8th District incumbent Dave Reichert follows in Dunn’s footsteps

A response to the Seattle Times Editorial Board: I want to you for your kind words about my mother, Jennifer Dunn. When she decided to retire after six terms in Congress, she took seriously the question of who might follow her.

A response to the Seattle Times Editorial Board: I want to you for your kind words about my mother, Jennifer Dunn. When she decided to retire after six terms in Congress, she took seriously the question of who might follow her. After family, there was nothing more important to mom than the constituents of Washington’s 8th Congressional District.

In her trademark thorough way, she spent months searching for the right person. A passionate Republican, many were stunned when mom turned to King County Sheriff Dave Reichert – a man whose personal politics were unknown but whom she had worked closely with on funding for school resource officers and Amber Alert.

But my mother was also an astute politician who understood the changing nature of her 8th district constituents and she knew that Dave brought to the table the qualities most important to serve them well: Courage, Leadership, Intelligence and most of all, a passion for working collaboratively to find real solutions to problems.

In your recent endorsement in the 8th Congressional district, you reference the legacy left by my mother. I am writing to let readers know that for the three years she lived after Dave was elected she was proud of his grasp of the job and proud of him being named chairman of a Congressional Subcommittee in his freshman term – a feat that has taken place only six times before.

Perhaps my mother’s most lasting legacy was the ability to break down barriers and work with both Republicans and Democrats to do what was right for our state and the 8th district. After he was first elected, Dave set right to work with that same bipartisan, pragmatic approach. My mother will be forever known for her work to create the AMBER alert system and to protect Mt. Rainier. As the former Sheriff of King County, Dave has had a career keeping the community safe and brought that work with him to Congress helping to pass laws to improve emergency preparedness and emergency communications for first responders. I am proud to personally have worked with him in his efforts to expand the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area.

As he continued to grow in the job, Dave again looked to follow in my mother’s footsteps. Dave was able to gain the seat she had held on the important Ways and Means Committee, which is responsible for tax, trade and health care policy. On this committee, Dave has worked to empower free enterprise and keep taxes low for small businesses. My mother helped enact the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts – and she was particularly proud of her work to repeal the death tax – all of which Dave Reichert is now fighting to make permanent. She helped enact trade agreements to open up new markets for Washington State products; Dave is now working to enact the next generation of trade agreements, including one with South Korea, Washington State’s fourth largest trading partner.

Your editorial references my mother’s balanced, pragmatic approach and district-focused style. While I appreciate deeply that tribute to her, I respectfully suggest that Dave Reichert is a proven leader and if she were here today, Jennifer Dunn would urge your readers to reelect Dave to represent the 8th Congressional District.

Reagan Dunn, King County Councilmember