Susan Olson
Name: Susan Olson
Public Office Sought: Oakdale City Council
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Candidate Bio
I am currently finishing up my first four year term proudly serving on Oakdale’s City Council. I am also the Council Liaison for the Economic Development Commission. I have worked primarily for small businesses in the Metro area as an Accountant and Office Manager. I am currently working for a financial services company. I believe my fiscal experience in the private sector has helped in making sound financial decisions for the city. As an example, the City of Oakdale has just earned an upgrade from Moody’s Investors Service which reflects the City’s strong financial position. Both city staff and council worked as a collaborative team to achieve this upgrade. I was raised in Oakdale and graduated from Tartan High School. I love this city and my desire is to continue on the path of prosperity and an excellent quality of life for the city.
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
We have great well established businesses in our community as well as several new ones. We are a growing community and I welcome the opportunity for a wide variety of new businesses in the future. I believe we have a city that helps make owning a business less difficult by limiting government involvement and I am open to new ideas to help encourage new businesses to come to Oakdale. The quality of life is supported by our businesses in many ways. By providing employment opportunities and much needed goods and services. This allows the residents to stay in the community for most of their needs.
What role do you think the city should have in attracting and retaining jobs, and what steps would you take to solicit new businesses to, and retain existing businesses in, Oakdale?
Our Community Development Department has a strong roll in business retention, expansion and attraction. We have recently partnered with both the Oakdale Area Chamber of Commerce and the St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce to develop an ongoing program to reach out to business to gain an understanding of their needs, how the city can help and provide resources.
What policies, if any, would you support to help employers address the labor shortage?
I support a review and possible change to any policy or ordinance that would help or enhance any employer to address the labor shortage.
Public safety and rising crime rates are of serious concern to the business community and residents. What strategies or policies would you propose to address public safety issues facing your community?
During my term on the city council I have supported many new safety initiatives including body worn cameras and new brightly colored tasers for our police department, cameras in public areas and adequate funding for equipment, training and wellness support for our officers. I have strongly advocated for at least one more SRO as well.
What strategies or policies would you propose to address housing issues facing your community?
Oakdale is very busy with new housing developments both for single family and multi family and anticipated to eliminate any “housing issues”.
What strategies or policies would you propose to address transportation issues facing your community? Have your strategies or views changed on transportation since we’ve seen shifts in road use, public transportation use, work from home models, etc. due to the pandemic?
Oakdale is already on track to add a new bus line from St. Paul to Woodbury. This is sparking new commercial, retail and housing opportunities as well.
What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
My proprieties for the city budget include adequate funding for all departments with a focus on needs rather then wants.
What will you do to expand Oakdale’ tax base?
Oakdale’s tax base is expanding rapidly with all the new development and new businesses. I will continue to support new development with flexibility and an open mind for new ideas.
How will you work with K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses to ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce?
I will continue to work the educational institutions on any issue where the city can help. As I mentioned earlier we are currently trying to add at least another SRO to help with crime in the schools which ultimately enhances the students learning environment.
Are there any services currently provided by the city that you believe should be cut back or eliminated? Are there new opportunities to share services with other entities?
I believe the services we provide are necessary and I would not support any cut backs. There will be opportunities for adding new services when the impact of all the new development has been analyzed.
What is the role of the City Council in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses in Oakdale?
The Community Development Department has several goals related to minority and women owned businesses in their business retention, expansion and attraction.
What further policies can Oakdale adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
During the pandemic we offered interest free loans to businesses and relaxed ordinances for outdoor seating at restaurants. With our new partnership with the Chambers of Commerce we are reaching out to those businesses most effected by the pandemic and will offer suggestions, help and resources.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
I believe in small, limited government. I believe in and advocate for individual rights and responsibilities. EVERY human being deserves respect and the right to live their own lives as they see fit as long as they are not harming others. The rights of the individual need to be protected. I believe our small businesses are the backbone of our society and we should do what we can as a city government to help and support their needs. I believe we owe our veterans all that it takes to make them whole after sending them to battle. It is the voice of the people that must be heard and governments job is to protect our rights. This is who I am and I look forward to continuing my service on the City Council of the great city of Oakdale with humility and with the knowledge that I am only there to do what’s best for the residents of Oakdale not a place for personal agendas.
Public Office Sought: Oakdale City Council
Email:
Campaign Phone:
Campaign Website:
Twitter handle:
Facebook Page:
Candidate Bio
I am currently finishing up my first four year term proudly serving on Oakdale’s City Council. I am also the Council Liaison for the Economic Development Commission. I have worked primarily for small businesses in the Metro area as an Accountant and Office Manager. I am currently working for a financial services company. I believe my fiscal experience in the private sector has helped in making sound financial decisions for the city. As an example, the City of Oakdale has just earned an upgrade from Moody’s Investors Service which reflects the City’s strong financial position. Both city staff and council worked as a collaborative team to achieve this upgrade. I was raised in Oakdale and graduated from Tartan High School. I love this city and my desire is to continue on the path of prosperity and an excellent quality of life for the city.
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
- Public Safety - Making sure the police department is fully funded and supported. I Supported the transition to a fulltime fire department. Building and equipment upgrades when needed. I also fully support the current SRO but am advocating for at least one more for Oakdale schools. I advocate for pet safety as well including new signs for our walking trails warning of heat exposure to animals.
- Small Business Retention and Expansion – I believe small businesses are what make America a great country and a large part of what drives the economy. I believe we owe it to all business to reduce local/state/federal regulations and rules that hinder their ability to prosper.
- Fiscal Responsibility and Transparency – I fully supported and will continue to support the Finance Department’s endeavor to transition to new budgeting software to streamline the process and increase transparency. I Make financial decisions while always keeping the impact to the individual residents and businesses in mind.
We have great well established businesses in our community as well as several new ones. We are a growing community and I welcome the opportunity for a wide variety of new businesses in the future. I believe we have a city that helps make owning a business less difficult by limiting government involvement and I am open to new ideas to help encourage new businesses to come to Oakdale. The quality of life is supported by our businesses in many ways. By providing employment opportunities and much needed goods and services. This allows the residents to stay in the community for most of their needs.
What role do you think the city should have in attracting and retaining jobs, and what steps would you take to solicit new businesses to, and retain existing businesses in, Oakdale?
Our Community Development Department has a strong roll in business retention, expansion and attraction. We have recently partnered with both the Oakdale Area Chamber of Commerce and the St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce to develop an ongoing program to reach out to business to gain an understanding of their needs, how the city can help and provide resources.
What policies, if any, would you support to help employers address the labor shortage?
I support a review and possible change to any policy or ordinance that would help or enhance any employer to address the labor shortage.
Public safety and rising crime rates are of serious concern to the business community and residents. What strategies or policies would you propose to address public safety issues facing your community?
During my term on the city council I have supported many new safety initiatives including body worn cameras and new brightly colored tasers for our police department, cameras in public areas and adequate funding for equipment, training and wellness support for our officers. I have strongly advocated for at least one more SRO as well.
What strategies or policies would you propose to address housing issues facing your community?
Oakdale is very busy with new housing developments both for single family and multi family and anticipated to eliminate any “housing issues”.
What strategies or policies would you propose to address transportation issues facing your community? Have your strategies or views changed on transportation since we’ve seen shifts in road use, public transportation use, work from home models, etc. due to the pandemic?
Oakdale is already on track to add a new bus line from St. Paul to Woodbury. This is sparking new commercial, retail and housing opportunities as well.
What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
My proprieties for the city budget include adequate funding for all departments with a focus on needs rather then wants.
What will you do to expand Oakdale’ tax base?
Oakdale’s tax base is expanding rapidly with all the new development and new businesses. I will continue to support new development with flexibility and an open mind for new ideas.
How will you work with K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses to ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce?
I will continue to work the educational institutions on any issue where the city can help. As I mentioned earlier we are currently trying to add at least another SRO to help with crime in the schools which ultimately enhances the students learning environment.
Are there any services currently provided by the city that you believe should be cut back or eliminated? Are there new opportunities to share services with other entities?
I believe the services we provide are necessary and I would not support any cut backs. There will be opportunities for adding new services when the impact of all the new development has been analyzed.
What is the role of the City Council in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses in Oakdale?
The Community Development Department has several goals related to minority and women owned businesses in their business retention, expansion and attraction.
What further policies can Oakdale adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
During the pandemic we offered interest free loans to businesses and relaxed ordinances for outdoor seating at restaurants. With our new partnership with the Chambers of Commerce we are reaching out to those businesses most effected by the pandemic and will offer suggestions, help and resources.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
I believe in small, limited government. I believe in and advocate for individual rights and responsibilities. EVERY human being deserves respect and the right to live their own lives as they see fit as long as they are not harming others. The rights of the individual need to be protected. I believe our small businesses are the backbone of our society and we should do what we can as a city government to help and support their needs. I believe we owe our veterans all that it takes to make them whole after sending them to battle. It is the voice of the people that must be heard and governments job is to protect our rights. This is who I am and I look forward to continuing my service on the City Council of the great city of Oakdale with humility and with the knowledge that I am only there to do what’s best for the residents of Oakdale not a place for personal agendas.