Biography

Lieutenant Governor Heck previously served as the first United States Representative from Washington’s 10th Congressional District. While in Congress, he served on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, the House Financial Services Committee, and the Joint Economic Committee. 

Prior to his service in Congress, Lieutenant Governor Heck successfully grew several small businesses in Washington State. One of those small businesses, which specializes in workplace education, started in Olympia with only two employees and grew to more than 300 people throughout the United States. Lieutenant Governor Heck was also an original investor in Real Networks, the digital entertainment company that pioneered streaming media on the Internet.

A strong advocate of open government, in 1993 Lieutenant Governor Heck cofounded TVW to provide the people of Washington State greater accessibility to their state government. TVW has grown into the nation’s preeminent statewide public affairs network. While at TVW, the Lieutenant Governor hosted the renowned public affairs program Inside Olympia and won an Emmy for a documentary he wrote, produced, and directed. 

Early in his career, Lieutenant Governor Heck served his community in the State House of Representatives. Elected to five terms, he was chosen by his colleagues to serve as House Majority Leader before retiring in 1986. While in the State House, Lieutenant Governor Heck was one of the prime authors of the state’s historic Basic Education Act. After his time in the Legislature, he served as Chief of Staff to Governor Booth Gardner during his second term.