Why Wasn't Aaron Reardon in President Obama's Reception Line?

If you had your TV on Friday and saw the landing of Air Force One and President Barack Obama's reception on the Paine Field tarmac, you may have wondered: Where is Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon?

As the most powerful figure in Snohomish County politics, Reardon's absence was hard to miss. After all, Reardon's counterpoint from King County, Dow Constantine, was there to shake Obama's hand. So was Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn. Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson. And Gov. Chris Gregoire and her husband.

Jerry Cornfield of the Herald spoke to Reardon, now in his third term as executive, at the event. Reardon told him he wasn't left off the VIP list; he just arrived too late. (See the article: http://heraldnet.com/article/20120217/NEWS01/702179778#Was-Reardon-snubb...).

Of course, having Reardon on hand to welcome Obama to Snohomish County might just have been too embarrassing to those making the arrangement.

Reardon is in the spotlight, as the Washington State Patrol is examining his use of travel expenses. A woman, Tamara Dutton, has claimed that he spent taxpayer money during an affair he had with her.

And now there are new claims that Reardon used taxpayer money to help finance his relection in November.