JAMAICA — Rep. Oliver Olsen, R-Jamaica, announced last week that he will not be running for his seat in 2012.
Olsen, 35, has been an outspoken and articulate critic of several Shumlin administration proposals, and he is described even by Democrats as a “rising star.” A year after winning his first election bid last fall, however, Olsen has decided to forgo a second race.
It's becoming increasingly difficult, Olsen said, to take care of his young family and pursue his professional career while serving four months a year in the Legislature. Olsen manages a consulting practice for RightNow Technologies, a software service company based in Bozeman, Mont.
“I'm grateful that we have a citizen legislature, it brings our government much closer to our communities and the people we represent, however it does make it very challenging for a large segment of Vermonters to serve,” Olsen said in an interview. “There's a whole segment of folks who have the responsibilities of raising a family and maintaining a career who don't have the financial resources to take four months away from professional life.”
Olsen and his wife, Peggy Floume, have two young sons, Ethan, a 2-year-old who has cerebral palsy, and 11-month-old Karsten. Ethan's medical condition necessitated a month-long stay in the hospital right after Olsen's election last year.
“Every family has its own challenges, but when you have a family member with complex medical needs it puts additional demands on your time, and that's a big factor in my decision,” Olsen said.
Republican Gov. James Douglas named Olsen to the post in 2010 after Rick Hube, the longtime representative of the Windham-Bennington-Windsor-1 district, died in office.
Olsen serves on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, and he frequently (and openly) clashed with Democrats. He most notably led the fight against a cash for tax credit proposal from the Shumlin administration for the Clean Energy Development Fund.
Olsen said supporters and detractors have mistakenly assumed he had bigger political ambitions.
“I enjoy serving in the House, and I have never had any intention of serving in any other capacity, including leadership,” Olsen said. “I have a busy professional career outside my political life. Anyone who wants to aspire to higher office has to be committed to a career in politics or be retired - that's not where my heart is at. I enjoy serving my district.”