Heckman enters congressional race

Heckman ran against Linder in 2008 and garnered an impressive 38 percent of the vote in the heavily Republican district.

"The message of my campaign is 'Service Before Self' because my decision to run is an extension of my military service. Public servants should have the same integrity and commitment to problem solving that is required of the defenders of our nation. Self-interested and career politicians have forgotten that they were elected to bring people together and help turn good ideas into reality." said Heckman.

Heckman recently returned home to Norcross after a second military deployment to Iraq where he earned his third combat Bronze Star. A Green Beret and a colonel in the U.S. Army, Heckman was stationed in the Baghdad area with other special operations soldiers. In October of 2001, he served a tour of duty in Afghanistan.

“The percentage of politicians with military experience is at an all-time low in Washington,” Heckman said. “We need more of our combat veterans in government. We are used to accountability and effective communication which have been sorely lacking in our Congressional District.”

Heckman is a West Point graduate and will have two sons entering West Point in this year's freshman class. He has an MBA from Duke University and has lived in the 7th District for 20 years with his wife and three children.

For more information, visit www.dougheckman.com.