(OLYMPIA) -- Last
night (February 12, 2012) the Thurston Public Utility District Commissioners appointed
Russell E. Olsen as the District 2 PUD Commissioner. Mr. Olsen will serve as
the PUD Commissioner until the elections are certified in November 2014. Mr.
Olsen is filling the PUD seat vacated by Alan M. Corwin at the end of December
2012.
As
the District 2 Commissioner, Mr. Olsen will represent the area of the County
that encompasses Lacey (borders are the same as County Commissioners), the Yelm
area and the City of Rainer.
Mr.
Olsen is the Unit Supervisor of the Voluntary Clean-up Program where he
supervises 13 professional staff members for the Northwest Regional Office of
Toxics Clean-up Program of the Washington State Department of Ecology. He
has a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Martin’s University and a Masters of
Public Administration degree from Seattle University. He also was a General
Manager for the American Golf Corporation before his entry into public service.
Mr. Olsen grew up in the Thompson Place neighborhood, outside of Lacey,
attended Olympic View Elementary, graduated from North Thurston High School and
has been married to Rebecca Olsen for 14 years. They have a seven year old son.
Mr.
Olsen has extensive knowledge and experience in strategic planning, policy and
budget development, implementation, and assessment. The PUD is confident that
his excellent professional expertise and strong people skills will serve the
citizens of Thurston County and the customers of the PUD well. Mr. Olsen may be
contacted at rolsen@thurstonpud.org.
