Candidate for Secretary of State - Sylvia Sanders Olson

Sylvia Olson helps her husband Ben operate a family farm in Pocahontas County. She also works for the local newspaper. Sylvia and Ben have two sons, one in college and one in high school. As a family, they enjoy sailing, traveling, and learning together.

Sylvia describes herself as a "natural libertarian": "Live and let live, take responsibility for your life, be skeptical of power -- these are ideas I was raised with," she says. A member of the Libertarian Party since the 1970's, she has served as Secretary of the Libertarian National Committee and has also been active in Libertarian politics at the state and local level.

A love of the natural world and a desire to protect the life of the planet are also important to her. Volunteering is a big part of her life. She has donated time to coaching high school mock trial and youth soccer, raised funds for the local tennis courts, created displays about ecological topics, and helped organize a drug policy symposium, among other projects.

Educated at Harvard/Radcliffe, with a B.A. in psychology and sociology, she worked as a science teacher and in sales positions before her current career as mother, farmer and journalist.

"I am running for office to encourage people to get active. If 'just plain folks' don't take an interest in our government, then it gets taken over by professional politicians and the powerful interests that buy the politicians. 'Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.' That was true in the 18th century, and it is even more true today."

Email: bensyl@evertek.net