Heck was the co-founder and from 1999 to 2012 was board director of Intrepid Learning Solutions, a company specializing in business oriented education and training programs. He helped found Digital Efficiency, which specializes in aiding businesses and medical facilities in transferring toward an all digital format. Heck helped found TVW, the public affairs network for the state. TVW provides coverage of the Washington State Legislature and sessions of the Washington Supreme Court. Heck is the author of Challenges and Opportunities: The Transformation of Washington's Schools, published in 1987.
Starting in 1976, Heck was elected to five terms in the Washington House of Representatives, representing the 17th Legislative District in Clark, Skamania, and Klickitat Counties. During that time he was elected Majority Leader, the second-ranking position in the House. He also co-chaired the Education Committee and wrote the state's historic Basic Education Act. Heck served as Chief of Staff for Governor Booth Gardner during his second term.
;2010 Heck announced his candidacy to replace the retiring Democratic incumbent Brian Baird. He won the primary with 31% of the vote and faced runner-up Republican Jaime Herrera, who won 28% of the vote. Heck was endorsed by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer on October 12, 2010. Herrera defeated Heck in the general election, 53% to 47%. ;2012 Heck indicated in the spring of 2011 that he would run for Congress again in 2012. Soon after the state's redistricting commission announced tentative maps, Heck announced that he was running for the newly created 10th District, based in Olympia. In the general election on November 6, 2012, Heck defeated Republican challenger Dick Muri to become the district's first congressman. ;2014 Heck won with 51.6% of the vote over Republican Joyce McDonald. ;2016 Heck won with 58.7% of the vote over Republican Jim Postma.
Since 2013, Heck has introduced legislation to improve access to banking and financial services for cannabis businesses. Initially known as the Marijuana Business Access to Banking Act, it was rebranded as the Secure and Fair Enforcement Banking Act in 2017. On September 25, 2019, the House of Representatives passed the SAFE Banking Act by a 321–103 vote, marking the first time that either chamber of Congress has approved a standalone cannabis reform bill.
Electoral history
Year
Democrat
Votes
Pct.
Republican
Votes
Pct.
1984
Dennis L. Heck
21,130
66.50%
Steve Moore
10,645
33.50%
1982
Dennis L. Heck
15,080
64.48%
Suzanne Taylor-Moore
8,308
35.52%
1980
Dennis L. Heck
28,302
71.64%
Elizabeth G. Spires
11,202
28.36%
1978
Dennis L. Heck
16,486
69.37%
David H. Miller
7,278
30.63%
1976
Dennis L. Heck
17,998
59.15%
Eddie McAninch
12,428
40.85%
Personal life
Heck and his wife Paula Fruci, married since 1976, have two sons. Heck wrote and self-published a mystery novel entitled The Enemy You Know. In 2008, he wrote and performed a one-man play, Our Times to several sold out audiences. He and his wife, Paula, who directed the play, donated all proceeds to local charities. Heck has supported numerous organizations within Washington, both actively and as a past contributor. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Evergreen State College. He serves on the Board for the Washington State History Museum. He is a member of the Steering Committee for the Commission; a long-term strategy to improve the education system of Washington.
Works
Dennis L. Heck, Challenges and Opportunities: The Transformation of Washington's Schools, Advance Washington
