State Sen. Gen Olson, a Republican from Minnetrista, had told constituents two years ago that she would retire after this session, and she confirmed it Thursday.
“That’s old news at this point,” she told MPR News. “It wasn’t a press release, or anything like that. It was to the people in my district, and word has spread since.”
Education lobbyists and others at the Capitol also seemed to know.
Olson was first elected in 1982. She’s chair of the Senate Education Committee.
She’s also made a couple of runs for higher office: She lost the Republican Party nomination for U.S. Senate to Rod Grams in 1994, and was the Lieutenant governor candidate running with Norm Coleman in 1998, when Jesse Ventura was elected governor.
