By Sam Hedenberg

Senior staff writer

College Park City Councilman Eric Olson is “laying the groundwork” to run for a position on the Prince George’s County Council next November.

Olson, who entered his fifth term as District 3 councilman at the city’s inauguration ceremony Tuesday night, did not formally announce his intentions to run, but he said he was planning for a campaign next year.

“It’s not a secret I’m looking at running for county council,” Olson said. “I have talked to a lot of people about it and I’m certainly laying a lot of groundwork.”

Mayor Stephen Brayman alluded to Olson’s intentions to run for the position in his inaugural remarks Tuesday night, saying Olson would not only be a great asset to the city, but to the county as a whole.

“Eric is a true believer in good government and always responds to constituent concerns, and I think that’s something the county could improve on,” Brayman said yesterday. “Having Eric on the council can only be better for College Park because I believe he will improve the county as a whole.”

Fellow District 3 councilman Andrew Fellows mirrored Brayman’s sentiments.

“Eric is very conscientious and extremely fast at turning things around,” Fellows said. “He’s brainy and has a good grasp on policy issues, especially issues of education, environment and all the issues we deal with here on the council. He will be an excellent candidate.”

In this year’s city council election, Olson garnered the most votes of any candidate, earning 423 votes.

Rumors of Olson running for county council have circulated since August, when he told The Diamondback he was considering a campaign.

Olson has been known by students as a “student-friendly” council member, frequenting Student Government Association meetings and other student events.

City Council Student Liason Emily Guskin said Olson’s work with students was unprecedented.

“He has made himself known as the guy for students to go to on the city council,” Guskin said.

The SGA has worked with Olson on many initiatives, including the Taste of College Park and several saftey-based issues, which SGA Chief of Staff Devin Ellis said was a testament to Olson’s interest in student issues.

“He has been by far the most pro-active council members,” Ellis said. “He’s famous for his outreach.”

Former SGA president Aaron Kraus worked closely with Olson on several initiatives, and said a move to county council would be a huge step for students.

“In my experience, his qualities are unmatched by any city official I’ve ever worked with,” Kraus said. He’s not your regular politician. He’s very connected to the people in the city and he and [Fellows] were more involved with students than probably anyone on the council. They wouldn’t just talk to us, they genuinely cared about our concerns.”

If elected to county council in November, Olson would vacate his position on the city council and a special election would be held to fill the open slot, Brayman said.

Contact reporter Sam Hedenberg at hedenbergdbk@gmail.com.