First lady due in Medina for Reichert fete

When Michael Johnston greets first lady Laura Bush at his Medina home today, he may want to avoid talk about this year's presidential race.

Johnston, an otherwise stalwart Republican donor, gave $2,300 to Barack Obama last fall.

The first lady is headlining a $500-a-head fundraiser at Johnston's home for U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert, who's running for re-election this fall.

Johnston, the co-founder of a Seattle investment firm, has given more than $11,000 to Reichert since 2004 and declined to comment on the Obama donation.

"I'm an independent thinker on most things in life," he said.

His wife, Marybeth, gave $2,300 last fall to former Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani.

A spokesman for Reichert's 8th District Democratic opponent, Darcy Burner, said the first lady's visit proves that the Republican leadership is focusing on Reichert because he's vulnerable. He narrowly beat Burner in his first re-election campaign in 2006.

"His allies, from the president on down, are trying to do what they can to help him," said Sandeep Kaushik, a Burner spokesman.

Both the Reichert campaign and the state Republican Party declined to comment about the fundraiser.

The other hosts at the event will be Pedro Celis, a Microsoft engineer and chairman of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly, and his wife, Laura; telecom magnate Bruce McCaw and his wife, Jolene; retired Eastside developer Bill Conner and his wife, Marilyn; Issaquah developer Skip Rowley and his wife, Debra; and former U.S. Rep. Rick White and his wife, Melissa.

Laura Bush was last in the Seattle area in August 2006, when she spoke at a fundraiser in Bellevue for U.S. Senate candidate Mike McGavick.

President Bush headlined a Reichert fundraiser in Bellevue last summer.

Ashley Bach: 206-464-2567 or abach@seattletimes.com