Comment on 3-term Linn County supervisor Brent Oleson dives into new role: county employee

CEDAR RAPIDS — Brent Oleson initially planned to serve only two terms when he was first elected in 2008 to the Linn County Board of Supervisors. But while advancing county conservation projects and programs, he decided to stay for a third.“During my last term, it became apparent that I needed to think about my future career as I was already serving more than my initial pledge of eight years and I could always find another reason to stay just one more term to accomplish yet another significant project,” recalled Oleson, who joined the board as a Republican but switched in 2015 to be a Democrat.Though he announced a decision last August to step away from the board — opening one of the three elected seats — he ultimately did not go too far for his next job.Oleson became the deputy director of public policy and community relations for Linn County, an $81,764-a-year-job he has held since January after leaving the $115,726 supervisor role.Oleson, 50, said he weighed many issues in his career and life in making the decision to leave the board and apply for his new position.Last summer, Oleson, who holds a law degree from the University of Iowa, interviewed for a position with the Linn County Attorney’s Office as an assistant attorney in the department’s juvenile division.