Our view / Endorsement: Grab chance to elect Beth Olson

As an advocate for the most vulnerable and as a voice for the voiceless for 25 years - including, notably, the last almost six years as executive director of First Witness Child Advocacy Center - Beth Olson has worked closely with the St. Louis County attorney’s office, the sheriff’s office, social services and every sector of health and human services. She has seen firsthand the pitfalls that are leading to skyrocketing costs in making sure children are safe in their own homes.
She has the expertise and experience to help reverse troubling trends that are contributing to $15 million in spending every year on out-of-home placement to protect children. The crisis now accounts for 10 percent of all property taxes collected by the county.And voters from western Duluth’s District 3 have a can’t-miss chance on Nov. 8 to elect Olson to the County Board. She’s precisely the sort of candidate everyone always says they want to run, a leader who has spent years giving back to her community, learning its needs and how to fill them, and who is willing now to contribute as a public servant.“I’ve seen the good that the county can do in people’s lives, and I’ve also seen, sometimes, when it’s not working so well, how it can negatively affect people’s lives. I believe I bring my skills from my experiences,” Olson said in a News Tribune-sponsored candidate forum this fall. “I would say the biggest challenge the county faces is understaffing in a few different areas. Public health and human services is one. The county jail, I think, is another.”The way the county delivers services can be streamlined, Olson said.“I know our job is not to micromanage the administrators … but I do think that it’s important to look at, ‘What do we really need to be doing?’ and, ‘What’s really the most effective? What are the things that are making the most impact and how can we invest in those?’”Olson’s groundbreaking First Witness center helps families after allegations of child sexual abuse; educates the community about child sexual abuse, including how to detect it and how to prevent it; and conducts forensic interviews for legal proceedings with children believed to be victims. All on the tightest of budgets. She’s a master at forging partnerships and collaborations, at bringing people together to accomplish shared goals, and at spending limited resources wisely and responsibly. A taxpayer’s dream.“I think we have shortchanged our public health and human services in not giving them the funds and the attention they need,” Olson said. Because of understaffing, county child-protection efforts missed out on approximately $2 million in state reimbursements last year. “For me, that’s simple math; $2 million hires a lot of social workers. So I think we really need to look at how we can get these services funded through the resources that we already have existing.”Olson’s opponent on Nov. 8 has name recognition but little experience or expertise that would help to solve the county’s most-pressing challenges.In addition, Jay Fosle continues to refuse to publicly answer questions or address concerns about his qualifications and record. The Duluth city councilor cited a conflict and wasn’t part of the News Tribune’s candidate forum. He then didn’t respond to invitations to meet individually with the News Tribune editorial board at a time of his convenience - any time. Fosle’s refusal to be part of the public process extends several elections now as he routinely has rejected or hasn’t even acknowledged invitations from numerous community entities seeking to get information about candidates and the issues into the hands of the populace. Voters can be wary of any elected representative who won’t allow himself to be held publicly accountable.In stark contrast, Olson is accessible and responsive and has proven herself an effective community leader. Her rare and valuable combination of experience, background, knowledge and perspective - as well as her ability to get results, even in the face of limited funding - makes her the sort of candidate western Duluth’s District 3 has been waiting for, needs now and can enthusiastically elect on Nov. 8. About this This endorsement was determined entirely by the News Tribune editorial board. Video The News Tribune editorial board invited candidates running for Duluth-area St. Louis County Board to participate in a forum Sept. 6. Watch the video here.As an advocate for the most vulnerable and as a voice for the voiceless for 25 years - including, notably, the last almost six years as executive director of First Witness Child Advocacy Center - Beth Olson has worked closely with the St. Louis County attorney’s office, the sheriff’s office, social services and every sector of health and human services. She has seen firsthand the pitfalls that are leading to skyrocketing costs in making sure children are safe in their own homes.
She has the expertise and experience to help reverse troubling trends that are contributing to $15 million in spending every year on out-of-home placement to protect children. The crisis now accounts for 10 percent of all property taxes collected by the county.And voters from western Duluth’s District 3 have a can’t-miss chance on Nov. 8 to elect Olson to the County Board. She’s precisely the sort of candidate everyone always says they want to run, a leader who has spent years giving back to her community, learning its needs and how to fill them, and who is willing now to contribute as a public servant.“I’ve seen the good that the county can do in people’s lives, and I’ve also seen, sometimes, when it’s not working so well, how it can negatively affect people’s lives. I believe I bring my skills from my experiences,” Olson said in a News Tribune-sponsored candidate forum this fall. “I would say the biggest challenge the county faces is understaffing in a few different areas. Public health and human services is one. The county jail, I think, is another.”The way the county delivers services can be streamlined, Olson said.“I know our job is not to micromanage the administrators … but I do think that it’s important to look at, ‘What do we really need to be doing?’ and, ‘What’s really the most effective? What are the things that are making the most impact and how can we invest in those?’”Olson’s groundbreaking First Witness center helps families after allegations of child sexual abuse; educates the community about child sexual abuse, including how to detect it and how to prevent it; and conducts forensic interviews for legal proceedings with children believed to be victims. All on the tightest of budgets. She’s a master at forging partnerships and collaborations, at bringing people together to accomplish shared goals, and at spending limited resources wisely and responsibly. A taxpayer’s dream.“I think we have shortchanged our public health and human services in not giving them the funds and the attention they need,” Olson said. Because of understaffing, county child-protection efforts missed out on approximately $2 million in state reimbursements last year. “For me, that’s simple math; $2 million hires a lot of social workers. So I think we really need to look at how we can get these services funded through the resources that we already have existing.”Olson’s opponent on Nov. 8 has name recognition but little experience or expertise that would help to solve the county’s most-pressing challenges.In addition, Jay Fosle continues to refuse to publicly answer questions or address concerns about his qualifications and record. The Duluth city councilor cited a conflict and wasn’t part of the News Tribune’s candidate forum. He then didn’t respond to invitations to meet individually with the News Tribune editorial board at a time of his convenience - any time. Fosle’s refusal to be part of the public process extends several elections now as he routinely has rejected or hasn’t even acknowledged invitations from numerous community entities seeking to get information about candidates and the issues into the hands of the populace. Voters can be wary of any elected representative who won’t allow himself to be held publicly accountable.In stark contrast, Olson is accessible and responsive and has proven herself an effective community leader. Her rare and valuable combination of experience, background, knowledge and perspective - as well as her ability to get results, even in the face of limited funding - makes her the sort of candidate western Duluth’s District 3 has been waiting for, needs now and can enthusiastically elect on Nov. 8.About thisThis endorsement was determined entirely by the News Tribune editorial board.VideoThe News Tribune editorial board invited candidates running for Duluth-area St. Louis County Board to participate in a forum Sept. 6. Watch the video here.