I live in Phil Gingrey's district, and there is no Dem running against him. So I was very pleasantly suprised to get an email from Doug Heckman who is running in the open seat GA-7 to replace the retiring GOP John Linder. Since there isn't much I can do to defeat Gingrey, I see supporting Doug's efforts in GA-7 as a chance to replace a RW Gooper with who looks like a very well qualified and progressive sounding Dem.
I will let parts of his letter speak for him:
I am running for Congress to the east of you in Georgia’s 7th Congressional District. The incumbent Congressman, John Linder, is retiring after 18 years. All eight Republican candidates in the Primary are fighting to see who is most potentially obstructionist. This will not be good for our state nor our country. We can do better.
In your District, Phil Gingrey will not have any opposition in November unfortunately. So many in Congress have stood up for special interests like the insurance lobby and BP over the public interest time and time again. That is why I am writing you and asking you to support my Campaign. The 2010 election in our District (covering Gwinnett, Barrow, Walton, Newton and southern Forsyth County) offers the best chance statewide for Democrats to pick up a seat in the House of Representatives and send a principled problem-solver to Washington.
My background includes being a Special Forces Colonel in the US Army Reserves and a Green Beret. I just returned from my second tour in Iraq where I briefed at the highest levels of our military daily. I saw Shia and Sunni come together in reasoned compromise. It is ironic that Republicans and Democrats show little ability to work this way in the United States Congress.
I am a graduate of West Point and also received an MBA from Duke University. I have worked for 20 years in the financial services industry and have held several executive positions in multi-billion dollar firms. My business experiences have taught me a lot about hard work and accountability. I want to bring my perspective and my skills to Washington, D.C. and help our country get back on the right track.
I encourage all Dems in GA to support Doug if you can, especially those like me in Gingrey's district who have no one to support. Here is a link to his web site: www.dougheckman.com