Denny Heck

Dennis Lynn Heck (born July 29, 1952) is an American entrepreneur and politician serving as the 17th and current lieutenant governor of Washington.[1] A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the U.S. Representative for Washington's 10th congressional district from 2013 to 2021.

Denny Heck
17th Lieutenant Governor of Washington
Assumed office
January 13, 2021
GovernorJay Inslee
Preceded byCyrus Habib
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Washington's 10th district
In office
January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2021
Preceded byConstituency established
Succeeded byMarilyn Strickland
Member of the Washington House of Representatives
from the 17th district
In office
January 10, 1977 – January 11, 1985
Preceded byEugene Laughlin
Succeeded byKim Peery
Personal details
Born
Dennis Lynn Heck

(1952-07-29) July 29, 1952
Vancouver, Washington, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)
Paula Fruci
​
(m. 1976)​
Children2
EducationEvergreen State College (BA)
WebsiteGovernment website

Heck was previously the Democratic nominee for the 3rd congressional district in 2010, but was defeated by Republican Jaime Herrera Beutler. In 2012, he ran and won in the newly created 10th congressional district, defeating Republican Dick Muri.[2]

Heck served as chief of staff to Washington governor Booth Gardner from 1990 to 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. From 1999 to 2012, he served on the board of directors of Intrepid Learning Solutions,[3] which he co-founded with Christopher Hedrick.

On December 4, 2019, Heck announced that he would not seek reelection in 2020.[4] On April 3, 2020, he filed to run for lieutenant governor.[5]

Early life and education

Heck was born in Vancouver, Washington, in 1952, and raised in the Lake Shore area of Clark County where he graduated from Columbia River High School. He graduated from Evergreen State College in Olympia in 1973 and attended Portland State University from 1974 to 1975.

Early career

Heck was the co-founder and from 1999 to 2012 was board director of Intrepid Learning Solutions, a company specializing in business oriented education and training programs.[6] He helped found Digital Efficiency, which specializes in aiding businesses and medical facilities in transferring toward an all-digital format. Heck helped found TVW,[7] the public affairs network for the state. TVW provides coverage of the Washington State Legislature and sessions of the Washington Supreme Court.[8]

Heck is the author of Challenges and Opportunities: The Transformation of Washington's Schools, published in 1987.

Washington House of Representatives

Starting in 1976, Heck was elected to five terms in the Washington House of Representatives, representing the 17th legislative 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).

U.S. House of Representatives
Heck's freshman portrait (113th Congress)

Elections
2010
See also: 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Washington § District 3

Heck announced his candidacy to replace the retiring Democratic incumbent Brian Baird.[9] He won the primary with 31% of the vote and faced runner-up Republican Jaime Herrera, who won 28% of the vote.[10]

Heck was endorsed by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer on October 12, 2010.[11] Herrera defeated Heck in the general election, 53% to 47%.[12]

2012
See also: 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Washington § District 10

Heck indicated in the spring of 2011 that he would run for Congress again in 2012.[13] Soon after the state's redistricting commission announced tentative maps, Heck announced that he was running for the newly created 10th district, based in Olympia.[14] In the general election on November 6, 2012, Heck defeated Republican challenger Dick Muri to become the district's first congressman.[2]

2014
See also: 2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Washington § District 10

Heck won with 51.6% of the vote over Republican Joyce McDonald.

2016
See also: 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Washington § District 10

Heck won with 58.7% of the vote over Republican Jim Postma.

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act

Since 2013, Heck and Rep. Ed Perlmutter have introduced legislation to improve access to banking and financial services for cannabis businesses.[18][19] Initially known as the Marijuana Business Access to Banking Act, it was rebranded as the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act in 2017.[20] On September 25, 2019, the House of Representatives passed the SAFE Banking Act by a 321–103 vote, marking the first time that a standalone cannabis reform bill had passed either chamber of Congress.[21][22]

Electoral history

State legislature
District #17 state representative #1 election results (1976–1984)[23]
Year Democrat Republican
Candidate Votes % Candidate Votes %
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%

Lieutenant governor
See also: 2020 Washington lieutenant gubernatorial election
Lieutenant governor election results (2020)[24]
Year Democrat Democrat
Candidate Votes % Candidate Votes %
2020 Dennis L. Heck 1,658,405 45.61% Marko Liias 1,218,548 33.51%

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.[25] 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.[26] He serves on the board for the Washington State History Museum.[27] He is a member of the Steering Committee for the Washington Learns Commission; a long-term strategy to improve the education system of Washington.[28]

Works
  • Dennis L. Heck, Challenges and Opportunities: The Transformation of Washington's Schools, Advance Washington (1987)

References
  1. "Denny Heck defeats Marko Liias in Washington state lieutenant governor election results". Seattle Times. November 3, 2020. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  2. Schrader, Jordan; Shannon, Brad. "Democrats Derek Kilmer, Denny Heck win Congressional races". The News Tribune. Tacoma News, Inc. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved November 9, 2012.
  3. "Intrepid Learning Inc.'s corporate learning platform". Archived from the original on October 16, 2016. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
  4. Bowman, Bridget (December 4, 2019). "Washington Democratic Rep. Denny Heck not running for reelection". Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  5. Drew, James (April 3, 2020). "U.S. Rep. Heck files paperwork to run for state Lieutenant Governor". The News Tribune. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  6. Intrepid Learning Solutions Archived September 18, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  7. "TVW".
  8. "Digital Efficiency". Archived from the original on July 10, 2011. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
  9. "Denny Heck enters race for Baird's seat". January 7, 2010. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
  10. Kyle Trygstad (August 26, 2010). "Herrera Up Big in WA-3 Poll". CQ Politics. Archived from the original on August 31, 2010. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
  11. PI.com: Send Denny Heck to Congress, editorial board, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, October 12, 2010
  12. "Congressional District 3". Retrieved November 23, 2016.
  13. The Seattle Times | Denny Heck signals possible run for new 10th District, Seattle Times", May 23, 2011
  14. Connelly, Joel (December 28, 2011). "A "Denny District" -- new House $$ pitches". Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
  15. "Members". New Democrat Coalition. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
  16. "Membership". Congressional Arts Caucus. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  17. "Members". U.S. - Japan Caucus. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  18. "SAFE Banking Act Introduced as Congress Looks to Address Cannabis Banking Issue" (Press release). Washington, D.C.: house.gov. March 7, 2019.
  19. "Perlmutter, Heck Introduce Commonsense Marijuana Business Access To Banking Act" (Press release). house.gov. July 10, 2013.
  20. Wallace, Alicia (April 27, 2017). "New federal bill would allow banking for marijuana businesses". The Cannabist. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  21. "Joint Release: Safe Banking Act Passes U.S. House Of Representatives With Overwhelming, Bipartisan Support" (Press release). Washington, D.C.: house.gov. September 25, 2019.
  22. Jaeger, Kyle (September 25, 2019). "House Approves Marijuana Banking Bill In Historic Vote". Marijuana Moment. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  23. "Election Search Results – Elections & Voting – WA Secretary of State". Washington Secretary of State. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  24. "November 3, 2020 General Election Results – Lt. Governor". Washington Secretary of State. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  25. "Denny Heck: Part liberal, part conservative". The Columbian. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  26. "Board of Trustees at Evergreen". Retrieved November 23, 2016.
  27. "Washington State Historical Society > Research". Retrieved November 23, 2016.
  28. "Washington Learn Steering Committee". Archived from the original on November 3, 2010. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
U.S. House of Representatives
New constituency Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Washington's 10th congressional district
2013–2021		 Succeeded by
Marilyn Strickland
Political offices
Preceded by
Cyrus Habib		 Lieutenant Governor of Washington
2021–present		 Incumbent
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