Olson sees himself as a problem-solver

Dan Olson is the first to admit he doesn’t like politics. But he’s been a visible and active candidate for many years because of what he says he likes to do: solve problems and help people.

“I’m a people person, not a politician,” the 63-year-old Olson said. “I’m a problem-solver and an agent for change.”

That is exactly what he says is needed in county government.

He is running for the District 2 seat of incumbent county Commissioner Ron Gamache. The August primary is Olson’s second consecutive run for a commission seat. He lost in the 2006 primary for the District 3 seat. The lifelong Union Gap resident has since moved within the community and is now a resident of District 2.

Olson, who remodels and sells homes as his primary occupation, said he is running again because of unhappiness with decision-making at the courthouse.

“We need common sense people who work for the people. I got involved because I’m not willing to abdicate my responsibility,” he said.

The current Union Gap City Council member, who lost a tight battle to be the city’s mayor, ticks off what he sees as recent county missteps: the jail bed-rental program, the Toppenish property purchase, the new sheriff’s office on South First Street, the planned wrecking yard move, new rules on protections for environmentally sensitive areas of the county, and slow processing of development proposals.

Concern over the county’s development services center, designed as a one-stop shop for building and development projects, has been a common theme among the candidates.

Olson said the department’s job is to eliminate red tape and expedite permits.

“That isn’t happening,” Olson said.

He said his goals include reducing regulation and what he called wasteful spending, improving accountability and providing better service to county residents.

Olson grew up in Union Gap and graduated from Eisenhower High School. He received a degree in animal science from Washington State University and later obtained a teaching degree from Brigham Young University. He served a mission in Mexico. He is single.

Olson plans to pursue efforts in the Legislature to allow more of the state sales tax to remain in the county to cover the cost of public services. He said he would use some of the money to open all housing units at the county juvenile center to reduce youth crime.

He also wants to look for ways to cut county spending, but doesn’t have specific ideas as yet. He did suggest fully privatizing the issuance of annual car license tabs. The county Auditor’s Office issues tabs, as do private businesses authorized to sell the tabs.

Olson said he opposes construction of a new courts building as a county task force recommended last year.

“I’m not for it because the county hasn’t made good decisions in the past. I want to know the full plan,” he said.

He also said the county should sell its minimum-

security jail in Union Gap to raise revenue because the county doesn’t need the building.