On July 4, Duluth DFL state representative and Minnesota House Majority Whip Liz Olson tweeted:
Sunrises across Lake Superior are pretty dreamy, but few things are as magical as a western MInnesota sunset. A wonderful day spent with dear friends on Big Stone Lake. #OnlyinMN pic.twitter.com/aGRt28zZ1Z
— Liz Olson (@LizOlson218) July 5, 2019
The next day, Olson met with area Democratic activists at the incomparable Lingonberry's coffee shop in Ortonville, to brief Democrats on the spring's session and how the House DFL stood united on the "Minnesota Values" agenda--as well as discussing the impact of a growing number of women serving in office.
We had wondered why a Northeast Minnesota lawmaker would be hold a town meeting in Ortonville--a small town on the Minnesota-South Dakota border--on a holiday weekend. During her introduction, local educator Kari Henningson Dorry explained that Olson grew up in Ortonville and has maintained their youthful friendship.
Speaking to an audience of around 25, Olson discussed the Minnesota Values Agenda that "arose from conversations legislators have had about the future of the state with Minnesotans and community groups over the past two years." While not all of the agenda became law given the divided legislature, Olson praised the DFL caucus's unity, often under withering floor attacks.
Olson also observed how the House had become a more family-friendly workplace, with members bringing small children to work, especially during the many snow days last winter and early spring. We concurred, noting how different the images of children added a glimpse of the next generation for whom the chamber work.
The activists grew more pragmatic at that, asking strategic questions ranging from those related to the urban-rural divide to nuts and bolts concerns about candidate recruitment and fundraising. Despite the difficult time DFL House candidates have had in the area, the activists stayed positive.
One man even cracked a "goose poop" joke at incumbent representative Jeff Backer, R-Brown's Valley.
About Liz Olson
According to Wikipedia:
Olson attended the University of Minnesota Duluth, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in sociology and women's studies, and Luther Seminary, graduating with a Master of Arts in congregational and community care.[1]
Olson is a community organizer who has worked for Churches United in Ministry, Generations Health Care Initiatives, and TakeAction Minnesota.[2] She is a former president of the League of Women Voters of Duluth and is also a member of the advisory committee of the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits northeast chapter and a board member of Firefly Yoga International.
As a TakeAction Minnesota organizer, Olson shared a vision of the state in Onward in 2015!:
The New Year has me thinking a lot about our great state.
Minnesota is home to 5.3 million people and 852 cities. We have four different ecosystems. We are vast, different and unique.
But we are also so much alike. We are Minnesotans.
I have lived in six of our state’s cities. From a tiny little farming town on the border of South Dakota to the heart of our largest city. Each place has shaped my experience of what it means to be a Minnesotan. One thing is clear to me: we all want a good life for our family, friends and neighbors. . . .
Right now in Duluth there is an energy that is moving in our organization. An energy driven by women who have come together with TakeAction and other local organizations to shape a tangible path towards an economy that moves us forward.
One that includes paid time off for parents to care for sick kids or for a woman fleeing an abusive situation. One that starts catching us up with the rest of the world in terms of our family leave policies. This is real and this can happen right here in the community we call home. It can happen for the five other cities I have called home. It is possible and it moves us forward as a state. I am excited with the possibility of the year ahead. I am excited because we have a set of people in our community who won’t let us turn back, who won’t let us settle any more. Who are willing to push my organization to dig deeper and work harder in Duluth.
But we need more of us. More people standing up in Duluth. In Ortonville. In Lake Lillian. In Minneapolis. In St. Paul. And the other 800 + cities and everywhere in between.
To learn about Olson's legislative record, visit her page at Minnesota Legislators Past and Present. Check out her official page here.
UPDATE: Another archetypal Greater Minnesota moment for Olson, from the October 6, Ortonville Independent:
Even in high school, Olson was engaging with the public. We're happy to see she's turned that friendly energy into a force for the public good. (A source in Ortonville tells us that Olson kept her birth name upon marriage [end update]
Photo: Liz Olson and Kari Henningson Dorry at the Ortonville meeting. Photo by Sally Jo Sorensen.
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