Lt. Governor – Denny Heck

Legislative Questionnaire

Candidate Information

  • Candidate Name: Denny Heck
  • Position Sought: Lt. Governor (Non-incumbent)
  • Home Legislative District: 22
  • Democrat: Yes

Campaign Information

Part I – Candidate Background

1. Please briefly describe your qualifications, education, employment, community and civic activity, union affiliation, prior political activity, and other relevant experience.

BA, The Evergreen State College. Attended graduate school at Portland State University. Current member US House of Representatives. Serve on the House Intelligence Committee and Financial Services Committee. Co-founder of Intrepid Learning Solutions, a Seattle-based company that grew from 2 to 300 employees. Co-founder and CEO of TVW, statewide public affairs network where I
hosted Inside Olympia, a weekly public affairs program. Chief of Staff to Governor Gardner. Former member and Majority Leader of State House of Representatives. Member of the Board of Trustees of Evergreen State College and Foundation Board. Member of Governor Gregoire’s Washington Learns Commission. Co-founder with spouse of Principals’ Emergency Checkbook Fund for low-income students. Member of Advisory Council to New Market Skill Center (a public career and technical high school). Former business agent for Public School Employees of Washington (union representing classified school employees).

2. What prompted you to run for this office? What are your campaign’s most important themes, issues, or priorities (three to five)?

I have a passion for public service and for this office, my experience counts. I have served at the state and federal level in both the legislature (where I was House Majority Leader) and the federal level in Congress. I have also served in the executive branch as Chief of Staff to governor Gardner. I began my adult career as a professional staff member in the legislature. With Lt Governor, the question always has to be: Is this person ready to be governor if necessary. I am. Second, the Lt Governor is the president of the Senate, where he/she breaks ties and maintains parliamentary order. They must be committed to presiding in a fair and civil way – it is the only way the process works. Finally, the Lt Governor performs other duties as assigned or self assigned and what a wonderful opportunity to make a difference. For example, the Lt Governor, by law, chairs the Legislative Committee on Economic Development; International Relations. As a state, we are going to be digging ourselves out of the Covid hole for some time and we need as many voices as possible at the table who have experience in how best to do that. Indeed, we have an opportunity here to rebuild our economy in a fairer way and a more sustainable way. Lastly, we cannot underestimate the budget hole that the Covid recession is presenting to state government. Again, I’ve been through too many recessions and I know the wrong way to respond is to think we can cut our way to prosperity. We must maintain services especially at a time like this. I will be a voice for that.Three issues that I don’t think are getting enough action are 1) Income inequality, 2) climate change, and 3) storm water pollution of the Puget Sound and other bodies of water. The Lieutenant Governor has the unique opportunity to use their bully pulpit to define the problem and provide real intellectual thought leadership on solutions. There is gravitas to the office that can and should be used to solve problems.

3. What steps are you taking to run a successful campaign?

Thus far, we have received the endorsements of more than 230 current and former elected officials at the local, state and tribal level. (see DennyHeck.com) In one month, we raised nearly $440,000 from individuals across the state. Our campaign will be adequately resourced through broad-based fundraising to deliver strong messaging to targeted counties. Like any enterprise, success is predicated on having a strong team to execute. My media firm (Dixon Davis) is one of the best in the country. My general consulting firm (CD Strategic of Seattle) has, in a relatively short period of time, proven its considerable prowess. And my campaign manager (Kelty Pierce), who is graduating from UW where she is student body president, is going to make a big difference in this state for a long time to come.

Part II – Local and State Issues

1. Do you support Initiative Measure No. 940 (“De-escalate Washington,” requiring, among other things, that law enforcement officers be required to obtain violence de-escalation and mental health training, so that officers will have greater skills to resolve conflicts without the use of physical or deadly force)?

Yes

2. Do you support the right of public workers, excluding military, to bargain and strike?

Yes

Absolutely.

3. Would you support a statewide “Ban the Box” law, prohibiting employers from asking about job applicants’ criminal history until after an initial screening or interview?

%3. Would you support a statewide “Ban the Box” law, prohibiting employers from asking about job applicants’ criminal history until after an initial screening or interview?%

The best way to reintegrate those with criminal histories is to create an environment where they can quickly find a job and begin supporting themselves and reintegrating with society through the social bonds of the workplace. I support initiatives like “Ban the Box” but people with long gaps in their work history will always face difficulty finding jobs. The best thing we can do for them is stimulating the overall economy so that jobs are plentiful and employers are more willing to take a chance.

4. Do you support legislation that reimburses the cost of reproductive health care services, such as SB 6105, the Reproductive Health Access for All Act?

Yes

Yes, I most emphatically do. Costs should never be a barrier to receiving reproductive health. Indeed,
costs should never be a barrier to access to quality health care at all but this is especially true of
reproductive health care.

5. Would you support an automatic voter registration act such as HB 2595 (Automatic Voter Registration Act of 2018), streamlining procedures in order to automatically register citizens to vote?

Yes

6. Would you support a bill that would enable the state of WA to create a single health financing entity to provide health care financing for all Washington residents, independent from employment, such as the WA Apple Care Trust?

Yes

I support health care for all in an affordable, quality and accessible way and I support any and all steps that will move us in that direction as expeditiously as possible.

Part III – Free Response

1. Why are you running as a Democrat? What aspects of the Democratic platform most resonate with you?

I am a proud Democrat. I believe in Democratic Party values. I have been a Democrat my entire life from the time I organized the Teen Democrat Club in my junior high, through years of involvement in Young Democrats and through my years in office where I have regularly party leadership roles (Majority Leader in State House,. Chair the State House Democrats campaign committee three times, national chair of the Candidate Recruitment Committee and co-chair of the Red to Blue Committee.

2. In the past, many Democrat-sponsored bills have died in the Republican-controlled Senate. Please list three failed bills from the past legislative session that you will champion when elected.

% In the past, many Democrat-sponsored bills have died in the Republican-controlled Senate. Please list three failed bills from the past legislative session that you will champion when elected.%

3. What important state and local issues have you worked on (or taken an interest in) that you feel aren’t getting enough attention from elected leaders and the media?

%3. What important state and local issues have you worked on (or taken an interest in) that you feel aren’t getting enough attention from elected leaders and the media?%

4. Do you think Washington public schools are adequately funded? If not, what minimum requirements should be met in an adequately funded public school system? What specific forms of taxation would you support to attain that funding?

I am THE education candidate in this race! My first professional job was as research analyst to the House Education Committee which I later co-chaired as a member of the State House. I worked for a school district. I have been married to an educator for 44 years. I wrote a book about education. I ran for state superintendent of schools in 1988 (with support from WEA). My record in
Congress has been one of an unwavering supporter for schools and school personnel. Paula’s and my philanthropic efforts revolve around education including providing the seed funding for an Oly School program designed to help low income children. Education is central to my values and self-identity.

5. What are some obstacles inherent in proposed legislative solutions to climate change? How would you approach those obstacles in order to best overcome or minimize any negative effects?

Environmental justice advocacy means identifying the communities that are most negatively affected by the changing environment and putting the needs of those communities first. Generally speaking, all change brings about winners and losers. We need big changes in our approach to climate change and it, too, will create winners and losers. The challenge is making sure that our changes do not further disadvantage the least fortunate among us who are, by definition, disproportionately concentrated among households with lower incomes. I am prepared to lead with a lens of equity on environmental issues.

6. What are some obstacles inherent in proposed approaches to tax reform in Washington State? How would you approach those obstacles in order to best overcome or minimize any negative effects?

Higher income people need to pay more of their fair share, and we must vigorously
resist taxes that fall disproportionately on lower income people. Once again, this is
going to be a particularly important question in the 2021 session with the budget
challenges it will face. My commitment to fairer taxation goes way back to my days in
the legislature when I was the prime sponsor of a constitutional amendment to create an
income tax.

7. Do you support the voter-approved call for a Constitutional Amendment to overturn the Citizens United Supreme Court decision (I-735), and if so, how do you propose to work toward that goal?

%Do you support the voter-approved call for a Constitutional Amendment to overturn the Citizens United Supreme Court decision (I-735), and if so, how do you propose to work toward that goal?%

By typing my name below, I declare under penalty of perjury the foregoing is true and correct.

Printed Name: Denny Heck

Date: 05/11/2020

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