Posse on Route 9

SNOHOMISH -

With the helicopters and small planes of Snohomish's Harvey Field in clear view, and floats of green and yellow sheriff colored balloons flanking the podium, former Snohomish County Sheriff Rick Bart (R-Arlington) kicked off his campaign for Congress in the 2nd District last night.

The event, which included an introduction from Dino Rossi, was a folksy affair with country music, beef ribs

"We were worried that nobody would show up," Bart quipped as he stepped in front of the podium and thanked the 40 or so in attendance for being there.

Sheriff Bart kicks off his campaign for CongressStill, it wasn't all shuck and jive. Bart used the occasion to introduce his reasons for entering the race to a group of people he mostly had known for years.

"How many of you trust congress right now?" Bart asked. "Everywhere I go I ask that question, I haven't seen one hand go in the air."

Last night was no different, and that appears to be the main reason Bart is running this time around, to help restore trust to a detached and undependable House as well as to maintain the promises of programs like Social Security for generations to come.

Bart confronted the claim that detractors are sure to make, that he is too politically inexperienced to be a Congressman. He listed a number of executive board positions he has held over the years but ultimately he feels the greatest asset in his resume is judgment.

"Most of all," he said, "I think I know what's right and what's wrong."

Bart also talked about another relatively inexperienced politician who moved from Snohomish County Councilman to Congressman about ten years back. His name was Rick Larsen, and he was Bart's Councilman.

However, the former Sheriff has no qualms about replacing the incumbent Larsen who now has eight years of D.C. political experience.

"He needs a challenger. It's gonna be me," Bart said matter-of-factly. "We're going to have an honest debate in this district. I'm gonna make him work hard."

To conclude the night's event, Sheriff Bart pulled a move straight out of the Old West.

"What we're going to do is form a posse," he said then paused a beat. "You can laugh."

So the gathered 2nd District Republicans stood up, held their hands in the air, took the pledge, and became officially deputized into Rick Bart's posse.

"Where do we get the guns?" one man yelled from the back of the room.

That prompted Bart to joke that dues were $4600 a year and that being a member did not include special privileges such as getting out of a traffic ticket.

"Together we can write a story about a sheriff who was born in Sedro Wooley , deputized a posse one by one and became a member of Congress," Bart said to applause, then added,"So what do you think, you think we need a new sheriff in Congress?"

Read PolitickerWA's recent profile on Rick Bart here.