As a parent raising a young family in Teller County, I feel that I have a great investment in the future of this region. I am happily married to my wife Sara and am a father to two wonderful girls, Autumn and Chloe. I acknowledge that the decisions our leaders make now will affect the lives of our children, which is why I have decided to run for public office.

I have been actively involved in government having worked on referendums, action teams, served as a committeeman and volunteered with various groups. Presently I serve on Woodland Park’s Board of Adjustments and look forward to communicating with residents and businesses to resolve pertinent village issues. I have a sincere desire to understand the needs of Teller County residents and look forward to establishing a dialogue with them.

I am currently employed in North Colorado Springs. Unfortunately, commuting to and from Colorado Springs is a reality for me and for many other Pikes Peak area residents. A combination of lack of affordable housing and high paying jobs has forced many individuals to commute to and from Teller County. If elected, I plan to work with developers, employers, and government agencies to combat our regions lack of affordable housing and high paying jobs.

As a life-long learner I understand the possibilities education can present to individuals. I currently hold a Masters Degree of Science in Management and have had the opportunity to study several topics which will enable me to understand the challenges facing today’s public administrators and the community abroad. If elected, I would be deeply committed to bringing higher education and career training opportunities to Teller County.

As an outdoor enthusiast who enjoys hiking, fishing and camping, I appreciate the trails, streams, reservoirs and the vast amounts of open spaces that this region has to offer. These gifts are ours to preserve for future generations. As commissioner I intend on working with state and local agencies to make certain that our region’s assets will be available for future generations to enjoy.

To effectively operate, government should embrace transparency and communication between itself and its residents. To truly understand the needs of the community these elements must exist in a government body. As commissioner, I plan to embrace an open door policy and to advocate for the Teller County community. I have a deep commitment to help the residents of Teller County maintain a quality of life and live in a community governed by a commissioner who puts their interests first.

 

For questions, comments or more information please contact Charles.Olson@tellerdems.org

Education and Family Information

 

1968 Concord College, BA English

1968 married to Sharon Holstein, three children, 4 grandchildren, 1 on the way

1972 Wesley Theological Seminary, MDiv

 

Leadership Positions

 

72-79 Campus Minister, State University of NY at Buffalo – 18,000 students

75-78 Professor of Religious Values in Modern Literature, SUNY Buffalo

79 Professor of Death and Dying course in Health Sciences College, SUNY Buffalo

79-87 Campus Minister, Kansas State University – 21,000 students

Member of Lou Douglas Lecture Series Steering Committee

81-83 Mental Health Association Board Member

82-83 Riley County Community Corrections Advisory Board Member

84-87 Member of National Committee on Campus Ministry – South Central Jurisdiction Elected Position, Includes AR, KS, LA, MO, NE, NM, OK, and TX

87-89 Pastor of East Bloomfield United Methodist Church, NY – 300 members

90 Bloomfield Central High School Varsity Baseball Coach

89-92 Member Conf. Council Finance Committee

98-02 Pastor First United Methodist Church, Douglas, WY – 250 members

98-01 Member and President Human Resource Council

99-02 Professor of Religious Values in Modern Literature, WY College

99 & 02 Professor for Introduction to World Religions, WY College

00-02 Member of Converse County Response Team on Domestic Violence

02-04 Pastor of First United Methodist Church, Grand Junction, CO – 1000 members

Retired from Ministry 2004

Currently Owner’s Liaison to the golf course and the community, Shining Mountain Golf Course

 

For questions, comments or more information please contact Rodney.Saunders@tellerdems.org