Dave Reichert

Dave Reichert
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Washington's 8th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2005
Preceded by	Jennifer Dunn
Personal details
Born	August 29, 1950 (1950-08-29) (age 61) Detroit Lakes, Minnesota
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Julie Reichert
Residence	Auburn, Washington
Alma mater	Concordia Lutheran College
Religion	Lutheran - LCMS
Military service
Service/branch	Air Force Reserves
Years of service	1971-1976

David George Reichert ( /ˈraɪkərt/; born August 29, 1950) is the U.S. Representative for Washington's 8th congressional district, serving since 2005. He is a member of the Republican Party. He previously served as Sheriff of King County, Washington.

Early life, education and career

Reichert was born in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota,^[1] the oldest of seven children and grandson of the town marshal.^[2] His family moved to Washington State in 1951 living first in Renton, Washington, and later moving to Kent, where he attended Kent Meridian High School. He graduated in 1968 and went on to Concordia Lutheran College in Portland, Oregon on a small football scholarship, where he earned an A.A. in Social Work in 1970.^[3][4]

In 1971, he joined the Air Force Reserves's 939th Military Airlift Group. He saw six months of active duty at Lackland AFB, Texas, Chanute AFB, Ill., and McChord AFB, Wash., from 1971 to 1976. ^[5]

Law enforcement career

Reichert served with the King County Sheriff's Department beginning in 1972. He was a SWAT Commander, Commander-Hostage Negotiation, Commander-Bomb Disposal Unit, Commander-Traffic Unit, and an Acting Commander-Internal Investigations.^[6] Reichert was a leading member of the Green River Task Force, which was formed to track down the so-called "Green River Killer." DNA evidence eventually identified Gary Leon Ridgway as the Green River Killer in 2001.^[6] Ridgway was sentenced to life in prison without parole for the Green River murders.^[7]

County Sheriff

In 1997 he was appointed Sheriff of King County, Washington by King County Executive Ron Sims.^[6] In 2001, he ran unopposed for a second four year term.^[8] A widely rebroadcast event during the Seattle World Trade Organization conference and protests showed Reichert chasing looters down 3rd Avenue in Seattle.^[9]

Affiliations

Reichert served as president of the Washington State Sheriffs’ Association.^[2]

Reichert is an executive board member of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs.^[2]

In 2009, Reichert became an Honorary Board Member of the Seattle-based non-profit The Borgen Project, an organization that advocates global poverty legislation.^[10]

Reichert was one of the more notable members of the Green River killer task force.

Awards

Reichert won the 2004 National Sheriffs' Association's Sheriff of the Year award, two valor awards and the Washington State Atty. General's Award for courageous action.^[2]

Publications

The non-fiction book "Chasing the Devil: My Twenty-Year Quest to Capture the Green River Killer", published in July 2004, chronicles his greatest accomplishment as sheriff. ISBN 0-316-15632-9

U.S. House of Representatives

Eighth Congressional District of Washington

Reichert has been described as a moderate Republican^[11] and is the only centrist member of the Washington State Delegation, named by the National Journal three years in a row.^[12]

109th Congress

Reichert was a member of the following committees: House Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Intelligence Information Sharing and Terrorism Risk Assessment, Subcommittee Management Integration and Oversight, House Committee on Science, Subcommittee on Energy, Subcommittee on Research, Subcommittee on Environment Technology and Standards, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, Subcommittee on Highways Transit and Pipelines. In September 2005, he was appointed chairman for the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Science and Technology, a subcommittee within the Homeland Security Committee.^[13]

110th Congress

Reichert was a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, the Subcommittee on Border Maritime and Global Counter-terrorism, and the Ranking Minority Member on the Subcommittee on Intelligence Information Sharing and Terrorism Risk Assessment. He was a member of the House Committee on Science and Technology. Also, he was a member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, with membership on the Subcommittee on Aviation and Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.^[14]

111th Congress

Committee assignments

• Committee on Ways and Means^[15][16]
  • Subcommittee on Trade
  • Subcommittee on Oversight
  • Subcommittee on Social Security

Reichert voted against the stimulus and healthcare reform bills. He also was one of eight Republicans to vote for carbon emissions caps. Reichert was one of fifteen Republican House members to vote in favor of repealing the United States military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ban on openly gay service members.^[17][18] Reichert is a member of the centrist Republican Main Street Partnership.

Balanced Budget Amendment and Debt Ceiling Debate

Reichert has generally voted with the Republican caucus on issues related to the federal budget, including bills related to the debt ceiling. While he was not present at the vote on the Paul Ryan Budget^[19], he intended to vote for it but was in Washington state for the death of his mother^[20]. However, he did vote for the Cut, Cap, and Balance Act^[21] and the Budget Control Act of 2011^[22]. Both the Budget Control Act of 2011 and Cut, Cap, and Balance Act required Congress to pass a balanced budget amendment to facilitate raising the United State's debt ceiling. This position was supported primarily by Republicans and opposed by Democrats^[23]. In the final vote to lift the debt ceiling until 2013, Reichert voted with the Republican majority to increase the debt limit^[24].

Reichert has signed the Americans for Tax Reform Taxpayer Protection Pledge advocated by Grover Norquist^[25] which commits the signer to vote against any bill that raises taxes or eliminates loopholes in the tax law.

Political campaigns

2004

Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Washington, 2004#Eighth District

In 2004 Reichert ran for Congress. In the Republican primary debate, he walked out due to other Republican primary candidates not adhering to the Republican 11th commandment.^[26][27]

Reichert defeated his Democratic opponent, well known KIRO talk show host Dave Ross in the 2004 Congressional elections, 51 percent to 46 percent. He replaced retiring Republican representative Jennifer Dunn. At the same time, Democrat John Kerry won, 51 percent to 48 percent, against President George W. Bush in the 8th district. That made Reichert one of just 17 House Republicans elected in a district that went Democratic for president.^[28]

ARMPAC, one of former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's political action committees, donated $20,000 to Reichert's election campaign.^[29][30] Since DeLay's 2005 indictment on charges of conspiracy to launder money, some Democrats urged Reichert to return or donate the money but Reichert has not done so.^[31]

2006

Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Washington, 2006#District 8

Dave Reichert faced Democrat Darcy Burner in November 2006; he was re-elected with 51% of the vote.^[32]

2008

Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Washington, 2008

In a repeat of the 2006 election matchup, Rep. Dave Reichert faced Democrat Darcy Burner. Dave Reichert won the general election with 53% of the vote to Darcy Burner's 47%.^[33]

2010

Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Washington, 2010#District 8

Reichert was challenged by Democrat Suzan DelBene. ^[34] He won re-election with 52% of the vote.

Electoral history

Date	Position	Status	Opponent	Result	Vote Share	Top Opponent Vote Share
1997	Sheriff			Appointed[6]
2001	Sheriff	Incumbent	Ran Unopposed	Elected	100%[35]	N/A
2004	U.S. Representative	Open seat Primary	Diane Tebelius(R), Luke Esser (R), Conrad Lee (R)	Nominated	45.34%[36]	22.13% (Tebelius)
2004	U.S. Representative	Open seat	Dave Ross (D)	Elected	51.50%[37]	46.70%
2006	U.S. Representative	Incumbent	Darcy Burner (D)	Re-Elected	51.31%[38]	48.69%
2008	U.S. Representative	Incumbent	Darcy Burner (D)	Re-Elected	52.78%[39]	47.22%
2010	U.S. Representative	Incumbent	Suzan DelBene (D)	Re-Elected	52%	48%

Personal life

Reichert is married to Julie, whom he met in college. Together, the Reicherts currently live in Auburn and have three grown children, Angela, Tabitha, and Daniel, and six grandchildren.^[40] Reichert is a Missouri Synod Lutheran.^[41]

Following an injury where Reichert was hit in the head with a tree branch, he developed a subdural hematoma and required emergency surgery on March 24, 2010.^[42][43] In the October 20, 2010 issue of Seattle alternative weekly newspaper The Stranger there is a piece speculating that some of Reichert's lapses of memory could be caused by the subdural hematoma.^[43]

References

1. ^ "Dave Reichert Elected U.S. Representative District 8 Washington". vote-wa.org. http://www.vote-wa.org/Intro.aspx?Id=WAReichertDave. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d} "Congressman Dave Richert". U.S. House. http://reichert.house.gov/Biography/. 
3. ^ "Dave George Reichert". NNDB. http://www.nndb.com/people/303/000087042/. 
4. ^ "Seattle P-I, LWV Voter's Guide — Dave Reichert". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. http://www.vgt2004.org/a-seattlepi04/candidate-detail.go?id=1317348. 
5. ^ "Nine New Veterans Join Congress". Veterans of Foreign Wars. http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=news.magDtl&dtl=3&mid=2305. 
6. ^ ^{a b c d} "Sims appoints police professional as new King County Sheriff". King County, Washington. 1997-03-05. http://www.metrokc.gov/exec/news/1997/030597nr1.htm. 
7. ^ Gene Johnson (2003-12-18). "Ridgway sentenced to life in prison without chance of parole". Seattle Times. http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=webridgway18&date=20031218. 
8. ^ "King County Elections King County Local Voters Pamphlet November 6, 2001 General Election". King County, Washington. 2001. http://www.metrokc.gov/elections/2001nov/pamphlet/file2.htm. 
9. ^ Seattle P-I Staff (1999-12-04). "WTO Notebook: Historic theater building became target of vandals". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. http://www.seattlepi.com/local/notz04.shtml. 
10. ^ Posted by Info (2009-08-18). "The Borgen Project: Congressman Reichert". Borgenproject.blogspot.com. http://borgenproject.blogspot.com/search/label/Congressman%20Reichert. Retrieved 2010-08-29. 
11. ^ "Gov Track — Dave Reichert, U.S. Representative". http://www.govtrack.us/congress/person.xpd?id=400660. 
12. ^ "Members of Congress — David Reichert — Key Votes". Washington Post. http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/r000578/key-votes/. 
13. ^ "Reichert Named Chair of Emergency Preparedness Subcommittee". 2005-09-22. http://www.house.gov/reichert/press.05/9.22.05.shtml. 
14. ^ "Information on Representative Dave Reichert of Congressional District number 8 of Washington". Visi.com. http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/cgi-bin/newmemberbio.cgi?member=WA08&site=ctc. 
15. ^ "Reichert Appointed to House Ways and Means Committee". Reichert's Congressional Webpage. http://reichert.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=108227. Retrieved 2009-04-21. 
16. ^ "Bio". Reichert's Congressional Webpage. http://reichert.house.gov/Biography/. Retrieved 2009-04-21. 
17. ^ Chris Geidner, House Passes DADT Repeal Bill, Metro Weekly (December 15, 2010).
18. ^ House Vote 638 - Repeals 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell', New York Times (December 15, 2010).
19. ^ "FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 277". The Library of Congress Webpage. http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2011/roll277.xml. Retrieved 2011-07-30. 
20. ^ "Reichert Statement on 2012 Budget". Dave Reichart's Webpage. http://www.reichert.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=237245. Retrieved 2011-07-30. 
21. ^ "FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 606". Library of Congress' Webpage. http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2011/roll606.xml. Retrieved 2011-07-30. 
22. ^ "FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 677". The Library of Congress Webpage. http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2011/roll677.xml. Retrieved 2011-07-30. 
23. ^ "How Different Types of Republicans Voted on the Revised Debt Plan". The New York Times. 2011-08-01. http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/07/29/us/politics/how-different-types-of-republicans-voted-on-the-revised-debt-plan.html?ref=politics. Retrieved 2011-08-01. 
24. ^ "FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 690". The Library of Congress Webpage. http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2011/roll690.xml. Retrieved 2011-08-02. 
25. ^ "The Taxpayer Protection Pledge Signers 112th Congressional List". Americans for Tax Reform. http://www.atr.org/current-taxpayer-protection-pledge-signers-th-a2851. Retrieved 2011-07-30. 
26. ^ Warren Cornwall (2004-09-01). "Offended by ads, Reichert walks out on forum". Seattle Times. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002022033_reichert01e.html. 
27. ^ Chris McGann (2004-09-01). "Campaign 2004: Reichert walks out on forum — Citing 'dirty politics,' sheriff refuses to share stage with rivals in race". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. http://www.seattlepi.com/local/188797_reichert01.html. 
28. ^ Rachel Kapochunas (2006-08-01). "Updated Forecast: Republican Reichert Faces Tougher Fight in Wash.". CQ Politics. http://www.cqpolitics.com/2006/08/burners_fundraising_makes_wash.html. 
29. ^ Alicia Mundy (2005-10-06). "Hastings says ethics panel won't investigate DeLay". Seattle Times. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002542677_hastings06.html. 
30. ^ Chris McGann (2004-10-09). "Campaign 2004: DeLay to help Reichert campaign — Democrats label him 'ethically challenged'". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. http://www.seattlepi.com/local/194476_fundraising09.html. 
31. ^ Toby Chaudhuri (2005-10-27). "Lawmakers with Corrupt Rep. DeLay Funds Asked to Make Charitable Contributions for Hurricane Relief". Common Dreams. http://www.commondreams.org/news2005/1027-16.htm. 
32. ^ "Reichert appears headed for victory". The Seattle Times. 2006-11-11. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003396331_8thdistrictbox11.html. Retrieved 2008-08-12. 
33. ^ "November 4, 2008 General Election". Washington Secretary of State. http://vote.wa.gov/elections/wei/Results.aspx?ElectionID=26&RaceID=12&JurisdictionTypeID=3&ViewMode=Results. Retrieved 2008-12-31. 
34. ^ "Democrats tap DelBene in 8th District congressional race - Bellevue Reporter". Pnwlocalnews.com. 2010-02-09. http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/east_king/bel/community/83910037.html. Retrieved 2010-08-29. 
35. ^ [1]
36. ^ "Washington State Primary — September 14, 2004". http://www.secstate.wa.gov/elections/voterguides/2004PrimaryResults/www.eirs-wa.org/results/federal_bp6a8c.html?office=2008&district=8&estat=p. 
37. ^ "Elections 2004 — U.S. House — Washington District 8". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/elections/2004/page/21592/. 
38. ^ "Elections 2006 — U.S. House — Washington District 8". http://projects.washingtonpost.com/elections/keyraces/857/. ^{[dead link]}
39. ^ "Elections 2008 — U.S. House — Washington District 8". CNN. http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/individual/#mapHWA/H/08. 
40. ^ "Congressman Dave Reichert". http://www.house.gov/reichert/biography.shtml. 
41. ^ "Congress includes 19 Lutherans". 2004-12-27. http://www.lcms.org/pages/rpage.asp?NavID=7247. 
42. ^ Hunt, Kasie (October 2, 2010). "Dave Reichert knocks down health rumors". Politico. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1010/43033.html. Retrieved 2 October 2010. 
43. ^ ^{a b} "Dave Reichert's Brain". The Stranger. October 20, 2010. http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/dave-reicherts-brain/Content?oid=5253644. 

External links

• Representative Dave Reichert official U.S. House site
• Dave Reichert for Congress official campaign site
• Biography at WhoRunsGov.com at The Washington Post
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
• Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
• Congressional profile at GovTrack
• Congressional profile at OpenCongress
• Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
• Financial information at OpenSecrets.org
• Staff salaries, trips and personal finance at LegiStorm.com
• Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
• Appearances on C-SPAN programs

Articles

• Seattle Times: Reichert Endorsement October 15, 2006
• Seattle P-I: Burner is better October 22, 2006
• Seattle Post-Intelligencer Investigates 1996 case October 6, 2006
• Dave Reichert biography from politics.historyguy.com
• Reichert makes pitch for security committee Les Blumenthal, The News Tribune, November 18, 2004
• Domestic Violence Act Renewed With Kid Power Bill Wilson, Family News in Focus, September 29, 2005
• Congress passes bill to shield gun makers (AP) Seattle Times, October 21, 2005
• Homeland group to visit SE Texas, Beth Gallapsy, The Beaumont Enterprise, October 28, 2005
• 2004 Seattle P-I Candidate Detail
• Capture of The Green River Killer Mini-Series

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by Jennifer Dunn	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Washington's 8th congressional district 2005–present	Incumbent
United States order of precedence
Preceded by Tom Price R-Georgia	United States Representatives by seniority 253rd	Succeeded by Allyson Schwartz D-Pennsylvania

Persondata
Name	Reichert, Dave
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1950-08-29
Place of birth	Detroit Lakes, Minnesota
Date of death
Place of death