Preceded by Michael W. Mattingly Name Pete Reichbauer Succeeded by Ray Schow Role Legislator | Religion Catholicism Website Official | |
 Full NamePeter G. von Reichbauer Alma mater Clover Park High SchoolUniversity of Alabama (B.A.) Profession Business Vice president Residence Federal Way, Washington, United States Education Clover Park High School, University of Alabama | ||
Service/branch United States Army | ||
Peter G. "Pete" von Reichbauer is a member of the nonpartisan King County Council, representing District 7, a 124-square-mile (320 km2) region of South King County which includes all of the cities of Algona and Federal Way, the entire King County portions of Auburn, Milton, and Pacific and large unincorporated areas. Prior to his election to the Council, von Reichbauer served as a Washington State Senator for the 30th Legislative District (representing South King County and North Pierce County) between 1973 and 1993.
Contents
In addition to his service as an elected official, von Reichbauer played a key role in keeping the Seattle Seahawks in Seattle. In late 1995, then-Seahawks owner Ken Behring told von Reichbauer privately that he wanted to sell the team and asked von Reichbauer to gauge interest in potential buyers. But publicly, Behring insisted he would not sell the team and began the process of moving the team to Los Angeles. By early 1996, von Reichbauer had identified Microsoft co-founder and Seattle-area resident Paul Allen as a potential buyer of the team. Von Reichbauer met with Allen's inner circle and convinced Allen that Behring was sincere about selling the team. As Allen became more serious about purchasing the team, he never negotiated directly with Behring; instead, von Reichbauer acted as an intermediary between Behring and Allen. Allen eventually agreed to purchase the team, contingent upon approval of a new stadium. For his efforts, the Seattle Times called him "one of the heroes in this fight," while former King County Executive Ron Sims has said that von Reichbauer "did a fantastic job keeping the Seahawks in Seattle. I don't believe it would've happened without his intervention."
Some of his notable achievements on the King County Council include forging public/private partnerships to protect the Hylebos Wetlands (a near shore salmon breeding habitat), helping fund the construction of the South King County Baseball fields, blocking the development of Sexual Predator Housing in residential areas of South King County, and securing the acquisition of Bingamon Pond as a County Park. In addition, von Reichbauer helped fund and rebuild Redondo Beach Drive, facilitated the construction of the Federal Way Transit Center and the 317th HOV ramps on Interstate 5, and worked with state and federal authorities to help construct the I-5 Triangle interchange in Federal Way.
Early life and education
Pete von Reichbauer grew up in Lakewood, Washington and was the second son of Ludwig and Marian von Reichbauer. He went to public and private secondary schools, and graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in History. After college he joined the US Army through the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC). In the course of his military service Pete was stationed at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, Ft. Benjamin Harrison, Indiana and Ft. Benning, Georgia as well as overseas in Japan. After serving on active duty, the U.S. Army Reserve, and the Washington Army National Guard, he retired at the rank of Major.
Washington State Senate
Upon returning to the Puget Sound area, von Reichbauer was approached by friend and then-State Senator Booth Gardner about running for public office. In a special election held in 1973 von Reichbauer ran a campaign that narrowly defeated 30th District Republican incumbent Mike Mattingly. The victory made von Reichbauer the youngest member of the Washington State Senate and the fourth youngest senator in Washington history. In the ensuing years he went on to chair the Parks and Recreation Committee, the Education Committee (K-12), the Transportation Committee, and the Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee of the Washington State Senate where he focused on consumer protection, consolidation of agencies and the reform of outdated regulations. He also worked to fund the newly formed and controversial Public Disclosure Commission. After opposing a number of party line positions as a Democrat, von Reichbauer shook up Washington State politics on February 13, 1981 when he switched from a Democrat to a Republican and delivered the senate’s tenuous 25-24 majority into the hands of the Republican Party. Von Reichbauer then went on to defeat a recall effort, and served in the Senate until he left his seat in midterm to run for the King County Council.
King County Council
In 1992, the voters approved a merger of the Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle (Metro) into King County government, and the King County Council was expanded to thirteen members. In 1993 von Reichbauer defeated State Representative Jean Marie Brough in the Republican primary election and defeated Federal Way mayor Bob Stead (by a 60-40 margin) in the general election to become the District 7 King County Councilmember.
In 1994 von Reichbauer was named chair of the Council’s Budget and Fiscal Management Committee. As chair, von Reichbauer presided over an often contentious budget process in which he drew praise for guiding the Budget Committee for three years in a row, demonstrating yet another clear example of his ability to work across party lines and put the public’s needs ahead of politics. The Budget Committee unanimously passed the budget in 1994 and 1996, and overwhelmingly passed the budget in 1995 by a vote of 12 to 1.
In 2000 and 2001 von Reichbauer was elected by his peers to serve as Chair of the King County Council. In recognition of his even-handed leadership as Chair of the Council, he was elected Vice-Chair by his colleagues when the Metropolitan King County Council changed party control in 2003 (becoming the first minority party member to serve in Council leadership). Currently, von Reichbauer serves on the Metropolitan King County Council as Chair of the Regional Policy Committee, as well as Vice-Chair of the Transportation, Economy and Environment Committee. He also serves on the Committee of the Whole, the Government Accountability and Oversight Committee and sits on the Board of Directors for Sound Transit. He formerly served as Chair of the Regional Transit Committee.
In 2008, von Reichbauer spearheaded a movement to make the King County Council, the County Executive, and the Assessor nonpartisan offices. On November 4, 2008, voters supported the measure, and all elective offices of King County became nonpartisan.
Since 2006, von Reichbauer has served as chair of the King County Regional Policy Committee. Since 2013, he has also served as chair of the King County Government Accountability and Oversight Committee.
Personal
Pete von Reichbauer is known for his high level of community engagement. In addition to his positions in public office, von Reichbauer served as a founding board member the Boys and Girls Club of Federal Way, a board member of St. Francis Hospital, and President of the Kiwanis Club.
Von Reichbauer has lived by the mantra, “listening is the beginning of understanding.” As Chair of the Metropolitan King County Council, von Reichbauer held town hall meetings throughout the county. If given the opportunity to meet with community members or legislate from afar, von Reichbauer has always preferred the former.