I first became acquainted with Alderman Bob Olson after my husband became associated with him when he ran for office several years ago. Since then Bob and my husband have spent countless hours going over figures for the memos and spreadsheets he creates in order to get more concrete and easily accessible information out to the public. It is not uncommon for the two of them to be talking on the phone after midnight going over figures.

Bob doesn’t own a computer, so my husband enters Bob’s data into MS Excel for Bob to ensure accuracy. Bob insists on accuracy, especially from himself. He desires accuracy from our Finance Department also.

I have personally seen the amount of work Bob puts into serving the people of Brainerd. He has been fought on many occasions when requesting information from the city. He was even told that he would have to pay for information that is supposed to be free and available to anyone because, to quote a city staff, “He requests too much information and uses up too much city staff time.” Isn’t that what a representative is supposed to do?

Bob reads the provided information, investigates it to the best of his ability and speaks and votes with the people of Brainerd in his heart. Through his efforts you have saved money with lower taxes. He believes in cutting in areas and using surpluses to the peoples advantage, not City staff’s. He uncovers accounting errors that were missed by professional accounting staff. Errors that could cost us hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Bob isn’t a politician, he is an everyday person just like you and me. He is honest and hard working.

I will be voting for Alderman Bob Olson. If you want real representation, then you should too.

Nicole Wolff

Brainerd