I am sure many people in our area watched the Russian investigation hearings on Capitol Hill this week. The hearings were conducted by the U.S. House of Representatives Select Committee on Intelligence. I hope those that watched the hearing noticed that Rep. Denny Heck, Clark County’s native son, as a member of the committee, questioned FBI Director James Comey. He was appointed to this prestigious 13-member committee from the entire 435 members of Congress.
It is no mystery why his colleagues selected this third-term congressman to serve on this high-seniority committee. As Heck’s former teacher at Columbia River High School and a colleague in the Washington state House of Representatives, I can attest to the high level of leadership that he has exhibited in previous positions, including appointed and elected positions in Washington state.
He was elected to the state House of Representatives in the 1970s, quickly becoming majority floor leader, later chief clerk of the House, and in the 1980s, chief of staff for Gov. Booth Gardner and, prior to becoming the first U.S. congressman in the newly created 10th Congressional district, he spent several years establishing Television Washington, or TVW, and became CEO. This station airs on Channel 22 and brings to Washington’s citizens first-hand knowledge of Washington’s legislative executive and judicial functions.
