Letter: Olson came out on top after candidate forum

To the Editor-

Executive of the County, sounds like a mighty overwhelming job, doesn’t it? Full responsibility for the total operation of the entire county of Portage. Why would a fellow want this job?

Eric Olson says a County Executive has to use every working day to engage with people, hear from stakeholders, and create possible solutions to community problems. He is motivated by a sense that Portage County has untapped potential and that the public good is not being sufficiently cared for.

Eric seeks to advance the public good with public participation and communication. That’s you and me, folks. Community organizing if you will, it worked splendidly for Barack. Whereas, his opponent stated, “I want to get in and get out. Hopefully, they will terminate this position.”

Pavelski says Portage Co. is a business and requires a leader, not a politician or community organizer. Caveat emptor, my dear voters.

Experience: Pavelski offers his potato business as his experience. QUOTE: “You want a tractor, you buy it the next day.” The former resident of the White House went from zero government experience to President. How’d that work out for you? No experience leads to strange places.

Olson’s experience is quite impressive. He is currently working in a statewide community development outreach job at the UWSP College of Natural Resources (CNR), since moving here in 2004. He created the Central Wisconsin Resiliency Project. He serves on the board of WisCorps, a statewide conservation corps program based in La Crosse. He is chair of two local groups: the City of Stevens Point Deer Committee and the Central Wisconsin Invasives Partnership, a collaborative effort housed in the Golden Sands Resource Conservation & Development Council to tackle problematic invasive plants on public and private lands. His work bio is extensive, but I only have so many words here.

If experience is not crucial to your vote, let’s talk endorsements. Eric is endorsed by The Fire Fighters, Katrina Shankland, AFSCME, UW-SPARC, Wisconsin Conservation Voters, and the Democratic Party of Portage County. When I asked Pavelski to list his endorsements, he did not reply.

Endorsement not your thing? How’s about character? Olson will focus on the people in our community, the #1 criteria for an elected official. He knows it is incumbent upon him to be a true representative of all the citizens. The definition of a civil servant is just that. Politics is not a solitary endeavor. Pavelski alleges the many mandates coming down from the federal and state level take his freedoms away. Sounds like a guy who is going to work well with the County Board and all the agencies. The pirates become concerned with the new captain’s desire to ram the ship into the rocks.

Issues: Climate. Pavelski says 45 years ago he read Florida would be gone and it is still there. He wants the private sector to solve these problems. Does he know he is running for a government office, you may ask? Olson is a critical thinker and he has vast resources to draw from. He knows this is priority #1 and America is falling behind. It is time to catch up or we will not have a Portage County. Eric is a professional and will come prepared, he possesses the necessary analytical, leadership, and collaborative skills to move our county forward on sustainability.

Groundwater: Olson says the Board stalls out and the issue gets buried. This is where the communication and his vast network come in. Pavelski said, well ladies and gentlemen, I don’t quite know what he said. In my League Forum notes I have a question mark. He was not too good at putting nouns and verbs in all of his answers. He does have a copy of the Declaration of Independence on his Facebook page, however.

Tidbit: Eric got married to his lovely wife Erin at the Convent. My mom went to high school there. When I was little, I took piano lessons there and my brother took singing lessons. Don’t forget, Democracy begins with you. Politics is not a spectator sport. You’ve got to show up. Get out there, get active. Tag. You’re it. Progressives have tagged Eric. I am voting for Eric Olson for County Executive on April 5. Join me.

Jody Hurrish
Stevens Point

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