Dennis Heck
Encyclopedia
Dennis "Denny" Heck is a likely candidate for U.S. Representative
in Washington State. Heck was previously the Democratic
nominee for U.S. Representative for in 2010. He was defeated by Jaime Herrera
(R).
Heck served as Chief of Staff to Washington Governor Booth Gardner
from 1990-1993. Previously, he was Majority Leader of the Washington State House of Representatives and Chief Clerk of the House. He founded and served as CEO of TVW
, the state equivalent of C-SPAN
. He serves on the board of directors of Intrepid Learning Solutions, which he co-founded with Christopher Hedrick
.
Heck is the author of Challenges and Opportunities: The Transformation of Washington's Schools published in 1987.
in 1952, and raised in the Lake Shore area of Clark County where he graduated from Columbia River High School. He graduated from The Evergreen State College
in Olympia
in 1973.
, the public affairs network for the state. TVW provides coverage of the Washington State Legislature
and sessions of the Washington Supreme Court
.
, representing the 17th district in Clark, Skamania and Klickitat Counties. During that time he was elected Majority Leader, the second-ranking position in the House. He also co-chaired the Education Committee and wrote the state’s historic Basic Education Act.
Heck served as Chief of Staff for Governor Booth Gardner
during his second term (1989–93).
incumbent Brian Baird
. He won the primary with 31% of the vote and faced runner-up Republican
Jaime Herrera
, who won 28% of the vote.
Heck was endorsed by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer
on October 12, 2010.
Heck wrote and self-published a mystery novel entitled "The Enemy You Know." In 2008, he wrote and performed a one-man play, "Our Times" to several sold out audiences. He and his wife, Paula, who directed the play, donated all proceeds to local charities.
Heck has supported numerous organizations within Washington, both actively and as a past contributor. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Evergreen State College. He serves on the Board for the Washington State History Museum
He is a member of the Steering Committee for the Washington Learns Commission; a long-term strategy to improve the education system of Washington.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in Washington State. Heck was previously the Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
nominee for U.S. Representative for in 2010. He was defeated by Jaime Herrera
Jaime Herrera
Jaime Herrera Beutler is the U.S. Representative for . She is a member of the Republican Party, and is the youngest female U. S. Representative. She is a former Senior Legislative Aide for U.S...
(R).
Heck served as Chief of Staff to Washington Governor Booth Gardner
Booth Gardner
Booth Gardner , an heir to the Weyerhaeuser fortune, was the 19th Governor of the U.S state of Washington between 1985 and 1993. He also served as the ambassador of the GATT. He is a Democrat. Before serving as governor, Gardner was Pierce County Executive...
from 1990-1993. Previously, he was Majority Leader of the Washington State House of Representatives and Chief Clerk of the House. He founded and served as CEO of TVW
TVW (Washington)
TVW is Washington's public affairs network, providing gavel-to-gavel coverage of Washington State Legislature sessions and coverage of the Washington State Supreme Court and public affairs events. It is widely considered the model state level equivalent of C-SPAN. TVW was founded in 1993 by...
, the state equivalent of C-SPAN
C-SPAN
C-SPAN , an acronym for Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network, is an American cable television network that offers coverage of federal government proceedings and other public affairs programming via its three television channels , one radio station and a group of websites that provide streaming...
. He serves on the board of directors of Intrepid Learning Solutions, which he co-founded with Christopher Hedrick
Christopher Hedrick
Christopher Hedrick "Chris Hedrick" is the Country Director for the U.S. Peace Corps in Senegal. Peace Corps/Senegal is the largest Peace Corps program in Sub-Saharan Africa. Hedrick leads the Peace Corps efforts in malaria prevention in Senegal, which are now being extended under his...
.
Heck is the author of Challenges and Opportunities: The Transformation of Washington's Schools published in 1987.
Early life and education
Heck was born in Vancouver, WashingtonVancouver, Washington
Vancouver is a city on the north bank of the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington. Incorporated in 1857, it is the fourth largest city in the state with a 2010 census population of 161,791 as of April 1, 2010...
in 1952, and raised in the Lake Shore area of Clark County where he graduated from Columbia River High School. He graduated from The Evergreen State College
The Evergreen State College
The Evergreen State College is an accredited public liberal arts college and a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges. It is located in Olympia, Washington, USA. Founded in 1967, Evergreen was formed to be an experimental and non-traditional college...
in Olympia
Olympia, Washington
Olympia is the capital city of the U.S. state of Washington and the county seat of Thurston County. It was incorporated on January 28, 1859. The population was 46,478 at the 2010 census...
in 1973.
Business career
Heck was the co-founder and is a current director of Intrepid Learning Solutions, a company specializing in business oriented education and training programs. He helped found Digital Efficiency which specializes in aiding businesses and medical facilities in transferring toward an all digital format. Heck helped found TVWTVW (Washington)
TVW is Washington's public affairs network, providing gavel-to-gavel coverage of Washington State Legislature sessions and coverage of the Washington State Supreme Court and public affairs events. It is widely considered the model state level equivalent of C-SPAN. TVW was founded in 1993 by...
, the public affairs network for the state. TVW provides coverage of the Washington State Legislature
Washington State Legislature
The Washington State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Washington. It is a bipartisan, bicameral body, composed of the lower Washington House of Representatives, composed of 98 Representatives, and the upper Washington State Senate, with 49 Senators.The State Legislature...
and sessions of the Washington Supreme Court
Washington Supreme Court
The Washington Supreme Court is the highest court in the judiciary of the U.S. state of Washington. The Court is composed of a Chief Justice and eight Justices. of the Court are elected to six-year terms...
.
Political career
Starting in 1976, Heck was elected to five terms in the Washington House of RepresentativesWashington House of Representatives
The Washington House of Representatives is the lower house of the Washington State Legislature, the legislature of the U.S. State of Washington. It is composed of 98 Representatives from 49 districts, each of which elects two members. All members of the House are elected to a two-year term without...
, representing the 17th district in Clark, Skamania and Klickitat Counties. During that time he was elected Majority Leader, the second-ranking position in the House. He also co-chaired the Education Committee and wrote the state’s historic Basic Education Act.
Heck served as Chief of Staff for Governor Booth Gardner
Booth Gardner
Booth Gardner , an heir to the Weyerhaeuser fortune, was the 19th Governor of the U.S state of Washington between 1985 and 1993. He also served as the ambassador of the GATT. He is a Democrat. Before serving as governor, Gardner was Pierce County Executive...
during his second term (1989–93).
2010 U.S. Congressional campaign
Heck announced his candidacy to replace the retiring DemocraticDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
incumbent Brian Baird
Brian Baird
Brian Norton Baird is a former U.S. Representative for , serving from 1999 until 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district comprises the counties of Thurston, Lewis, Pacific, Wahkiakum, Cowlitz, Clark, and Skamania....
. He won the primary with 31% of the vote and faced runner-up Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Jaime Herrera
Jaime Herrera
Jaime Herrera Beutler is the U.S. Representative for . She is a member of the Republican Party, and is the youngest female U. S. Representative. She is a former Senior Legislative Aide for U.S...
, who won 28% of the vote.
Heck was endorsed by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer is an online newspaper and former print newspaper covering Seattle, Washington, United States, and the surrounding metropolitan area...
on October 12, 2010.
2012 U.S. Congressional campaign
Heck has indicated that he is running for U.S. Representative in 2012.Electoral history
District #17 Representative #1 Election Results (1976-1984)| Year | Democrat | Votes | Pct. | Republican | Votes | Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Dennis L. Heck | 21,130 | 66.50% | Steve Moore |
10,645 | 33.50% |
| 1982 | Dennis L. Heck | 15,080 | 64.48% | Suzanne Taylor-Moore |
8,308 |
35.52% |
| 1980 | Dennis L. Heck | 28,302 | 71.64% | Elizabeth G. Spires |
11,202 | 28.36% |
| 1978 | Dennis L. Heck | 16,486 | 69.37% | David H. Miller |
7,278 |
30.63% |
| 1976 | Dennis L. Heck | 17,998 | 59.15% | Eddie McAninch |
12,428 | 40.85% |
Personal life
Heck and his wife Paula Fruci, married since 1976, have two sons.Heck wrote and self-published a mystery novel entitled "The Enemy You Know." In 2008, he wrote and performed a one-man play, "Our Times" to several sold out audiences. He and his wife, Paula, who directed the play, donated all proceeds to local charities.
Heck has supported numerous organizations within Washington, both actively and as a past contributor. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Evergreen State College. He serves on the Board for the Washington State History Museum
Washington State History Museum
The Washington State History Museum is located in downtown Tacoma, Washington. It is owned and operated by the Washington State Historical Society under the official approval of the Washington State Legislature....
He is a member of the Steering Committee for the Washington Learns Commission; a long-term strategy to improve the education system of Washington.
Works
Dennis L. Heck, Challenges and Opportunities: The Transformation of Washington's Schools, Advance Washington (1987)External links
- Denny Heck for Congress official campaign site
- Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org