Dave Reichert is out. Again.
The former King County Sheriff and United States Representative declared today that he will not be a candidate for Governor of the State of Washington in 2020, saying that he enjoys his current work and deeply values his time with his family.
Reichert’s statement appears to be a refreshingly sincere and candid statement of his priorities. I think he’s finding retirement to be very pleasant, and, at Gordon Thomas Honeywell, he is working on a noble issue he cares a lot about.
Why walk away from that? There’s just no upside.
Here’s Reichert’s full statement.
I am honored and humbled to have recently been asked to consider running for Governor in 2020. After much thoughtful prayer and discussion with family and friends, I have decided not to run.
I am enjoying my current role at Gordon Thomas Honeywell Governmental Affairs helping Central American countries create missing person databases (through DNA) that will help to identify missing persons and prevent children from being abducted in the deadly world of human trafficking. I am eager to continue that work and save lives. My wife, kids and grandkids have made great sacrifices over my nearly five decades of public servanthood and we are now able to enjoy much quality time with each other.
I’m confident a quality Republican candidate will enter the race and I look forward to the first Republican serving as Governor of this great state since Governor John Spellman in 1985.
Notice that Reichert did not offer an endorsement of any of the Republicans currently running for governor. It would seem he’s holding out for a more credible candidate. So is State Republican Party Chair Caleb Heimlich, the person responsible for floating the Reichert for Governor trial balloon a few days ago.
Heimlich had thought Reichert might be his man.
But now that Reichert has taken a pass, it’s back to the shortlist, which I imagine is a very short list considering how thin the Republican Party’s bench is.
One Comment
Dave Reichert is one Republican who could get support from voters from both parties. He probably would have given Inslee a tough run.