Mike Hettinger

Mike Hettinger is a Labor political activist in the Australian Capital Territory and a candidate for the seat of Molonglo in the 2008 election for the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly.

In 2004 Hettinger narrowly missed out on election in the seat of Molonglo for the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly.

Mike Hettinger's campaign was centered on the need for a "Smarter, Greener Canberra" with a focus on environmental and education issues. Mike is an independent (non factional) member of the Australian Labor Party.

Military career

Before emigrating to Australia Mike Hettinger had a distinguished career as an officer in the US Air Force, which included being a Deputy Commander of a satellite tracking station in the Indian Ocean in the lead up to the first Gulf War. He is also a Gulf War Era Veteran receiving a commendation and award of the US National Defense Service Medal for Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm (1991) and has received the US Air Force Achievement Medal for saving the lives of two Soviet divers (1990), and the Air Force Commendation Medal for supporting launch and on-orbit satellite operations (1987). Mike Hettinger was a strong opponent of the Iraq conflict and campaigned on this with the slogan "Captain Mike opposes the War."

Education

Hettinger is a trained rocket scientist with a Bachelors Degree in Physics (College of the Holy Cross) and holds a Masters of Public Administration (University of Colorado) as well as a Masters in International Relations from the Australian National University (ANU).

Public Service career

Mike Hettinger currently works the Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST). He previously has worked in the Australian Space Office and received the Australia Day Achievement Medallion for his work on the development of a space industry in Australia (1999). Hettinger is an active member/delegate of the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU).

2004 Election

Mike Hettinger was seen by many to have run a very strong campaign and he narrowly missed election by less than 300 votes for the seat of Molonglo. The campaign was centered on environmental issues an area where Hettinger has a long standing record of activism. Hettinger has been involved in many ACT environmental campaigns such as the Save the Ridge campaign against the Gungahlin Drive Extension.

Post 2004

In 2006 with the resignation of ACT Treasurer Ted Quinlan Hettinger nominated for the vacancy and despite the fact that in the actual election he received more votes than Andrew Barr, Barr received more of Quinlan's preferences and was elected. Since then Hettinger has campaigned vigorously against the plan to close ACT public schools. Hettinger was particularly active in the successful campaign to Save Dickson College. In March 2008 Hettinger was preselected by members of the Australian Labor Party and was endorsed as one of its candidates for the seat of Molonglo in the 2008 election for the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly due to be held on 18 October 2008.

Controversy

In the 2008 ACT elections Mike Hettinger ran on a non-factional Labor ticket. Controversy arose after campaign materials were produced on green backgrounds . It has been alleged that party headquarters has frozen Hettinger's campaign funding.^{[citation needed]}

External links

• Mike Hettinger Official Website
• [1]

Persondata
Name	Hettinger, Mike
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Short description	Australian politician
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