Sammamish Native to Challenge Reichert

Editor's note: James Windle lives in Snoqualmie Pass, not Snoqualmie, as an earlier version of this article stated.

Sammamish native James Windle (I-Snoqualmie Pass) has announced his run for Washington’s 8th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Several other candidates including incumbent Dave Reichert (R-WA8). The filing period ends May 18.

Windle said in a press release that he has returned home to Washington State after spending his early career in public service in Washington, D.C. He and his wife currently own a home in Snoqualmie Pass. 

Windle said in the release that he left his federal civilian job with the Department of Defense to serve his home state more directly and be closer to his family and friends, who still live in the 8th District and surrounding areas. As a youth, he said, he gained an appreciation for the outdoors in the Cascades, Kittitas County, and the Columbia Basin. His worked at his family’s gas station on Mercer Island during high school and college. After graduating from Redmond High School, he enrolled at Bellevue College. He supported himself through college at Washington State University before graduating from the University of Washington.

Windle said his journey home to Washington state began as soon as he left for graduate school at Boston University. When studying at the UW, he realized he would not be equipped to serve his home state without a practical education in how government works.

His studies in Boston led to positions in the federal government including at the White House budget office, in Congress, and in the National Nuclear Security Administration at the U.S. Department of Energy. Most recently, Windle graduated with a second master’s degree from the United States Naval War College and served as an Associate Dean and instructor at the College of International Security Affairs at the Department of Defense’s National Defense University. Windle said he believes this experience has prepared him to serve the 8th District well.

Windle said in the release that his decision to run as a political independent, rather than being affiliated with a political party, has to do with his experience working closely with both political parties.

“My political bias is toward solutions. We can get this economy booming again with fiscal responsibility; pro-growth policies for businesses; a simpler, fairer tax code; and an efficient, smarter federal government. With savings from reductions and tax reform, we can selectively invest in infrastructure and education to stay globally competitive. A Republican or Democrat cannot propose this platform because of their rigid views,” he said.

Windle is married to his wife of four years, Anh-Thu Mai-Windle. During the campaign, she will continue to travel between Seattle and Washington, DC, where she works as an attorney in the federal government. When they are home Windle said the family can often be found snowshoeing, hiking, and entertaining friends and family at Snoqualmie Pass.

You can learn more about Windle at his campaign website:  http://www.windleforcongress.com, and at http://www.linkedin.com/in/jtwindle.

Windle said he plans to initiate daily “Coffee Shop Campaign” events from 7:30-9:00 AM at coffee shops around the 8th District. He also plans to hold events emphasizing the importance of physical fitness. 

--Information from Windle for Congress