Doug Heckman

Douglass Scott Heckman (born September 17 1959) is the 2008 Democratic candidate for United States Congress in Georgia's 7th congressional district ( [http://www.govtrack.us/congress/findyourreps.xpd?state=GA&district=7 map] ) and a decorated veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan [cite web|url=http://a2.thevoterguide.org/a-ajc08/index.do?i=1|title=Georgia Voter Guide] .

Military biography

Doug Heckman was born and raised in Allentown, Pennsylvania. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1981 and spent his Lieutenant years in Germany as an Infantry Officer. For several years, Heckman served as an A-Team Leader and Captain with the “Green Berets” at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. During the 1980s, he attended numerous U.S. Military schools, including the Airborne, Ranger, Jumpmaster and Special Forces Schools.cite web|url=http://www.dougheckman.com/dh_bio_military.html|title=Doug Heckman for U.S. Congress, Military Biography] Heckman was an Honor Graduate from the Special Forces School in 1985.Communication between Doug Heckman and an editor, 14 June 2008Or|date=June 2008] Or|date=June 2008

During the 1990s, Heckman served as a US Army Reservist, first as a Captain and then as a Major. He was attached to the Army Special Forces Command and served several tours in Central America. In 1995, Heckman graduated from the Command and General Staff College.Or|date=June 2008

In 2001, Heckman went on Active Duty as a US Army Special Forces Lieutenant Colonel and was deployed to Afghanistan shortly after September 11 [cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb5266/is_200210/ai_n20444036|title=Special Forces Army Reservist Resumes Marketing Duties] . There, he served as a principal staff officer for Task Force Dagger, the unit that trained the Northern Alliance and expelled the Taliban from Afghanistan. Heckman then spent eight months as the Crisis Action Team Chief at the Army Special Operations Headquarters at Fort Bragg, where he earned a Bronze Star and a Meritorious Service Medal.

From 2006-2007, Heckman went on Active Duty for 13 months. He lived and worked on an Iraqi base in Baghdad and served as a U.S. Army Colonel and Senior Advisor to the Iraqi Army. While in Iraq, Heckman earned several awards, including a Bronze Star and a Combat Action Badge. [cite web|url=http://www.democraticpartyofgeorgia.org/node/561|title=Democratic Party of Georgia] He completed his tour and returned to the United States in April 2007, at which time he joined the Army Reserve [cite web|url=http://www.politicalaffairs.net/article/articleview/6944/1/338/|title=Guide to Congressional Races in Georgia]

Civilian biography

Doug Heckman married Pat Heckman in 1982, and their marriage continues to this day. They have three children: Dan (18), Tommy (16), and Samantha (13). [cite web|url=http://a2.thevoterguide.org/a-ajc08/index.do?i=1|title=Georgia Voter Guide]

In 1989, Heckman received his MBA from Duke University. [cite web|url=http://a2.thevoterguide.org/a-ajc08/index.do?i=1|title=Georgia Voter Guide] He has since held jobs at several financial services firms. He worked at Merrill Lynch from 1989-1996, eventually holding a Vice Presidency. From 1998-2001 Heckman served as a Director with Neuberger Berman. Most recently, Heckman worked as a Managing Director for WestAM (2001-2004) and Phoenix Investment Partners (2004-2008). cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=105103|title=Vote Smart.org, Doug Heckman]

Heckman currently serves on the advisory board of Operation One Voice, a not-for-profit that raises money for the sing funds and awareness for the financial needs of the children and families of wounded and fallen Special Operation Forces (SOF) [cite web|url=http://www.tondeestavern.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=1596|title=Tondee's Tavern: Meet Doug Heckman] . Additionally, he served on Georgia’s Senatorial Academy Selection Committee—the body which determines admission to U.S. military academies from Georgia— from 2003-2008. Heckman also has served on the West Point Endowment Investment Committee since 2002.

Heckman and his family are active at Simpsonwood United Methodist Church in Norcross, Georgia. Heckman has held several leadership positions at Simpsonwood; past offices include Chair of the Administrative Council, Chair of the Missions Committee, and Chair of the Finance Committee. Heckman is currently Chair of the Disaster Relief Committee. Since 1996, he has held various positions with the Boy Scouts of America, where his sons are members.

2008 Congressional campaign

In March 2008, Heckman officially announced his candidacy for U.S. Congress in Georgia’s 7th District. [cite web|url=http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/shared-blogs/ajc/politicalinsider/entries/2008/03/31/linder_has_a_democratic_oppone.html|title=Doug AJC, John Linder has a Democratic Opponent] He faces no opposition in the Democratic Primary to be held on July 15, 2008. His General Election opponent will be John Linder (R-GA) who has held the Congressional seat for eight consecutive terms. [cite web|url=http://www.johnlinder.com|title=John Linder for U.S. Congress] Heckman has never before run for public office.cite web|url=http://www.dougheckman.com|title=Doug Heckman for U.S. Congress]

Political positions

Heckman positions himself as a political moderate, calling for less partisanship and arguing that “too often, partisanship hinders progress.” He insists that Congress lacks “collegiality and a spirit of compromise” that will permit it to address the “immense list of issues in need of pressing solutions”. [cite web|url=http://www.dougheckman.com/dh_issues_gtd.html|title=Doug Heckman for U.S. Congress, Issues, Getting Things Done] Concerning government spending, Heckman states on his website that “Democrats and Republicans both shoulder blame for the national government’s lack of fiscal discipline.” He calls for the national government to “Institute a Balanced Budget Amendment,” “Abolish earmarks,” “Attain total transparency,” and “force Congress to keep spending in line with revenue” except in emergencies. [cite web|url=http://www.dougheckman.com/dh_issues_fiscal.html|title=Doug Heckman for U.S. Congress, Issues, Fiscal Discipline]

Regarding the Iraq war, Heckman argues that “The surge has been effective “and “The Iraqi Military and Police are doing their jobs to their standards,” but “the Iraqi Government is weak and unmotivated.” He writes: “my experience tells me [that the Iraqi military and government] have the US military and government ‘gamed’... they know what we want, they know our agenda, and… their agendas are not always the same as ours.” He argues that the U.S. government can force the Iraqi government to act if U.S. forces “move back into an Operational and Strategic overwatch and aid [Iraqi forces] where needed”. Heckman also calls for better health care for American war veterans. [cite web|url=http://www.dougheckman.com/dh_issues_iraq.html|title=Doug Heckman for U.S. Congress, Issues, Iraq]

Concerning the American economy, Heckman argues that “Our economy is in bad shape” and “ [our trade deficit] is now coming due.” He calls for the U.S. government to “develop and apply new ideas from experts such as nonpartisan economists and business leaders” and thereby improve the economy. He also laments “dumping” in international trade and says he “will work to level the playing field as new trade agreements are written and old agreements reviewed”. [cite web|url=http://www.dougheckman.com/dh_issues_economy.html|title=Doug Heckman for U.S. Congress, Issues, Economy]

Heckman advocates increasing spending on alternative energy technologies in both the public and private sectors. He writes that “We must work hard to develop comprehensive and sustainable energy solutions. These solutions should lower the cost and environmental impact of energy while creating an immense number of jobs in new technology industries”. Heckman opposes domestic drilling in ANWR, stating that “all the oil in ANWR can only support 5% of the U.S. daily oil consumption for 12 years before completely running out” and rhetorically asking if it “makes sense for us to permanently destroy vast stretches of Alaskan wilderness for a policy that would not help remedy our dependence on foreign oil”. [cite web|url=http://www.dougheckman.com/dh_issues_energy.html|title=Doug Heckman for U.S. Congress, Issues, Sustainable and Affordable Energy]

Regarding taxes, Heckman sharply criticizes the Fair Tax plan (H.R. 25),cite web|url=http://www.dougheckman.com/dh_issues_tax.html|title=Doug Heckman for U.S. Congress, Issues, The Unfair Tax] the brainchild of John Linder, his opponent, and talk-radio show host Neal Boortz. [cite web|url=http://www.fairtax.org|title=Citizens for Fair Taxation] Heckman argues that the Fair Tax would be “extremely unfair to the vast majority of taxpayers” because “the FairTax would proportionally raise taxes on everyone earning less than $300,000 each year while proportionally lowering taxes for everyone earning more than that.” He also dismisses the argument that the Fair Tax will cut enforcement costs, arguing that “The tax avoidance industry would shift [from existing taxes] to the new consumption tax.” Heckman instead advocates “comprehensive income tax reform” that would include a national tax code “overhaul” and simplification alongside “a nominal national consumption tax.” Heckman argues that less spending by the government will “allow taxes to be proportionally reduced across the board”.

External links

* [http://www.dougheckman.com Official campaign site]
* [http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=105103 Project Vote Smart page]
* [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6186826 NPR Interview from Iraq]
* [http://www.youtube.com/dougheckman2008 Doug Heckman Youtube Videos]
* [http://www.facebook.com/pages/Doug-Heckman/22709450900 Doug Heckman Facebook Page]

References