Taxing district that supports children's museum and regional athletic complex elects new president

The Capital Area Regional Public Facilities District (CAR-PFD) elected David Brine as its new president on Thursday, Nov. 14. The board is beginning preparations to fill two upcoming vacancies. 

The CAR-PFD finances payments on bonds issued by Lacey and Olympia to construct two regional event centers, Lacey’s Regional Athletic Complex and Olympia’s Hands On Children’s Museum. It is a special taxing district created by Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater and Thurston County in 2003. 

John Grausam officially resigned as president during the meeting to facilitate the leadership change. Brine was unanimously elected as the new president, and following the vote, he confirmed his readiness to assume the role.

Although Grausam will remain a board member until his term ends in March 2025, his early departure from the role secures a smooth handover of responsibilities. 

Grausam expressed optimism about the future of the CAR-PFD under Brine’s leadership, saying, “This decision lays the groundwork for the next team.” 

Board members praised Grausam’s contributions and voiced confidence in Brine’s leadership. 

The board also reviewed updated role descriptions for officers, including the president, to align with current practices and provide clear guidance for future transitions. These updates were also unanimously approved. 

Focus on recruitment 

Two district-wide vacancies—Grausam’s departure in March 2025 and an already unfilled position—were also key focus of the meeting, which prompted discussions on recruitment strategies. 

Elissa Fontaine, Lacey city clerk and administrative liaison to the CAR-PFD, outlined that the strategy targets optimizing the process and smoothing the transition. 

“We will be looking to open up recruitment at that time,” Fontaine said, referring to Grausam’s soon-to-be-vacant seat. “We have identified some process improvements and are putting those into place early next year, in the springtime, to coordinate those applications,” she added. 

Fontaine said the district’s new approach emphasizes collaboration across jurisdictions to identify qualified candidates. 

Board members also expressed their desire for new members to have leadership skills and a commitment to advancing the district’s mission of supporting regional facilities and fostering community engagement.