Political novice runs for GA's 7th Congressional

By Charles Edwards

atlanta, ga – Qualifying for Georgia's Congressional races begins later this month. However, a businessman and Iraq war veteran has already jumped in the Democratic race for the 7th district nomination.

The district Doug Heckman wants to represent covers all of Walton County, most of Gwinnett County and parts of Barrow and Newton Counties. The area's been represented by Republican John Linder since the early 90s.

Heckman, a Democrat, has 20 years experience directing asset management firms. Now, the political novice says he wants to bring leadership to Washington.

HECKMAN: There are a lot of national issues out there that I think this Congress has been remiss on addressing. They deferred them to future Congresses such as social security, medicare, health care, immigration, the list goes on and on.

However, it's the issue of the Iraq war that hits home for Heckman. He spent most of last year in Iraq as a US Army Colonel advising the Iraqi army.

He says the US military should move away from daily combat and into a more supervisory role in the region.