Meet Randi

Randi Olson of Cortland, IL announced that she is running in the 70th General Assembly District for State Representative. The 70th covers parts of Kane, McHenry and DeKalb County. Olson currently serves as a Trustee on the Cortland Town Board. She has lived in Cortland for 22 years with her husband and her 22 year old son, Will. Randi has resided in DeKalb County since 1982 and holds a BA in English from NIU.

After college, Olson managed a small business along with her husband, Larry. She taught preschool for ten years, and then managed a successful childcare for 20 years. She shared her thoughts on that experience, “Learning to manage a large branch of a national corporation, with over 30 staff while balancing the education of preschoolers who were entrusted to us full-time by their families was quite a balancing act. I enjoyed the fast-paced atmosphere, and loved taking care of the children while learning the ins and outs of running a large business at the same time. Currently, I work full-time for a non-profit, still in the education field. Learning is all about the children, their families and our country’s future. I will always advocate for that with passion.”

Olson personally struggled through the effects of the Rauner budget crisis on the business she managed and witnessed how it affected the families in her care and the community in general. Having a fiscally responsible budget that prioritizes the value of education on the community has become a priority for her.

In announcing her candidacy, Randi said, “I am proud and excited to announce my candidacy for the Democratic nomination for State Representative. My background in Education and Business will give me a balanced perspective in Springfield. Our civil rights and voting rights are under attack, and we are becoming more and more divided. We need to talk with one another in order to work together. As your representative I will be sure to always be available to my constituents and will fight to protect their rights.”

“Make no mistake, I understand this will be a tough race. We need all hands on deck. I will need the support of your time, and your donations. It must be a team effort to send me to Springfield, for all of you.”

“I look forward to getting to know you and to hearing your concerns and your hopes as I travel the community. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions. I want to hear from you.”

TO VOLUNTEER: 815-761-6812 or Randi4Illinois@gmail.com