President Bush leaves Seattle after quick trip

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Friday, June 16, 2006 · Last updated 3:01 p.m. PT

President Bush leaves Seattle after quick trip
Attends fund-raiser; meets with military families

By CHRIS McGANN
P-I REPORTER

President Bush made a brief stop in the Seattle area this morning to raise money for Republican candidates in Washington.

PHOTO GALLERY

See the story in pictures.

Air Force One touched down at Boeing Field at 9:45 a.m. through low clouds. An Issaquah woman, Sheryl Sheaffer, whose three soldier sons, and only children, now serve in the Army in Iraq and Afghanistan, was in the greeting party for Bush.

One of Sheaffer's sons, Army Spc. Dylan Sheaffer of the 10th Mountain Division, was back stateside from Afghanistan during a mid-tour break. Sheaffer said he'd met Bush once before when the president made a surprise visit to troops in Afghanistan. Even so, "I was slightly nervous. Only a few people get the opportunity to meet someone of that stature. It's an outstanding experience."

At Boeing Field, security and a small group of reporters gathered. Other greeters included State Senator Luke Esser R-Bellevue, Reagan Dunn, King County Councilman, and Norma McQuiller, a community volunteer. Bush presented McQuiller with the President's Community Volunteer Award.

Samantha Canestrari, 30, of Seattle, held her 20-month old son when the president arrived. She said it was the first time she'd seen the president or Air Force One.

"It was overwhelming. It's really something to see. Just the operation of what it takes to get him here. It's really cool," Canestrari said.

The president was also to meet later with Brian and Shellie Starr of Snohomish, whose son, Marine Cpl. Jeffrey B. Starr, was killed in Iraq on Memorial Day last year.

Bush will attend a private reception this morning in Medina to raise money for the re-election campaign of Republican Rep. David Reichert, who represents the suburban 8th District. Reichert is facing an aggressive challenge from Democrat Darcy Burner, a political newcomer and former Microsoft manager.

Reichert is seen as the only vulnerable incumbent congressman in this state. His district voted for John Kerry in the 2004 presidential election, and Burner is trying to use Reichert's ties to an increasingly unpopular Bush against him.

Despite his waning popularity, Bush is still his party's most capable fund-raiser. Today's midmorning reception, the president's only stop in this state, will be at the 8,000-square-foot, $10.3 million mansion of Peter Neupert, a Microsoft Corp. corporate vice president and former chief executive of drugstore.com Inc. Proceeds from the $1,000-a-head reception will go to Reichert.

But money from a $10,000-a-person photo opportunity with the president during the same event will go to the state Republican Party for campaign activities. About 400 people attended the Medina event, raising approximately $800,000 for Reichert and local Republicans, party officials said.

On the Eastside, about 120 protesters gathered at Downtown Bellevue Park.

Bush's trip to Washington state was a quick one. Air Force One took off from Boeing Field about 12:53 p.m., headed for Albuquerque, N.M., where Bush was to attened another fund-raiser.

P-I reporter John Iwasaki contributed to this report.

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