Q&A: How College of DuPage's new trustee got involved

• Second of two parts

Despite his tender age - 27 - David S. Olsen is no political neophyte.

He fills a vacancy on the College of DuPage board, but comes to the panel with considerable political experience.

Olsen has been a Downers Grove village council member since 2013. He was University of Illinois student body president from April 2010 to April 2011. He's also vice chairman of the Downers Grove Township Republican Organization.

During an hourlong sit-down interview with the Daily Herald, Olsen talked about his political journey and how it led him to his appointment by Illinois Community College Board Chairman Lazaro Lopez to serve on the board overseeing the state's largest community college.

Here's an edited transcript of part of that conversation:

Q. How did you get involved in politics?

A. It started when I was at the University of Illinois. At the end of my sophomore year, a friend of mine said, "You should look at being in student government." So I got signatures to get my name on the ballot. On election day, I got more votes than anyone else and was seated on the student government.

Quickly, I looked at it as a real opportunity to serve. I developed a love for public service and interacting with people - considering their concerns, listening to them and then trying to take action to address those concerns.

After graduation, I took my student government experience ... worked with some folks here locally and decided to throw my hat into the ring for (Downers Grove) village council. It's all gone from there.

Q. Who are your political mentors or influences?

A. There's a number of people that have been very helpful to me. One person I consider a mentor and a friend is my mayor, Martin Tully. We don't always agree, and we vehemently disagree on a number of issues. But we also believe in serving the people.

Another person I regard as a government mentor is state Rep. Patti Bellock. She's somebody who really believes in the value of young people and getting young people involved in government. And she's always been somebody I could call and talk to if I ever need something.

It was wonderful for me to have worked (on campaigns) for people like former (state) Sen. Kirk Dillard. He's somebody I have great respect for. He was one of the first people who invited me into the Republican Party. He has been a great friend and a great supporter of me for a very long time.

Q. How did you get involved with what was happening at the College of DuPage?

A. COD became such a high-profile issue. Some people have noted I've come to a number of meetings. I spoke at one meeting - the meeting where the board passed the resolution of censure against (then-trustee) Kathy Hamilton.

Clearly, there was something going on there. So I felt it was my responsibility to at least understand the issues and become more familiar with what was going on. So I attended a few meetings and followed it in the press.

Q. When did that happen?

A. It was around the summer of 2014 that some of those issues were coming to light. There was some of the conflict between Kathy Hamilton and some other board members. I would say that's when I became the most aware of what's going on in terms of the board and its governance.

Q. How did you wind up on the College of DuPage board?

A. When this sudden resignation happened and the application process opened, it really wasn't something I considered ... because I have plenty going on in Downers Grove, and with my personal and professional life. So I didn't apply.

But then some folks started talking to me - people I met at the COD meetings - and a couple of local leaders said, "Would you mind if we forwarded your name to Dr. Lopez?" I recognized that given the seeming intractability between the two sides and the unwillingness to come together, that perhaps I could provide some leadership. So I said I was willing to have them share my name.

It was not until (Feb. 12) that I first got a call from Dr. Lopez. We had a great conversation about the college, about some of my background and, ultimately, he asked me if I would be willing to accept the position.

Q. So that was the first time you talked to Lopez?

A. That's right.

Q. Was it a formal interview?

A. I wouldn't consider it a formal interview. It was a conversation. I thought we had a really open and honest conversation about the situation at the college, about my background ... and what Dr. Lopez thought. Dr. Lopez is not somebody who lives in this district. Dr. Lopez is not someone who is intimately familiar with the issues. He noted he had spoken to each of the six trustees and understood there was a large divide. But ultimately, Dr. Lopez said he wanted someone to come in and provide strong and independent leadership and be new a new voice for the board. I was willing to do that.

Q. On Thursday night, one of the applicants for the seat, Claire Ball, said she was "dismayed by the process" used to appoint you. Others have made the claim that the appointment is your reward for not running in the GOP primary against state Rep. Ron Sandack. What is your response?

A. I would just suggest that it's a bit ridiculous that it was a reward or a political prize. If I wanted a political prize, I think I'd ask for something more than an unpaid community college trustee job where I get to work six hours on Thursday night and many hours preparing for these board meetings.

I understand Ms. Ball's concerns. The process was unusual. From what I understand, it was the first time in Illinois history that the ICCB chair had to make a selection like this.

I'm not predisposed to know what Dr. Lopez was thinking or who he was consulting. But I know that Dr. Lopez asked me if I was willing to do it, and I said yes. So ultimately, this was a decision that came down from the person who statutorily was mandated to do it.

From my perspective, I was willing to serve. And given that Dr. Lopez asked me to serve, I certainly was not going to let down the people of this district and decline.

Q. In August 2014, you referred to Hamilton as a "voice for reform." In your opinion, what does it mean to be a reformer?

A. I really believe a reformer is someone who is not afraid to speak up - not afraid to call out behavior or call out policies or call out practices that they believe need to be changed. A reformer is somebody who's for good government and, ultimately, for the people. If you're not for good government and you're not doing it for the people, then you can't be a reformer.

Q. Would you consider yourself to be a reformer?

A. Absolutely. I'm not going to be afraid to raise my voice and to speak up when it's necessary.

Q. How long do you plan to stay on the College of DuPage board? Do you intend to seek election to the panel next spring?

A. My intention at this time is to fill out this term and then to return to Downers Grove and continue my work in Downers Grove. That's my intention at this time. I don't want to rule anything out. A month ago, I would have never expected that I'd be sitting here as a trustee of the College of DuPage. So I don't want to say, "I will not ever do that (run for COD trustee)." But at this time, my intention is to provide interim leadership and stability for the college. If I could do that and leave the college in a better place, that's what I regard as success.