Patch Candidate Profile: Tom Olsen For Minneapolis Parks At Large

MINNEAPOLIS — This fall, Minneapolis residents will vote in several important local elections. Among the offices on the ballot is the mayor and city council seats, as well as the Minneapolis Park Board. Early voting in Minneapolis has already started.

Tom Olsen is running for one of the three at large Minneapolis Park Board Commissioner seats.

Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles over the coming weeks.

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Are you running for office in Minneapolis? Contact William Bornhoft at william.bornhoft@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate profile and submitting campaign announcements to Patch.

Age (as of Election Day): 29

Town of Residence: Minneapolis

Position sought: Minneapolis Park Board Commissioner At Large

Party Affiliation: DFL

Family: Fiancee, Paige, 30

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? No

Education: Gustavus Adolphus College

Occupation: Communications Specialist for Minnesota House DFL 2 years

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am running to be an At Large Commissioner because our parks and recreation services make our city special and I have the drive to maintain the high quality of our system while fighting for a vision that makes our parks more inclusive, community-oriented, and forward-thinking.

I have several years of experience working in public service with an expertise on environmental issues. I currently work with the MN House DFL as a Communications Specialist. This means I can bring much needed legislative experience to the Park Board to help secure funding and support at the capitol. In Minneapolis, I served as the Vice Chair of the Community Environmental Advisory Commission. I will use my budding and rich career experience to serve with nuance, commitment to long term planning, and to responsive constituent service.

I am committed to representing each community, and I promise to take into consideration the needs and desires of everyone. Minneapolis is home to some of the worst racial disparities in the nation so it’s critical that we emphasize funding services that uplift communities which have been underinvested in. For instance, I will also push to complete the unfinished vision of Theodore Wirth by completing connections to the Mississippi for North and Northeast, and finish the missing link of the Grand Rounds.

Our parks are incredibly important as they form the backbone of our communities and serve to protect our local environment. So it is critical that we fill the Park Board with folks who have the capability and energy to put in the hard work. I know that I have what it takes to govern our parks effectively as an experienced candidate with several years of legislative and governance experience who will center equity, climate action, and youth development.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Climate Change. Ensuring that our amazing park system which has served our city so well for the past century, is resilient enough for the next century should be the primary focus of the park board moving forward. I will use my environmental expertise to ensure climate action is taken into account for every decision. We must pursue action like divesting completely from fossil fuels, replacing turf with native/pollinator friendly plants, increasing pedestrian infrastructure, ensuring park property uses 100% renewable energy, and so much more.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)?

How do you think local officials are performing in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

I think the early actions taken were effective and important. Now, however, it is important that restore certain critical services like public water fountains, restrooms, and youth recreation services. I also think a vaccine mandate for park employees could be in order.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

The two other pillars of my campaign are youth engagement and equity. We must work to maintain our current level of programming while opening up revenue to fund new programs that are relevant to the next generation of youth. For instance, in my conversations with constituents across the city I see a need for programs around work pathways, multimedia production, art, community building, and alternative sport programs. By increasing youth activity we create stronger communities that work for everyone.

While the Minneapolis park system is one of the best in the world, our system does not reach everyone equally. I will continue to support park policies which prioritize funding in underinvested neighborhoods, and will push to fund improved connections to the Mississippi for North and Northeast Minneapolis.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

As Vice Chair of the Community Environmental Advisory Committee I helped lead efforts to reform our bylaws to improve the representation within the committee. This was a difficult process which required the by-in of several different stakeholders and the persuasion of my fellow committee members. This situation taught me how to work effectively with my fellow committee members to affect change. I will use the lessons I learned from this experience to contribute to an effective park board.