OLYMPIA, Wash. – A former sheriff and congressman known for his work that led to the capture of the “Green River Killer” has entered the race to become Washington’s next governor.

Former King County Sheriff and U.S. Representative Dave Reichert filed campaign paperwork with the state Public Disclosure Commission on June 30th to run as a Republican candidate.

Reichert served two terms as sheriff and was the first detective assigned to the Green River killings, named for the river where the first bodies were found in 1982.

Gary Ridgway, who killed 49 women, was arrested and convicted in 2003 during Reichert’s second term.

Reichert was elected to Congress in 2004 and retired after his seventh term in 2019.

While in Congress, he worked to expand the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area and introduced national bills to improve the foster care system and combat sex trafficking.

Governor Jay Inslee, the longest-serving governor in office in the U.S., announced in May he would not seek a fourth term.