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David Olson (Washington)
David Olson is a member of the Peninsula Board of Directors, representing District 5. He assumed office in 2013.
Olson ran for election for Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction. He lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Olson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
David Olson was born in Austin, Texas. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1977 to 2005 before moving into the defense contracting industry. He earned a bachelor's degree from Southern New Hampshire University in 2005. His career experience includes working as a banking professional. Olson has volunteered with local groups including Drug Education for Youth Program and Gig Harbor/FISH Food Bank.[1][2][3]
Elections
2024
See also: Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction election, 2024
General election
General election for Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction
Incumbent Chris Reykdal defeated David Olson in the general election for Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Chris Reykdal (Nonpartisan)  | 52.8 | 1,746,848 |
 | David Olson (Nonpartisan) | 46.6 | 1,543,550 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.6 | 19,932 | ||
| Total votes: 3,310,330 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction
Incumbent Chris Reykdal and David Olson defeated Reid Saaris and John Patterson Blair in the primary for Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction on August 6, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Chris Reykdal (Nonpartisan) | 39.3 | 702,227 |
| ✔ | | David Olson (Nonpartisan) | 31.2 | 557,822 |
 | Reid Saaris (Nonpartisan) | 23.9 | 427,788 | |
 | John Patterson Blair (Nonpartisan) | 5.1 | 91,410 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.4 | 7,404 | ||
| Total votes: 1,786,651 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Chad Magendanz (Nonpartisan)
- David Spring (Nonpartisan)
- Brad Klippert (Nonpartisan)
- Vincent Perez (Nonpartisan)
Campaign finance
Endorsements
Olson received the following endorsements.
2013
Results
General election
| Peninsula Board of Directors, Four-year term, District 5, 2013 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Nonpartisan |  David Olson |
54.9% | 10,491 | |
| Nonpartisan | Rick Jones Incumbent | 44.6% | 8,519 | |
| Nonpartisan | Write-in votes | 0.6% | 110 | |
| Total Votes | 19,120 | |||
| Source: Pierce County Elections, "November 5, 2013 General Election," November 25, 2013 | ||||
Primary
Olson won the August 6, 2013 primary for the District 5 seat. Olson and Rick Jones advanced to the November 5, 2013 general election.[4]
| Peninsula Board of Directors, Primary, District 5, 2013 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Nonpartisan | David Olson |
46.8% | 5,713 | |
| Nonpartisan | Rick Jones |
38.5% | 4,708 | |
| Nonpartisan | Curt Carroll | 14.7% | 1,794 | |
| Total Votes | 12,215 | |||
| Source: Pierce County Elections | ||||
Funding
Olson reported no contributions or expenditures to the Washington Public Disclosure Commission.[5]
Endorsements
Olson's campaign website listed the following endorsements for 2013:[6]
- Pierce County Republican Party
- 26th Legislative District Democrats
- Representative Larry Seaquist
- Representative Jan Angel
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
David Olson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Olson's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
| Collapse all
David served in the U.S. Navy for 28 years, enlisting right out of high school, reaching the rank of Chief Warrant Officer. He had the demanding and exciting job of Navy Diver - doing underwater ships husbandry, experimental and saturation diving, and various classified projects.
In 2005, David and wife Tonia of 25 years — a Washington native – needed to pick where they’d live after David retired from the Navy. They did something more parents should be able to do, they researched school districts and chose to move to the Peninsula School District to ensure their four children received an excellent education.
With a lifelong passion for serving others, it is important to David to support local organizations and causes. He was raised to give back and to make things better than you found them. Today, he sits on the Board of the Greater Gig Harbor Foundation; and is a member of the Friday morning Rotary Club.
David was first elected to the Peninsula School District Board in 2013, and was twice reelected since. During that time, he has served as President and Vice President, and Legislative Representative. David cares deeply about his community, and he is passionate about making it the best possible place to live and raise your family.- Prioritizing Academic Opportunities: David believes that each student can achieve their best potential by providing the academic opportunities they need. He advocates for better identification of students who require special services and accelerated learning, and he prioritizes teachers' instructional time over digital learning for elementary school-aged children. Olson also seeks to increase instructional time and tutoring services for low-income students and those not meeting standards. The academic performance of his district, along with the decision to open schools early for special education students during COVID, demonstrates that these goals are achievable.
- Focused on Improved Mental Health – Passed Policy Restricting Cell Phones & Social Media in Classrooms: Nationwide we're seeing the harm cell phones and social media is causing to our youth and students. Especially among young girls, social media bullying is creating extreme anxiety - and suicidal thoughts - and cell phone use during class has a devastating impact on academic performance. The new policy has reduced student stress, increased student engagement, reduced discipline issues, and increased academic scores. As Superintendent, David will urge all school district to adopt similar policies.
- Expanding Options for the Skilled Trades: As a former Navy electrician, underwater welder, and Navy saturation diver, David Olson knows the value of skilled trades firsthand. David believes in preparing students for high paying, fulfilling careers without student loan debt. Promoting skilled trades is central to his vision for improving education and workforce readiness in Washington state.
We must also work to restrict cell phone use and social media in the classrooms in order to improve student engagement and reduce their stress and anxiety.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign website
Olson's campaign website stated the following:
| “ |
THE PLATFORM
David Olson, a retired naval officer, and respected veteran of the Peninsula School Board for over a decade, is now running for Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) with a fervent determination to overhaul our public education system that has floundered under Chris Reykdal and has failed Washington’s children. Olson‘s extensive experience on the school board underscores his steadfast commitment to community service and educational excellence. His track record speaks volumes showcasing, not only his ability to navigate tough battles, but his commitment to non-partisan pragmatic solutions that prioritize student achievement and parent voice. David Olson is a champion of parent and family voice in their children's education. This includes parents serving on curriculum assessment committees, parent advisory committees, and more. Studies clearly show that when parents and families are involved, and engaged, it has a significant impact on student success.
Olson’s top priority as Superintendent will be student learning. Under the current Superintendent, student success has collapsed, especially amongst students of color. Washington has a highly educated population, and this means many students learn outside of our schools, creating an important buffer against bad policies. Where students are most dependent on schools, we see a near total failure. The mission of public education is to serve as the great equalizer in our society, but there is ample proof that this is no longer the case. The current Superintendent is failing Washington's students. In 2023, with an average of $18,287 spent statewide per student, only 50.7% of students met state testing minimum standards for ELA (reading and writing); 39.1% met math standards; and 42.9% met science standards. While some large, high income school districts have state test scores above 70%, there are many high poverty, and smaller school districts with test scores below 30%. This is unacceptable! As Superintendent of Public Instruction, David Olson will make sure our lower income students and their respective school districts, as well as small school districts, have the resources - curriculum resources, professional development for staff, etc. - they need to achieve success. He will also replace the current transportation funding formula to make it less onerous. As Superintendent of Public Instruction, David Olson will work to change the funding model to help redirect financial resources to high poverty and smaller school districts that have trouble passing critical capital bonds and levies and paying for critical needs. The current Superintendent took away local control from school districts and their elected school boards. He threatened to withhold money if they defied him. The result? A huge loss of learning for those students that might never be restored. On Day One, David Olson will restore local control to school boards!! "David Olson is a dedicated leader who puts students' needs first. His commitment to academic success and to eliminate divisive social programs make him the ideal candidate for Supt of Public Instruction." – Senator Jan Angel, retired. Our kids and parents need David Olson as our next Superintendent of Public Instruction. Olson will become a partner with local school districts, helping them, not attacking them. [7] |
” |
| —David Olson's campaign website (2024)[8] | ||
2013
Olson provided the following statement for the 2013 Local Voters' Pamphlet in Pierce County:[2]
|
"Your children and grandchildren deserve the very best from our schools. As taxpayers, you should be confident that your money is well spent. Sadly, schools have fewer resources. After-school programs and the arts are being eliminated due to budget reductions. To create new opportunities and efficiencies, the School Board can develop partnerships with community organizations such as Parks and Recreation, Chamber of Commerce, and Rotary, to name a few. Through innovative ideas, realistic policies, and high expectations, the school board, along with the active and strong Parent Teacher Association, can create a positive learning environment in the schools. For 28 years, the US Navy was my career. Following that, my family has had the pleasure of living in Gig Harbor for eight years. We chose Gig Harbor because it is a great community with many blessings. Three of our four children attended Goodman Middle School and graduated from Gig Harbor High School. Having lived around the world, my wife (an educator) and I have seen first-hand how a lack of education and after-school programs affect entire communities. I am committed to helping your children, and grandchildren, achieve an outstanding education to prepare them for a successful future." |
Note: The above quote is from the candidate's website, which may include some typographical or spelling errors.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Olson for School Board, "About Me," accessed August 22, 2013
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Pierce County Auditor, "Local Voters' Pamphlet," accessed October 7, 2013
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on July 22, 2024
- ↑ Pierce County Elections, "August 6, 2013 Primary Election Results," accessed August 21, 2013
- ↑ Washington Public Disclosure Commission, "Local Candidates," accessed December 17, 2013
- ↑ Olson for School Board, "Home," accessed August 22, 2013
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Elect David Olson, “The Platform,” accessed July 23, 2024
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