Dave Reichert facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dave Reichert
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Washington's 8th district
In office January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2019
Preceded by	Jennifer Dunn
Succeeded by	Kim Schrier
30th Sheriff of King County
In office March 5, 1997 – January 3, 2005
Preceded by	James Montgomery
Succeeded by	Sue Rahr
Personal details
Born	David George Reichert (1950-08-29) August 29, 1950 (age 73) Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Julie Reichert
Children	3
Education	Concordia University, Oregon (AA)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Air Force
Years of service	1971–1976
Unit	U.S. Air Force Reserve

David George Reichert (/ˈraɪkərt/ RY-kərt; born August 29, 1950) is an American politician, former law enforcement officer, and former member of the Air Force Reserve who served as the U.S. representative for Washington's 8th congressional district from 2005 to 2019. He is a Republican and a former elected Sheriff of King County, Washington. In September 2017, Reichert announced that he would retire from Congress after his seventh term.

In June 2023, Reichert filed paperwork to run for Washington Governor in 2024.

Early life, education, and military career

Reichert was born in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, the son of Marlys Ann (née Troeger) and George F. Reichert. He is the eldest of seven children and a grandson of the town marshal. His family moved to Washington in 1951, living first in Renton, then later moving to Kent, where he attended Kent Meridian High School. In 1968, he graduated and went to Concordia Lutheran College in Portland, Oregon on a partial football scholarship. He earned an Associate of Arts degree in social work in 1970.

In 1971 he joined the Air Force Reserves' 939th Military Airlift Group. He saw active duty for six months and served until 1976.

Law enforcement career

Reichert talks about crime prevention

Reichert began serving with the King County sheriff's office in 1972. He was a member of the Green River Task Force, formed to track down the so-called "Green River killer" aided by the infamous Ted Bundy. In 2001, DNA evidence identified Gary Leon Ridgway as the Green River killer. In 2004, Reichert published the memoir Chasing the Devil: My Twenty-Year Quest to Capture the Green River Killer.

News reports widely described Reichert as the driving force behind the arrest, though one former supervisor, Frank Atchley, stated that Reichert was "more of an impediment to the investigation," According to Seattle University journalism and criminal justice professor Tomás Guillén, Reichart was convinced of the guilt of a cab driver named Melvyn Foster, allegedly "taint[ing] Reichert's judgment" to the point a task force allegedly excluded other suspects.

In 1997, he was appointed sheriff of King County, Washington, by King County Executive Ron Sims. In 2001, he ran unopposed for a second four-year term.

He served as president of the Washington State Sheriffs' Association. He was an executive board member of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs.

In 2004, he won the 2004 National Sheriffs' Association's Sheriff of the Year award, two valor awards, and the Washington State Attorney General's Award for courageous action.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2004

In 2004, Reichert ran for Congress. In the Republican primary debate, he bowed out, due to other Republican primary candidates not adhering to the so-called Republican 11th commandment.

He defeated his Democratic opponent, KIRO talk show host Dave Ross, in the 2004 election, 52% to 47%. He replaced retiring Republican Congresswoman Jennifer Dunn.

At the same time, the Democratic presidential nominee, Senator John Kerry won, 51% to 48%, against President George W. Bush in the 8th district. That made Reichert one of just 17 House Republicans elected in a district that also voted for the Democratic candidate for the presidency.

ARMPAC, a political action committee of former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, donated $20,000 to his election campaign.

2006

He faced Democratic candidate Darcy Burner in November 2006; he was re-elected with 51% of the vote.

2008

In a repeat of the 2006 election matchup, he faced Democratic candidate Darcy Burner. He won the general election with 53% of the vote to Darcy Burner's 47%.

2010

He was challenged by Democratic candidate Suzan DelBene. He won re-election with 52% of the vote.

2012

He was challenged by Democratic candidate Karen Porterfield, and won with almost 60% of the vote.

2014

He was challenged by Democratic candidate Jason Ritchie, and won with 63% of the vote.

2016

He was challenged by Democratic candidate Tony Ventrella, and won with 60% of the vote.

Committee assignments

Dave Reichert (left) discusses port security, 2005

• Committee on Ways and Means
  • Subcommittee on Trade
  • Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures, chair

Caucus memberships

• House Baltic Caucus
• Congressional Arts Caucus
• Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus
• Climate Solutions Caucus
• U.S.-Japan Caucus

Political positions

Reichert was a member of the Republican Main Street Partnership. Reichert was ranked as the 21st most bipartisan member of the U.S. House of Representatives (out of 435) during the 114th United States Congress (and the most bipartisan member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Washington) in the Bipartisan Index created by The Lugar Center and the McCourt School of Public Policy that ranks members of the United States Congress by their degree of bipartisanship (by measuring the frequency each member's bills attract co-sponsors from the opposite party and each member's co-sponsorship of bills by members of the opposite party).

Civil rights

Reichert was one of 15 Republican House members to vote in favor of repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", the ban on openly gay military service personnel.

In 2017, Reichert declared his support for Executive Order 13769, which imposed a temporary ban on citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries entering the U.S. He stated that "My first and most important job is protecting families in our region and the American people ... We must be absolutely certain we have systems in place capable of thoroughly vetting anyone applying for refugee status on American soil."

Budget, debt, and spending

While he was not present at the vote on the Ryan Budget, he intended to vote for it but was in Washington state for the death of his mother. However, he did vote for the Cut, Cap, and Balance Act and the Budget Control Act of 2011. Both acts required Congress to pass a balanced budget amendment prior to raising the United States debt ceiling. This was supported primarily by Republicans and opposed by Democrats. In the final vote to lift the debt ceiling, until 2013, he voted with the Republican majority in favor.

Presidential tax returns

In February 2017, while serving on the Ways and Means Committee, he voted against a measure that would have led to a request of the Treasury Department for President Donald Trump's tax returns.

Health care

Reichert favored repealing the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). Reichert was one of only 20 Republicans to vote against the American Health Care Act of 2017 (also known as Trumpcare).

Taxation

Reichert had signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge by the Americans for Tax Reform, a group run by Grover Norquist. The pledge commits the signer to oppose any legislation that raises taxes or eliminates tax deductions. On August 1, 2012, he also voted to extend the Bush tax cuts.

On April 10, 2014, Reichert introduced the Permanent S Corporation Built-in Gains Recognition Period Act of 2014 (H.R. 4453; 113th Congress), a bill that would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to reduce from 10 to 5 years the period during which the built-in gains of an S corporation are subject to tax and to make such reduction permanent.

Personal life

He is married to Julie, whom he met in college. They live in Auburn and have three grown children: Angela, Tabitha, and Daniel, and six grandchildren. He is a member of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod.

Electoral history