UPDATE: A fun aside—Mike Heavey and Sabra Schneider are both IDFers. (No, that's not Israeli Defense Fund, that's Institute for a Democratic Future —a group that trains young people for careers in Democratic Party politics. Heavey is in the current class and Schneider graduated in '08. This could be a real intramural smack down. Another aside: Heavey's political consultant, Jason Bennett, is IDF's Executive Director—the D Party guru who trains these folks.

State Sen. Derek Kilmer (D-26), Rep. Kevin Van De Wege (D-24), and Rep. Marko Liias (D-21) are all former IDFers.

Original Post:

Mike Heavey, son the former Democratic state Senator from the 34th Legislative District (West Seattle, Vashon Island, Maury Island, and Burien), announced today that he's running for Rep. Sharon Nelson's open seat. Nelson is moving to the Senate to take Sen. Joe McDermott's seat. McDermott is running for King County Executive Dow Constantine's County Council seat.

Heavey's announcment, linked in full below the fold, includes and endorsement from state Sen. Ed Murray.

Also officially in are: King County employee Sabra Schneider; clean campaigns activist Marcee Stone (she's pledged not take any PAC or corporate money); White Center tavern owner Ma McElroy, who's running as an independent; and not in, but rumored to be seriously considering it—Sharon Nelson aide, Joe Fitzgibbon.

SEATTLE – Today, Mike Heavey announced his candidacy for State Representative from the 34^th Legislative District, Position 2 – the seat currently held by State Representative Sharon Nelson, who will run for the open State Senate seat in the same district this fall.

Heavey credits his dedication and value of public service to his father, former State Senator Michael J. Heavey, a Democrat who represented West Seattle and Vashon Island for 14 years.  Heavey cited three top concerns as the reasons why he is running for office, “The Legislature has a responsibility to make our state safe and secure for Washington families, to boost our economy and to create living wage jobs.  I look forward to taking my community service, my experience not only in government but also in the private sector and putting it to work for the people of Washington State.”

He further added, “I am running to carry on the tradition of strong, energetic leadership from the 34^th Legislative District. The state’s budget is stretched thin, human services and infrastructure spending are slashed while more and more people are idling in traffic and out of work.  We need leaders who can hit the ground running, put people back to work and find progressive ways to fund our highest priorities.”

Already, Heavey is proud to announce the endorsements of State Senator Ed Murray, a leader on transportation issues in the Senate, Larry Kenney, former President of the Washington State Labor Council, as well as former State Senator  and Supreme Court Justice Phil Talmadge of West Seattle.  Senator Murray said of Heavey, “The talent and energy Mike will bring to elected office is exactly what is needed in Olympia to work on the tough issues of transportation, education, public safety and the economy.  I enthusiastically endorse Mike for 34^th District Representative.”

A native of West Seattle, Heavey is a fourth generation Seattleite.  He has years of experience in the fields of public safety and crime reduction.  His private sector experience includes work as a financial analyst at Expedia.com where he protected consumers from identity theft and fraud. Active in his faith community, Heavey has participated in mission trips to Mexico, built housing for the homeless, volunteered at The Food Bank at St. Mary’s and served meals to the elderly.

Currently, Heavey serves as Director of Outreach and Constituent Relations for King County Councilmember Jan Drago where he works to bring community groups together to fix the district’s most challenging issues like the South Park Bridge replacement and youth violence.