The sheriff goes to Congress

WASHINGTON, D.C.. — Three months into his new job, Congressman Dave Reichert is not your typical no-name freshman. The former sheriff of King County stands out as a Western lawman, a distinction that seems to fortify him as often as it rankles him.

The enjoyable part comes when President Bush calls him sheriff or a stranger stops him in the shopping mall seeking an autograph of his book about his decades-long search for the Green River killer.

The maddening part is when critics refer to him as an empty suit, a man who grasps only part of the meaty agenda of Congress. You know, how does a former cop have breadth and depth on issues beyond his comfort zone of law enforcement?

Reichert still could become just another predictable Republican vote in a Congress increasingly dominated by Rep. Tom DeLay, the ethics-challenged House majority leader. Or maybe not.

Last week, Reichert learned an important lesson: Every member of Congress is one vote away from distinguishing themselves in a substantive way. Reichert established himself as an independent thinker with his vote against his own Republican congressional leaders who tried, hideously, to intervene in the private tragedy of Terri Schiavo, the severely brain-damaged Florida woman.

"I thought, why is government getting involved in this?" Reichert said. "I want less government involvement in my personal life. This seemed like quite a bit more involvement."

Reichert was one of five Republicans who voted against the bill that allowed Schiavo's parents to ask a federal court to intervene and have her feeding tube replaced. Reichert bucked Republican leaders and President Bush at their worst, overreaching as almost every party with overwhelming power does. Reichert's vote was personal, principled and did not hurt one bit in the 8th District.

From the beginning, the question about Reichert was: How well would he fit his district? Would he be a robotic yes man for the GOP, or more like Congressman Adam Smith, the Democrat in the neighboring 9th District, who knows how to separate himself from the party pack?

The 8th District has long been a Republican stronghold. But parts of the district, particularly Mercer Island and Bellevue, are becoming more Democratic, as evidenced by the increasing number of Democrats in the Legislature. The district, which covers eastern King and Pierce counties, voted twice for Bill Clinton, once for Al Gore, for John Kerry, for Democratic Gov. Gary Locke, for Republican Congresswoman Jennifer Dunn and for Republican Dino Rossi for governor.

So Reichert must tread carefully. When I spent time with Reichert, I got the feeling he isn't quite comfortable yet in his new congressional suit. He often talks in platitudes about how being a cop trained him to gather evidence first, make decisions second, perhaps convincing himself as much as anyone that he is raring and ready for this new job.

But in the first days in office, he went along with House Republicans and weakened House Ethics Committee rules, including a change making it harder to launch an ethics investigation of a fellow member.

The 8th District also has strong environmental values. That is where Dunn provided leadership and where Reichert can do the same.

For example — and this is a bona fide big deal — Reichert said during the campaign he favored drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. In his office a few weeks ago, Reichert said he was re-evaluating his position. He now seems more troubled by the idea.

Reichert also is one of several sponsors of a bill that allows taxpayers to check a box on income-tax forms dedicating $1 or more to operation of national parks, including Mount Rainier, the icon of the state and the 8th District.

In the crazy way we finance elections in this country, Reichert is already raising funds for the '06 election; he says he has raised more than $200,000. Republican leaders say he is one of 10 vulnerable GOP House members. Democrats are busy trying to woo candidates to run against him, including state Rep. Ross Hunter of Medina.

As the only Republican sheriff in Congress, Reichert arrived as one of the more visible members of the freshman class of 40. Shortly after his election, Christopher Cox, chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, decided he wanted Reichert on the committee.

Whether the question is about security equipment or staffing or the confluence of the two, Reichert can add something.

"Dave Reichert, because of his life experience, is light years ahead of some other people on the committee who have to learn this material," Cox said in an interview.

My take is Reichert could be a pleasant surprise. He is brand new, has much to learn. But the Schiavo vote and a few pro-environmental votes, if he has the guts to take them, could make him a good fit for the complicated and changing 8th District.

Joni Balter's column appears regularly on editorial pages of The Times. Her e-mail address is jbalter@seattletimes.com