Donny Olson

American politician (born 1953)

Donald Olson

Member of the Alaska Senate

Incumbent

Assumed office
January 15, 2001
Preceded by| Albert P. Adams
Constituency| District S (2001–2003)
District T (2003–present)
Personal details
Born|  (1953-06-18) June 18, 1953 (age 71)
Nome, Territory of Alaska
Political party| Democratic
Spouse| Willow
Children| 7
Residence(s)| Golovin, Alaska, U.S.
Alma mater| University of Minnesota (BA)
Oral Roberts University (MD)
University of Colorado Law School (JD)
University of Cambridge
Profession| Physician
Aviator

Donald C. "Donny" Olson (born June 18, 1953) is an American physician, attorney, commercial pilot, reindeer herder, and politician, currently serving as a member of the Alaska Senate since 2001. Olson represents rural communities in Western Alaska and Arctic Alaska including Nome, Kotzebue, and Utqiagvik.

## Early life

[edit]

Olson was born in the Inupiaq village of Golovin, Alaska, where he resides to date. He graduated from Covenant High School in Unalakleet,[1] attended Seattle Pacific College; then the University of Minnesota, Duluth, where he received a B.A. in Chemistry; attended the University of Alaska, Fairbanks; the Oral Roberts University School of Medicine in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he received his M.D., the University of Colorado School of Law for his Juris Doctor, and did postgraduate work in law at Cambridge University in England.[2]

## Career

[edit]

He is the president and CEO of Olson Air Service, based in Nome, Alaska.[2]

He was appointed to the Alaska State Medical Board by Governor Tony Knowles in 1995 and served until taking office in the Alaska Senate in 2001.[3] He was the sole Democrat associated with the Alaska political corruption probe. He was the only Alaska legislator to reject a bribe offer to vote for an oil tax bill. It was proposed as a campaign contribution of $25,000 for his 2004 Lieutenant Governor's race. He subsequently helped the FBI make their case against those involved.[4]

Olson caucused with the Republicans in the majority during the 28th Senate, from 2013 to 2014, but he was not invited to participate in the organization of the majority caucus for the 29th Senate. He was a member of the Democratic minority caucus from 2015 to 2023.[5] He is currently a member of the 17-member bipartisan majority.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Shareholder Spotlight: Dr. Donny Olson, Bering Straits Native Corporation, April 23, 2019. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
2. ^ a b Donny Olson, Alaska State Legislature, 2022. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
3. ^ "Senate District T: Donald C. "Donny" Olson, Democrat" (PDF). Alaska Board of Elections. 2012-10-01. Retrieved 2015-11-16.
4. ^ Alaska's political corruption scandal reaped prison, vindication, and uncertainty for the accused, Anchorage Daily News, Jill Burke, February 11, 2011 (Updated June 30, 2016). Retrieved July 7, 2022.
5. ^ Moritz, Katie (November 7, 2014). "Egan to caucus with minority". Juneau Empire. Archived from the original on January 21, 2015. Retrieved January 21, 2015.

## External links

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Media related to Donny Olson at Wikimedia Commons

* Alaska State Legislature - Senator Donald Olson official AK Senate website
* Project Vote Smart - Representative Donald Olson (AK) profile
* Follow the Money \- Donald Olson
* 2006 2004 2000 Senate campaign contributions
* 2006 Lieutenant Governor campaign contributions
* Donny Olson at 100 Years of Alaska's Legislature

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Members of the Alaska Senate

34th Alaska Legislature (2025–present)

President of the Senate
Gary Stevens (R)
Majority Leader
Cathy Giessel (R)
Minority Leader
Mike Shower (NCR)

1. ▌Bert Stedman (R)
2. ▌Jesse Kiehl (D)
3. ▌Gary Stevens (R)
4. ▌Jesse Bjorkman (R)
5. ▌Cathy Giessel (R)
6. ▌James Kaufman (NCR)
7. ▌Elvi Gray-Jackson (D)
8. ▌Matt Claman (D)
9. ▌Löki Tobin (D)
10. ▌Forrest Dunbar (D)
11. ▌Bill Wielechowski (D)
12. ▌Kelly Merrick (R)
13. ▌Shelley Hughes (NCR)
14. ▌Robert Yundt (NCR)
15. ▌Mike Shower (NCR)
16. ▌Scott Kawasaki (D)
17. ▌Robert Myers Jr. (NCR)
18. ▌Mike Cronk (NCR)
19. ▌Lyman Hoffman (D)
20. ▌Donny Olson (D)

Majority caucus (14)
▌Democratic (9)
▌Republican (5)
Minority caucus (6)
▌Non-caucusing Republican (6)

* Alaska Legislature
* House
* Senate
* List of past legislatures

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