Denny Heck to run in proposed 10th Congressional District

Denny Heck is entering the race to be the first Congressman from Washington’s 10th Congressional District. (See Congressional Map on The News Tribune website).

Heck is running to help create jobs and get the American middle class, and those working to get into it, back on their feet. As a businessman and entrepreneur, Heck has first hand experience growing businesses and creating jobs. He knows how to get the South Sound’s economy moving again through investments in infrastructure and through policies that will help grow the manufacturing and clean energy sectors.

Heck’s top priorities also include stopping efforts to dismantle Medicare and Social Security and making sure veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan get the help they deserve as they transition to civilian life.

The 10^th Congressional District is composed of most of Thurston County and much of Pierce County as well as south Mason County including Shelton.

Heck is in a strong position to be elected the first Congressman from the 10^th District. He has the endorsements of Congressman Norm Dicks in the 6^th Congressional District and Congressman Adam Smith in the 9^th Congressional District.

Heck has also been endorsed by Thurston County leaders including State Senator Karen Fraser, State Representatives Sam Hunt and Chris Reykdal, County Commissioners Cathy Wolfe, Sandra Romero and Karen Valenzuela and by Dylan Carlson, Chair of the 22^nd Legislative District Democrats.

In Pierce County, Heck has been endorsed by Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy, 28^th Legislative District State Representatives Tami Green and Troy Kelley, 29^thLegislative District State Representatives Steve Kirby and Connie Ladenburg, 27^th Legislative District Senator Debbie Regala and 27^th Legislative District Representatives Jeannie Darneille and Laurie Jenkins, former 25^th Legislative District State Representative Dawn Morrell and former Representative and State Treasurer Dan Grimm, retired Pierce County State Senators Rosa Franklin, Marilyn Rasmussen, and Ken Madsen, and by Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland and former Tacoma Mayor Bill Baarsma. Heck has also been endorsed by Don Green and Ken Stevenson, Chairs of the 28^th and 2^nd Legislative District Democrats.

Heck starts 2012 with more than $550,000 cash on hand, raised from more than 1300 individual donations to the campaign. He is proud to have the support of the Washington Machinists Council, Electrical Workers IBEW Local 77, Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters, AFSCME Council 2, Laborers Local 252, Boilermakers Local 502, Sheet Metal Workers Union Local 66, Operating Engineers 302, APWU American Postal Workers’ Union, Asbestos Workers Local 7, Plumbers and Pipefitters, and the Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council.

Denny Heck, 59, was the Democratic nominee for Washington's 3rd Congressional District in 2010.  Denny is an entrepreneur, former State Representative and co-founder of TVW, a statewide public affairs TV channel in Washington State. Denny attended and graduated from The Evergreen State College in 1973 and has lived in Olympia for the past 26 years with his wife Paula and their two children, Bob and Trey. Denny and Paula, a retired middle school principal, have been married 36 years.