Ames Journalist Files for Story County Supervisor Race

Journalist Lauris Olson, owner of the Ames Bulletin Board and the AmesNewsOnline.com news website, announced this week that she has filed as an independent candidate for the Story County Supervisor seat on the Nov. 6 general ballot.

She will face Incumbent Story County Supervisor Wayne Clinton, a Democrat, in November.

The filing deadline for independent candidates wishing to seek county office is 5 p.m. Wednesday Aug. 29. A full list of independent candidates will be available on the auditor's website Thursday.

Olson, 54 of Ames, lists her key issues as:

• Restructuring Story County government, starting with replacing three at-large “fulltime” supervisors with five “part-time supervisors focused on policy development and the county budget, leaving administrative oversight and many committee duties to a professional manager.
• Creating and funding small-scale economic growth programs and incentives for businesses employing fewer than 25 full-time employees.
• Closing the $1 million annual shortfall between the amount needed to pay for local road and bridge repair and the amount available/allocated for the work.
• Creating a productive, responsive mental health and developmental disability service-delivery region with neighboring counties by 2014 that can deliver as comprehensive of a package of services as Story County residents were receiving in January of 2012.

Olson began working for the Des Moines Register in 1992 as a journalism student at Drake University and has also worked for media outlets in Alaska, Wisconsin and Iowa, according to her announcement.

She moved to Ames in 2003 while serving as a section editor for the Des Moines Register’s new Ames Life and Times publication.

Olson stated that still forming her campaign team. Communicate with her at lauris_olson@me.com, 525-451-7293, Facebook (LaurisOlson) or Twitter @LaurisOlson. Her website is www.LaurisOlson.com.