David Olson

David Olson was born in Austin, Texas. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1977 to 2005 before moving into the defense contracting industry. He graduated from Conroe High School. He earned a bachelor's degree from Southern New Hampshire University in 2005. His career experience includes working as a banking professional. Olson has volunteered with local groups including Drug Education for Youth Program and Gig Harbor/FISH Food Bank.[1][2][3][4]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a retired U.S. Navy officer, former public finance banker, and a 13-year elected member of the Peninsula School District Board. During 28 years in the Navy, I served as an electronics technician, Navy diver, and commissioned officer. After retiring from military service, I worked in public finance, helping manage relationships involving hundreds of millions of dollars in public funds.

I have also served as an elected Pierce County Charter Review Commissioner and in leadership roles with civic and nonprofit organizations, including the Greater Gig Harbor Foundation, City Club of Tacoma, the Hilltop Business Association, and the World Trade Center Tacoma.

On the school board, I have helped oversee a $174 million annual operating budget and a $198 million capital program that delivered four new elementary schools and two modernized middle schools ahead of schedule and under budget. I have supported stronger literacy and math instruction, expanded career and technical education, improved student safety, and greater accountability.

I am running for State Representative because Olympia has lost focus. Families are struggling with affordability while taxes, fees, and state spending continue to rise without enough accountability. I will bring practical experience, independent judgment, and a commitment to strong public schools, public safety, responsible budgeting, and measurable results.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Affordability must be Olympia’s first priority. Families are being squeezed by the combined cost of housing, groceries, fuel, utilities, insurance, transportation, taxes, and fees. I will oppose unnecessary taxes and fee increases, consider the full cost of new mandates, and work to make daily life more affordable. To increase housing supply, I support revising the Growth Management Act and expanding urban growth area boundaries where infrastructure can support responsible development. I will also fight for reliable ferry service, better roads and infrastructure, and protection of earned pension funds from being diverted to cover unrelated state spending.Washington needs stronger accountability for public spending. As State Representative, I will call for a moratorium on new tax increases until independent performance audits are completed on major budget areas, including education, transportation, capital projects, and state operations. We must identify inefficiencies, reduce administrative overhead and duplication, limit unnecessary consultants, improve procurement, and require measurable results before asking taxpayers for more. Effective services should be protected; programs that fail should be corrected, consolidated, or ended. I also support revisiting the Climate Commitment Act because its costs are hurting consumers and small businesses.Washington’s Constitution makes public education the state’s paramount duty, yet too many students are not being prepared for successful adulthood. The state must do more to improve outcomes and replace the outdated prototypical funding model with a realistic system that reflects what schools actually need. I will protect classroom funding and oppose cuts to Running Start, Transitional Kindergarten, and special education. I also support stronger literacy and math instruction, expanded career and technical education and skilled-trades pathways, improved school safety, greater accountability, and more local control for parents, educators, school boards, and communities.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am especially passionate about public education, affordability, responsible budgeting, public safety, housing, reliable transportation, and restoring Washington’s competitiveness. Rising taxes, fees, energy costs, and regulations are making our state less business-friendly. Policies such as the Climate Commitment Act raise costs for consumers and small businesses and can discourage employers from investing or creating jobs here. When businesses leave or expand elsewhere, families lose jobs and local communities lose economic activity. My priorities include stronger schools, dependable ferries and roads, faster housing permitting, support for law enforcement and behavioral-health treatment, and accountability for every public dollar.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

My campaign has been endorsed by former U.S. Congressman and King County Sheriff Dave Reichert; former Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna; and State Representatives Jim Walsh, April Connors, Travis Couture, Andrew Barkis, Dan Griffey, Suzanne Schmidt, Mainstream Republicans of Washington, and others.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

David Olson is a husband, father of four, a retired US Navy Chief Warrant Officer and currently serves on the Peninsula School Board, including being board chair in 2021 and the current vice chair.

David served in the U.S. Navy for 28 years, enlisting right out of high school, reaching the rank of Chief Warrant Officer. He had the demanding and exciting job of Navy Diver - doing underwater ships husbandry, experimental and saturation diving, and various classified projects.

In 2005, David and wife Tonia of 25 years — a Washington native – needed to pick where they’d live after David retired from the Navy. They did something more parents should be able to do, they researched school districts and chose to move to the Peninsula School District to ensure their four children received an excellent education.

With a lifelong passion for serving others, it is important to David to support local organizations and causes. He was raised to give back and to make things better than you found them. Today, he sits on the Board of the Greater Gig Harbor Foundation; and is a member of the Friday morning Rotary Club.

David was first elected to the Peninsula School District Board in 2013, and was twice reelected since. During that time, he has served as President and Vice President, and Legislative Representative. David cares deeply about his community, and he is passionate about making it the best possible place to live and raise your family.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Prioritizing Academic Opportunities:

David believes that each student can achieve their best potential by providing the academic opportunities they need. He advocates for better identification of students who require special services and accelerated learning, and he prioritizes teachers' instructional time over digital learning for elementary school-aged children. Olson also seeks to increase instructional time and tutoring services for low-income students and those not meeting standards. The academic performance of his district, along with the decision to open schools early for special education students during COVID, demonstrates that these goals are achievable.Focused on Improved Mental Health – Passed Policy Restricting Cell Phones & Social Media in Classrooms: Nationwide we're seeing the harm cell phones and social media is causing to our youth and students. Especially among young girls, social media bullying is creating extreme anxiety - and suicidal thoughts - and cell phone use during class has a devastating impact on academic performance. The new policy has reduced student stress, increased student engagement, reduced discipline issues, and increased academic scores. As Superintendent, David will urge all school district to adopt similar policies.Expanding Options for the Skilled Trades: As a former Navy electrician, underwater welder, and Navy saturation diver, David Olson knows the value of skilled trades firsthand. David believes in preparing students for high paying, fulfilling careers without student loan debt. Promoting skilled trades is central to his vision for improving education and workforce readiness in Washington state.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Special Education Funding and Transportation Funding

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

It oversees almost 50% of the state budget and is primarily responsible for the education of over 1,000,000 students.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

The Anxious Generation

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Integrity and ethical behavior beyond reproach.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The Superintendent must primarily focus on academic achievement and civic & social engagement to prepare the students to become productive adults. The Superintendent must put students first and refrain from pushing political agendas into the classrooms.

We must also work to restrict cell phone use and social media in the classrooms in order to improve student engagement and reduce their stress and anxiety.

What legacy would you like to leave?

That I helped improve public education to help the future generation of this country.

What responsibilities of this office do you personally consider the most important?

Financial oversight and academic success of the students.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

Yes, it will help quite a lot.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

Public finance knowledge and experience leading or serving on public education or school boards.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Over 50 school board members and the Washington State Farm Bureau PAC

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

I believe in full transparency for all things and 100% accountability to the taxpayers.

Do you support or oppose changes to the current state ballot initiative process? If so, what kind of changes would you consider?

No. I do not support changes.

Campaign website

Olson's campaign website stated the following:

THE PLATFORM

Putting Kids & Parents First

David Olson, a retired naval officer, and respected veteran of the Peninsula School Board for over a decade, is now running for Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) with a fervent determination to overhaul our public education system that has floundered under Chris Reykdal and has failed Washington’s children.

Olson‘s extensive experience on the school board underscores his steadfast commitment to community service and educational excellence. His track record speaks volumes showcasing, not only his ability to navigate tough battles, but his commitment to non-partisan pragmatic solutions that prioritize student achievement and parent voice.

David Olson is a champion of parent and family voice in their children's education. This includes parents serving on curriculum assessment committees, parent advisory committees, and more. Studies clearly show that when parents and families are involved, and engaged, it has a significant impact on student success.

David's Plan for the Future:

Olson’s top priority as Superintendent will be student learning. Under the current Superintendent, student success has collapsed, especially amongst students of color. Washington has a highly educated population, and this means many students learn outside of our schools, creating an important buffer against bad policies. Where students are most dependent on schools, we see a near total failure. The mission of public education is to serve as the great equalizer in our society, but there is ample proof that this is no longer the case.

The current Superintendent is failing Washington's students. In 2023, with an average of $18,287 spent statewide per student, only 50.7% of students met state testing minimum standards for ELA (reading and writing); 39.1% met math standards; and 42.9% met science standards. While some large, high income school districts have state test scores above 70%, there are many high poverty, and smaller school districts with test scores below 30%. This is unacceptable! As Superintendent of Public Instruction, David Olson will make sure our lower income students and their respective school districts, as well as small school districts, have the resources - curriculum resources, professional development for staff, etc. - they need to achieve success. He will also replace the current transportation funding formula to make it less onerous.

As Superintendent of Public Instruction, David Olson will work to change the funding model to help redirect financial resources to high poverty and smaller school districts that have trouble passing critical capital bonds and levies and paying for critical needs.

The current Superintendent took away local control from school districts and their elected school boards. He threatened to withhold money if they defied him. The result? A huge loss of learning for those students that might never be restored. On Day One, David Olson will restore local control to school boards!!

"David Olson is a dedicated leader who puts students' needs first. His commitment to academic success and to eliminate divisive social programs make him the ideal candidate for Supt of Public Instruction." – Senator Jan Angel, retired.

Our kids and parents need David Olson as our next Superintendent of Public Instruction. Olson will become a partner with local school districts, helping them, not attacking them.

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—David Olson's campaign website (2024)[9]

Olson provided the following statement for the 2013 Local Voters' Pamphlet in Pierce County:[2]

"Your children and grandchildren deserve the very best from our schools. As taxpayers, you should be confident that your money is well spent. Sadly, schools have fewer resources. After-school programs and the arts are being eliminated due to budget reductions.

To create new opportunities and efficiencies, the School Board can develop partnerships with community organizations such as Parks and Recreation, Chamber of Commerce, and Rotary, to name a few. Through innovative ideas, realistic policies, and high expectations, the school board, along with the active and strong Parent Teacher Association, can create a positive learning environment in the schools.

For 28 years, the US Navy was my career. Following that, my family has had the pleasure of living in Gig Harbor for eight years. We chose Gig Harbor because it is a great community with many blessings. Three of our four children attended Goodman Middle School and graduated from Gig Harbor High School.

Having lived around the world, my wife (an educator) and I have seen first-hand how a lack of education and after-school programs affect entire communities. I am committed to helping your children, and grandchildren, achieve an outstanding education to prepare them for a successful future."

Note: The above quote is from the candidate's website, which may include some typographical or spelling errors.