Reject Micah Olson for EP City Council

You’ve seen his flyer. A young, warm, engaging face offering to help us build a bright future together.  

His mission, he states, is to “forge a new kind of politics” and to focus on “service.” Admirable goals. Who wouldn’t agree with them? I’m sure he’s personally a nice guy and well-meaning. However, if you dig deeper into Mr. Olson’s candidacy, you’ll see that there are several reasons to reject him for the Eden Prairie City Council: 

1. He has lived in the city for less than a year. How can you claim to be a leader in a community where you have lived for less than a year? 
2. The only “non-profit community service” I’ve seen is his paid work for the Center for the American Experiment and his meetings with and advocacy on behalf of businesses. 
3. Mr. Olson offers three reasons for voting for him: Safe neighborhoods, economic opportunity, and building trust. Take a moment and reflect on those commitments. Isn’t that the hard work that the incumbent city council is already doing? Would you conclude, as I have, that we already live in a safe and economically vital city? That we trust the city council, the city staff, and our police. We have beautiful parks. We have a city dedicated to inclusion and diversity. Mr. Olson criticizes none of this and yet offers a vague “new kind of politics.” No specific solutions or proposals. Either he agrees that the city is already being run well, has no new ideas to offer, or doesn’t wish to share what they are. He promises to “pave a new direction,” but those words are simple cliches and lack the meat on the bone.  

My vote is for Ron Case, Mark Freiberg, and Kathy Nelson. Reject Micah Olson for Eden Prairie City Council. Let him work to earn the right to lead.

Thomas Achartz, Eden Prairie