Olsen frontrunner to replace Sandack
Monday, Jul 25, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Subscribers were told about this earlier today…
A rising star in the DuPage County Republican Party, David S. Olsen, appears to be the leading candidate to replace 81st District state Rep. Ron Sandack of Downers Grove, who has resigned his seat citing “cyber security issues.”
Olsen, 27, of Downers Grove, already serves as vice chairman of the College of DuPage board of trustees, as a Downers Grove village commissioner and as vice chairman of the Downers Grove Township Republican Committee.
He has expressed interest in seeking the 81st House seat in the past and Downers Grove Township and DuPage County GOP leaders say he’s the “front-runner” to fill the remainder of Sandack’s term and likely be listed on the Nov. 8 ballot against Downers Grove Democrat Greg Hose.
“Right now it sounds like David Olsen is at the top of everyone’s wish list,” said Bob Grogan, Downers Grove Township Republican Organization chairman. “He’s a well-liked young man.” […]
Officials expect the decision on Sandack’s replacement will be made relatively quickly. The Republican party has 30 days from Sandack’s resignation effective Monday to fill his seat and officials have until Aug. 25 to fill the vacancy on the November ballot.
- NIU Grad - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 1:27 pm:
The big question: Who takes on the (formal or informal) role of floor leader?
- Honeybear - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 1:29 pm:
Okay, totally serious question. I’m not trying to be snarky either. What is the deal with Republicans and the young folks? Are there no middle aged folks on the bench to draw from? It just leaves me the impression that Republicans just want naïve compliance most found in the young and innocent. I’m really interested in the answer. Are Dems the same way?
- Formerly Known as Frenchie M - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 1:31 pm:
Is it a good thing or a bad thing that he’s on the College of DuPage board of trustees?
Seems like it’s still a bit of a hot potato, that COD.
http://www.cod.edu/about/board_of_trustees/
- Kewanee Socialist - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 1:32 pm:
Olsen would have to resign from his Downers Grove City Council seat AND his seat on the BOT for College of DuPage in order to replace Sandack as State Representative?
- Red Ranger - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 1:33 pm:
Honeybear, Rauner is taking a page out of MJMs playbook with the young legislators. They have little political infrastructure of their own and not a lot of campaign cash, therefore they have to be loyal to the person that put them in the spot. Also, being a member of the GA isn’t what it once was and certainly isn’t all that fun anymore, so you need super-ambitious young people that might not be able to grasp that yet.
- Formerly Known as Frenchie M - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 1:34 pm:
Ah — I get it now:
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20160324/news/160329357/
Rauner’s own pick.
- Precinct Captain - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 1:36 pm:
He got on CoD board after all the scandal. IIRC he was the person appointed when the board couldn’t agree on a replacement for Kathy Hamilton.
While I don’t know Olsen personally, I’ve met him a time or two and he had a very professional demeanor. That is a plus if you’re replacing Sandack.
- Illinois Bob - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 1:36 pm:
At that age, will he be the next Aaron Shock or the next Lee Roupas?
BTW, anyone know what happened to Lee? I haven’t heard from him since he got married.
- Mama - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 1:38 pm:
- Honeybear - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 1:29 pm: -
Honeybear, it is easier to mold a young brain.
- Pawn - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 1:40 pm:
Honeybear, they can still live with mom and dad while Munger withholds their paychecks!
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 1:40 pm:
“Kinda young, ain’t he?” - Fake Rep. Avery Bourne
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 1:41 pm:
Young Raunerites need Rauner. Rauner wants complete control. That’s it. Control.
As @StatehouseChick would say… “Simple”
- A guy - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 1:46 pm:
He’s a very impressive person for any age. He’s very well liked and very well respected all over DuPage.
- phocion - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 1:47 pm:
Sandack served his constituents well as a fiscal conservative and a social moderate. His proposed replacement is far, far to the right. Hope the haters are happy now.
- 47th Ward - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 1:47 pm:
27? Couldn’t they find anyone younger and less experienced?
- Joshua Naponiello - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 1:53 pm:
Young does not mean inexperienced or not ready. David is a fresh new face.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 1:56 pm:
- phocion -
With Respect,
It’s now Raunerite or Non-Raunerite.
Rauner’s remarks on the Maps reinforced his distain for Republicans. Again.
What can you do?
The Ron Sandack that left, isn’t the same Sandack than entered, and some was the role, but some wasn’t.
A role doesn’t make you rush the well, persona does.
With respect, a good point, but wrong parameters
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 1:58 pm:
===Young does not mean inexperienced or not ready. David is a fresh new face.===
… who is against the “Status Quo” and wants “reforms” and feels Labor is hostile to Illinois?
Hmm.
I’ll wait before I start using “fresh face” with Raunerite talking points?
- Honeybear - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 2:08 pm:
Pawn you bad
- Casper - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 2:19 pm:
Olsen is Brian Krajewski’s puppet. This is a continuation of the fight between Sandack and Krajewski since 07. Since Sandack retired Krajewski is looking to insert his puppet into the seat and with Krajewski being the DuPage Republican Chairman he can bully anyone into his pick. …the games continue.
- blue dog dem - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 2:22 pm:
One simple answer to the youth thing—–Kool Aid.
- The Fool On The Hill - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 2:26 pm:
Will he send pictures from the House floor?
- Anonymous - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 2:34 pm:
Olsen will be no puppet.
- Former DuPage Mayor - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 2:36 pm:
Talk about puppets — Mr Ron “puppet” Sandack
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 2:43 pm:
===Olsen will be no puppet.===
Oh. That’s adorable. lol
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 2:44 pm:
===This is a continuation of the fight between Sandack and Krajewski since 07.==
The fallout? Maybe.
I’m sure Mr. Uihline will be happy(?)
- AlfondoGonz - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 2:49 pm:
“Olson will be no puppet.”
Well, he is a real boy.
- Jeeves The Cat - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 3:39 pm:
Remember, IIRC “picked” him for the split COD Board despite having no college experience other than having been a student over people who had lifetimes of education experience. Curious that they also selected him to be the decider at the second largest school in the state when he hadn’t even applied or submitted a resumé or any credentials at all. Puppets or just plain tools, political appointees who are appointed just because they are political IS the Chicago way.
- burbanite - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 3:42 pm:
There is a Democratic challenger for this seat. Young, but not quite as young, Greg Hose.
- Casper - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 3:52 pm:
In addition to his COD appointment, don’t forget about Olsen’s support for less transparency and approval to ask staff and vendors for campaign contributions. DG used to have one of the strictest ethics standards in the state and now it’s going the other direction.
- A guy - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 3:54 pm:
Jeeves, he was the student body President at the largest university in the state. I’d suggest that is some college experience. Since he’s been there, it would appear things have settled down and progressed very well. But thanks for your thought. Ugh.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 4:12 pm:
===Jeeves, he was the student body President at the largest university in the state.===
LOL!!!!!
(Catches breath… )
LOL!!!!
This Olsen kid’s qualification is student body president??
LOL!!!!!
Jason Plummer, move over.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 4:13 pm:
@FakeDavidOlsen - When I was student body president… #OhBoyThisIsGonnaBeFun
- Touré's Latte - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 4:16 pm:
LOL say a couple Hoots and look! a little brush war among the comments.
I know what I have read in the Daily Herald re COD. He has been a deciding vote in the face of some really dumb leftover cronies of a horrible COD President. COD is back on track because of him. He looks like he is about ten years old.
Greg Hose is more like a downstate Democrat, and as a State Central Committeeman, will (hopefully) get some more support. That would be huge to flip the Owl’s seat.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 4:17 pm:
@FakeDavidOlsen - As a former student body President, one of my major strengths is knowing the Roberts Rules of Order #StudentOfGovernmentKindaSorta
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 4:20 pm:
So, the big selling point is that David Olsen was a student body president.
That’s what we’re going with.
That’s a selling point. Student body president is something the voters of the 81st District need to know about the approved Rauner appointee?
- Lucky Pierre - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 4:27 pm:
Ease up Willy, seems like a pretty impressive young man. Clearly very intelligent and civic minded too. How have the “experienced” legislators you defend every day been performing their role of passing a budget?
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 4:30 pm:
===…seems like a pretty impressive young man.===
So the 27 year old part or that - A Guy - thinks the student body president part is relevant right now, lol
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 4:33 pm:
- Lucky Pierre -
You misunderstand… I want Olsen picked now. More than anything.
Please. Pretty please.
- walker - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 4:53 pm:
Illinois Republicans seem to generate one or two twenty-something “rising stars” every election cycle. Probably a good thing. Where do they all go?
- JS Mill - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 5:06 pm:
=Where do they all go? =
I think you would have to ask the special prosecutor that question. He or she would know.
- scott aster - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 5:14 pm:
another boy wonder like the kid from Peoria….Schock
- Casper - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 5:19 pm:
===…seems like a pretty impressive young man.===
He’s not that impressive.
Do your homework and you will find he’s voted against campaign finance transparency and is trying to climb the ladder as quickly as possible. (this would make 3 offices in 4 months?). Age and job leaping aside, the 81st is NOT a HARD R district.
- NorthSideNoMore - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 5:37 pm:
Honey B the middle age GOPers are burned out. Way to many years of being beat down and frustrated with the whole Springfield mess. Which is probably why a bunch of GA members are leaving/have left.
- Dance Band on the Titanic - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 7:46 pm:
Olsen is part of the COD board faction playing hide the crony capitalism from the public. This is who he sides with:
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20160129/news/160128745/
- DG resident - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 9:30 pm:
Olsen was going to primary Sandack for Krajweski this spring but a call from the governor’s office killed that idea.
In 2014 Olsen wanted to introduce a DG village council resolution opposing a state graduated income tax just like the big boys at the DuPage County Board did.
At the beginning of the meeting during public comment I spoke out against his resolution pointing out that 74% of DG residents would pay less in state taxes, roughly $300 less per household keeping about $5.7 million in our pockets instead of sending it to Springfield. Sure the Rahm Emnanuels and Bruce Rauners of the state would have to pay a bit more. Under Harmon’s plan if you brought home an even million a year you’d pay $65,000 instead of $50,000.
I’d heard he didn’t have the votes for his resolution beforehand. Most of the commissioners didn’t want to get involved in his little stunt. So when it came time to introduce it he made it clear he only wanted to put it on the table for discussion but would not call it for a vote. He asked for a second and not one other council member would even join him to put it on the table.
I am not impressed with Olsen.
- The Fool On The Hill - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 11:28 pm:
Gotta hand it to the ILGOP, they’ve got a strong bench.
- A guy - Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 9:37 am:
Willy, Jason Plummer???
You really don’t have any idea who David Olsen is. He’s extremely well qualified and very ready.