We are proud to introduce a brand new feature called Red County: One On One. We will be interviewing various politicians and Beltway players to bring our readers additional insight into the lives of the people who shape the political landscape. From politicians to pundits, Red County will be covering all the bases.

We kick things off with Congressman Dave Reichert 8th District (R-Wa)

Most Washingtonians were familiar with Mr. Reichert long before he sought political office. As "lead investigator" of the Green River Task Force, Dave Reichert spent many years pursuing one of the most notorious serial killers in our nation's history. Like many people living in the Pacific Northwest, I first heard of Mr. Reichert through his work on the Green River investigation. The case brought with it a great deal of media coverage and Dave Reichert's name and face were in our living rooms on a regular basis.

In 2001, after years of hard work, Sheriff Reichert finally got his man. The advance of DNA technology led police to Gary Ridgeway, who had been on a short list of suspects for several years.

Red County recently caught up with the Congressman, and here's what he had to say:

How did your years as King County Sheriff prepare you for your current position?

The Sheriff's office did do a lot to prepare me, but it's also a combination of the Sheriff's office and life in general that prepared me for the responsibilities of my profession and service.  I was the oldest of seven children in a family of nine people. I served in the Air Force Reserves, then in the Sheriff's office as a deputy and as the Sheriff. I just knew from a very early age that I wanted to help people, and serve in a profession where I could make a difference and have an impact in a positive way, and so I was drawn to law enforcement.

My time as Sheriff gave me the valuable opportunity to meet people from every possible social and economic strata. I've been to the poorest of poor homes, and the richest of the rich to deal with a variety of problems and issues. I've been able to communicate clearly with people who are living on the street, who are homeless, drug addicts, alcoholics, and people who are simply down and out, jobless and struggling, people who are just struggling, period. Over the course of that 30-plus year career, I've had opportunity to help families with everything from being victims of property crimes, to even the most heinous crimes, including murder.

That time prepared me in important ways for what I do today. On personal level, it reinforced my drive and tenacity to continue forward - to never give up on an issue. To treat every single person with respect and dignity, and reach out a helping hand. To realize that people have rights and that you can't trample them. And to acknowledge that there is a story behind every life.

On a professional level, my job was to protect and uphold the law. I didn't make law - I upheld it. And perhaps sometimes I didn't agree with it, but I still upheld it, fairly and respectfully, and with compassion. It also prepared me to work with other agencies, and to become familiar with their inner workings, from the street level to the federal level. I also gained experience managing the business aspect of the Sheriff's office, managing a $110 million budget, 1,100 employees, numerous contracts, and consolidating different entities to make things more efficient and productive. I grew the "business" because of the good service we were able to provide. These are all skills and experience I bring to my current service in Congress.

To what do you attribute your appeal to people on both sides of the political aisle?

I think perhaps the appeal is directly related to my openness, and my desire to listen to people. I really want to listen, learn, and understand the concerns of people on all sides of an issue. That is a part of my natural desire to investigate - which, I should mention, is not just a desire. It's an ingrained way of life - it's how I evaluate everything. I approach each piece of legislation very inquisitively, examining the pros and cons of the issue so I can make an informed decision. I think it also comes from just being there to listen to my constituents and doing all I can to represent them in a fair and balanced way. I like people, and it shows. I treat people with respect. And I have a sense of humor. In the Sheriff's office, we articulated our values of leadership, integrity, service and teamwork. The core of those values, for me, is service, and I always remember that. I'm not here for myself; I'm here to serve.

What do you believe are the 3 most important issues facing our country and how do you plan to address them?

First and foremost: My Number 1 job is to protect your constitutional rights and to protect this country. If we don't make sure our country stays free, all the issues that we care about won't even be issues anymore because our freedom will be limited. And that will limit how we search for solutions to the economic, energy and security challenges we face. I'll describe them briefly here, but I really encourage people to visit my website to learn more about my ideas and proposals.

The first issue is energy. We need a comprehensive energy policy in this country that considers both our long-term needs and also provides short-term relief for families who suffer each day from rising energy costs. The fact is, oil is not our future, for various reasons including the security and environmental risks at stake. But our economy depends so heavily on oil today that we need to end our dependency in a responsible way. So we should increase domestic production to help get us through - drilling only on lands already permitted by the U.S. Department of Interior. That will carry us through to the long-term solutions. We also need diverse, sustainable, renewable, clean resources.
We need to enhance conservation and efficiency. In short, we need government to get out of the way and let Americans innovate. They'll show us the way to the new technology that will meet our energy needs now and well into the future.

Second, we have to deal with the challenges to our economy, and when talking about this issue there are several important parts to consider. We've got to keep taxes low, because that approach has proven to increase revenue and growth. Trade is also key: 1 in 3 jobs in Washington is tied to trade, so opening new markets for our businesses to grow and create jobs has got to be a priority. Each and every American needs access to affordable healthcare, so we need to expand individual choice, improve quality, and increase transparency. And every child must have access to a quality education that will equip them to compete and be successful in our global economy.

Thirdly, we are suffering from high-energy prices because we have no comprehensive energy policy. So we need to begin now to work on transitioning from an oil and fossil fuel based economy to one based upon clean, renewable energy sources. Again, this will take a while, so while we work on that we have to bring gas prices down now - and there are several ways to get that done: cracking down on price gouging, increasing refining capacity, and increasing domestic drilling in environmentally safe, responsible ways. Each of these things play a vital role in the health of our economy, today and well into the future.

Finally, the safety and security of our country has got to remain top priority. Spending 33 years in law enforcement made me well aware of the challenges associated with keeping people safe. Safety comes down to a balance between your rights under the Constitution to be free, and your rights to be safe from threats. The fact is we live in a dangerous world and we must have the resources and intelligence to keep us safe, both at the federal and local levels.

As a former Sheriff, I know that local law enforcement is increasingly asked to carry the burden of protecting the country against terrorism. This makes sense - they are the closest to the targets, to the people, to our borders. But the federal government doesn't share information or resources with locals nearly enough to get the job done. Instead we see growth in federal policing. That has got to change if we're going to maintain balance, and I'll continue working to see that this happens.

As head of the Green River Task Force, you spent years working to solve one of the most horrific crimes in our nation's history. How has that experience influenced the leader that you are today?

Well, first of all, as a point of clarification: I was not the "head". I was the lead investigator. I was the originally assigned detective to the first King County victim found in the Green River. Then I was assigned three more victims, and I was also the lead investigator. The fact is, we had a great team. Detectives, scientists, doctors, volunteers - everyone worked together. Then, as the Sheriff, I directed the investigation when we finally arrested the killer.

The task force was a lesson in determination, persistence, faith and hope. I never gave up, always had hope, and knew all along, for some reason, that I would not fail. The case would be solved. I always believed that.

So, in terms of leadership, that's how I approach my job today - to inspire hope. We all know we're facing some difficult issues in our country today. But I'm confident - I know, deep inside - that America will overcome them. We will solve the energy crisis. We'll lead the way in finding the new energy that will power our factories, lives and homes. And through it all, I'll continue to be very persistent as a member of the House in aiding that effort and the innovate people of America in every way I can. I'll continue working for tax and energy incentives, research and development credits, and incentives for people who buy new technology to power their personal vehicles. And on top of that, I also strongly believe we'll protect our environment at the same time and keep it green and healthy for our children. It can be done.

Why should voters cast their ballots for you in November?

I work hard. I come back home every weekend and participate in my community, attend events and listen to people talk about the things that matter to them. I meet with everyone, from all walks of life. Independent thinking, not just voting with the party, but bringing a common-sense approach to legislature is one of my hallmarks. And I'm the only Republican Sheriff serving in the House of Representatives, so I bring the perspective of someone with life experience and professional experience that is very much needed in DC. I'm often called on by Republicans and Democrats alike when it comes to law enforcement and homeland security issues - there is a certain respect and regard for the experience and leadership I bring in this area - especially given the current state of our world, and some of the instability that exists.

It all comes down to this: I want to continue helping people - it's my calling. I'm honored to represent the good people of the 8th District of Washington, and I hope they'll give me the opportunity to continue to serve.