U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley announced that Carol Olson of Des Moines will join his staff this month as state director. In this position, Olson will represent Grassley and oversee the work of regional directors and constituent service specialists in Grassley’s offices statewide. She will be based in Des Moines and start Jan. 22. Olson has been deputy secretary of state for elections in Des Moines for the past three years. She previously led the Iowa State Senate Republican staff as staff director, and was a legislative assistant in Washington, D.C., for Grassley from 1987 through 1991.