Candidate bio: Mel Olson

Age: 49.

Personal: Married, two children. Native of St. Paul Park, Minn.; resident of Mitchell for 27 years.

Occupation: Teacher, Mitchell High School. Subjects include American history, world history, critical issues, AP government.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in history, master’s degree in social studies education, completing another master’s degree in history.

Elected offices held: 12 years in the state Legislature, including 1993-2000 as a state senator (assistant Senate minority leader 1999-2000) and 2001-2004 as a state representative and House minority leader.

Other experience: “Besides the electoral experience, just being an interested citizen, and following city issues.”

Why he thinks he should be elected: “I’ve never really liked that kind of question. Elections are about incumbents. This is my 10th election, and if I win it will be because people don’t agree with Allen Lepke on the issues, so I’d rather talk about the issues.”

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