrunk to about 11 / 4 % . This leaves us short of the money to repair streets , manage wa- ter and sewer , update housing , and all of the other things that our local government does . Second , it forces local governments to raise property taxes to make up the gap . Property and sales taxes are paid dispropor- tionately by lower income people when compared to the income tax where wealthier people and corpo- rations pay more of their fair share . Perhaps worst of all , this breaks the connection between people and government . This disconnect leads to much of the anger that we see too much of in politics today . I advocate strongly for restoring the distribution to the older level . Education : Very similarly , Minneso- ta used to adjust school funding by property values . Why ? Schools need to maintain buildings and have simi- lar expenses that are not proportion- al to the number of students . As local governments , they can only raise that money by raising property taxes . In a district with low property val- ues ( like ours ) , those taxes must be raised by a lot to bring in the same amount as a much smaller raise in a wealthier district . A very large part STATE 006 ERIC OLSON HOUSE Percentage of State Taxes Returned to Local Governments of the property tax levies that we see for schools is to compensate for the loss of that adjustment . We all know that schools need to be funded across the state so this adjustment should be restored to remove the conflict between a quality education for all and property taxes . Environmental Protection : Climate Change is here now and we need to adapt . Any Minnesotan who sees our shorter , warmer winters , the longer dry times , and the heavier rains when they come know that climate change is here today and is already hurting us . Adapting to this is the greatest challenge of our time and calls for us to work to- gether . The good news is that there is funding available to help us with this . We need to make sure that funding comes to us locally . To help , I believe that we should implement Energy Districts like those done in low . They provide a local resource to help farmers that want to put up wind turbines , businesses and peo- ple that want to convert to solar , or simply people that want to make their homes more energy efficient . They guide those people to the fund- ing and tax breaks available , provide unbiased information , and make sure that the money out there is spent lo- cally and responsibly on things that will make a difference .