Democrats smile with candidate against Linder this election
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher

APRIL 29, 2008 -- We don't know the odds, but if we were a betting person, we think overall safe bets would be to back the Congressional incumbent in races all across the country. If you could get anyone to bet you even, backing the incumbent in each race in the nation would put money in your pocket.

But we are not the betting type, especially in politics. About the closest we would come would be to buy a $50 raffle ticket in hopes of winning the Sebring convertible that Hayes Chrysler-Plymouth is giving away at the Gwinnett Relay for Life this year.

In Congressional races, in general, the incumbent is the favorite. Many of these incumbents, in either party, are in what is called "safe seats," meaning the chance of them losing is low. One of the safest of seats, it would appear, is in Georgia 's Seventh District, where John Linder has been in Congress since 1992.

This year seventh District Democrats are smiling a little more about this race, for they have a better-than-average candidate to oppose Linder.

He is Doug Heckman of Peachtree Corners. His web site: http://www.dougheckman.com/

Read his qualifications.

• Graduate , U.S. Military Academy , 1981;
• Colonel , U.S. Army Reserves;
• Master's degree, Duke University , 1989;
• Managing director of an asset management firm in Atlanta ;
• Combat veteran of two missions overseas, both to Afghanistan and Iran ;
• Methodist, member of Simpsonwood church;
• Married, three children, lives in Gwinnett 17 years;
• Former president, Peachtree Station HOA

In other words, Heckman is not your everyday candidate. He's a superb candidate, and should have John Linder shaking in his boots. Except, of course, this is the heavily-Republican Seventh Congressional District of Georgia , where Linder has had nothing but victories since going to Congress. On the whole, Linder has been a boring Congressman, dutifully voting the straight and narrow conservative GOP ticket. His one foray into innovation was proposing a Fair Tax plan, which fat-cat Republicans love since it rewards the wealthy and taxes the poor.

Doug Heckman understands Linder's plan thoroughly, and attacks the Fair Tax immediately, calling it what it is, an "Unfair tax." Since the Linder plan has adherents who would benefit from this new tax plan, Heckman is right to aim straight at this jugular in Linder's re-election efforts.

What Heckman must do is to convince the many people in the political center that he can be more effective in Congress than Linder has been. Linder has done little to deserve re-election. His continued harping on his so-called Fair Tax has accomplished little more than to offer fodder to talk-show bamboozlers.

Heckman's candidacy, in a year when it seems that the Democrats could run strong throughout the nation, is timely. Coupled with his background and determination to make a difference, it could be the year that a sitting and seemingly safe Republican could be upended. It will be a long road for Mr. Heckman to hoe, and it will take everything falling in place for him to be sent to Congress to represent the Seventh Congressional District.

But stranger things have happened. Democrats, most assuredly, remember the 1984 General Election in Gwinnett, when 17 Republicans were pitted against 17 almost-certain Democratic winners. It never happened, as all 17 Democrats were swept from office, and in general, Republicans have ruled the roost in Gwinnett since.

Could 2008 be a year similar to 1984 politically?

Doug Heckman thinks so. Don't tell John Linder. Let him be surprised.