Donny Olson
Member of the Alaska Senate
Assumed office
January 15, 2001
Preceded byAlbert P. Adams
ConstituencyDistrict S (2001–2003)
District T (2003–present)
Personal details
Born (1953-06-18) June 18, 1953
Nome, Territory of Alaska
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseWillow
Children7
Residence(s)Golovin, Alaska, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Minnesota (BA)
Oral Roberts University (MD)
University of Colorado Law School (JD)
University of Cambridge
ProfessionPhysician
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, representing the T district since 2001.

Early life

Olson was born in the Inupiat 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

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 is currently a member of the Democratic minority caucus.[5]

References

  1. ↑ Shareholder Spotlight: Dr. Donny Olson, Bering Straits Native Corporation, April 23, 2019. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  2. 1 2 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.

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