Ken Heath
From Ballotpedia
This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.
Ken Heath (independent) ran for election to the Virginia State Senate to represent District 40. Heath lost in the general election on November 5, 2019.
Heath completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Ken Heath earned an associate's degree from Wytheville Community College in 1984, a bachelor's degree from East Tennessee State University in 1986, and attended the UVA Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership in 2018. Heath's career experience includes working in radio broadcasting and management, working with the Marion Downtown Revitalization Association, and with the Town of Marion department of economic development.[1]
Elections
2019
See also: Virginia State Senate elections, 2019
General election
General election for Virginia State Senate District 40
Todd Pillion defeated Ken Heath in the general election for Virginia State Senate District 40 on November 5, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Todd Pillion (R) | 76.3 | 40,122 |
 | Ken Heath (Independent)  | 23.4 | 12,271 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.3 | 159 | ||
| Total votes: 52,552 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Campaign themes
2019
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Ken Heath completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Heath's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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1) Economic Development in Rural Virginia
2) Secure, affordable health care and education
Economic development and community revitalization. That’s my passion. I have over 25 years experience in bringing jobs and opportunities to hometowns across Virginia, and I believe my experience and drive will help direct our Commonwealth’s future to include SWVA, Southside, and rural Virginia - communities that have fallen behind.
I look up to those who inspire others. Politically, my heroes are Ronald Reagan and John F. Kennedy, for envisioning a brighter, greater America and inspiring We The People to “seek not the Democratic solution nor the Republican solution, but the American solution” for our “shining city on a hill”.
There are two films I believe best shaped my political views: “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” and “A Face In The Crowd”. Both show what happens when “leaders” become entrenched, when we surrender our own common sense and will to those who believe they “deserve” office.
Integrity. Character. Compassion. Those are hallmarks of a strong leader.
I do my very best every day to embody the very characteristics I admire in great leaders - integrity, character, compassion - and am always ready to listen, to share, to learn.
To “first do no harm” - something our partisan political world seems to have forgotten. Then, to do our best for as many of our neighbors as we can, while neither asking, expecting, nor accepting anything in return except the honor of serving.
In the words of Ronald Reagan, that we weren’t “just marking time, but we made a difference.” And by sharing my talents and passion, we’ve made a better, more hopeful Virginia for EVERY citizen.
I’m still dating the love of my life, my wife of 29 years! On our second anniversary, we rented a beach house, and the week was something out of a Chevy Chase movie - there were sand fleas all over the furniture, a cooked fish left in the oven from previous tenants we didn’t find for several days, the a/c went out, we both got sunburned, and I pulled my back out lifting a tiny grill the wrong way. When we finally got back in the mountains, I told my wife that, if I could get back up, I’d gotten out of our car and kissed the ground on the spot!
My favorite holiday is Christmas! The traditions, parades, carols and festivities are great, but as a Christian, that celebration is what it’s about for me.
My favorite book tends to change often, because I love to read. Old school read, from pages, not the net. Right now, I’m reading “My Lost Cuba” by Celso Gonzalez-Falla, “Never Look at the Empty Seats” by Charlie Daniels, and re-reading “Travels With Charlie” by John Steinbeck. But I suppose my all time favorite is “Wizard of Oz”.
Hmmm. Maybe Superman - a normal guy holding down a normal job until there’s a problem, then he’s off to do all he can to fix it.
My favorite thing in my home - not counting my wife or the pups, of course - would be my dad’s name badge from his restaurant. Not long ago, a local businessman came in and gave it to me, telling me the story behind his having it. As a young newlywed, this man had just been hired, but forgot his name badge on his first day. Company policy for the regional chain was that, without the name tag, you couldn’t work your shift. As the manager was just about to send the young man home, my dad - the district supervisor- stepped in and lent him his badge so the young man wouldn’t miss a day’s pay. That compassion for others is just one of the things my dad inspired in me, and that name tag is one of my prized possessions.
As a rural Virginian, I’ve struggled to see that the rest of Virginia knows about us in SWVA. I’ve faced those who write us off, with preconceived notions that aren’t flattering. I’ve been blessed to meet many, many great folks from across our Commonwealth and showcase our communities in a new light. And that’s my primary goal for wanting to serve.
The most important differences between the Virginia House Of Delegates and Virginia Senate, beyond the obvious division, is in the numbers. Virginia Senate is a much smaller body, with awesome responsibility to represent so many more Virginians - and in the case of VA40, such a large, diverse geographic area.
I believe in a true citizen legislature, where each brings an area of expertise for a period of time to serve the common wealth of our Virginia. As a former town councilmember, that experience will certainly help, but no - to me, our Virginia Way was designed to allow the citizens to choose our representatives based solely upon our choice.
Virginia’s greatest challenges will remain an over reliance on federal dollars, aging infrastructure, rural vs urban opportunity gaps in education, healthcare, and basic deployment of broadband, cellular service, and funding to see that every corner of our Commonwealth will be successful in retaining population and opportunities, paving the way for growth and success.
Ideally, it is a symbiotic relationship, where all are truly working to find effective solutions to provide opportunities across Virginia for all.
Absolutely! I’ve spent most of my adult life working with legislators, across Virginia, in DC, and in other states. Not only can we learn from each other, we see each other as fellow human beings, not “the opposition”. To continue that, I’ve chosen to run as an an independent, not being beholden to either party, but solely to the people.
I prefer a bipartisan, logical approach that’s devoid of politics. Period.
I would want to serve wherever I best could contribute. My decades of community and economic development lead me in that direction.
I have no aspirations greater than serving the people of VA40.
I’ve been honored to work with many of Virginia’s finest. Among those for whom I would most like to emulate, Delegates Joe Johnson, Jackie Stump, are amongst the top.
I’m not interested in anything other than doing my very best for my neighbors in SWVA, and have no aspirations of “a promotion” or making my service a career - instead, I see this as an opportunity to open doorways for our next generation of leaders by working with folks interested in serving, even running against me, to bring as many diverse voices to the conversation that will direct our future.
I’m hearing so many stories of how so many feel left behind, at how so many believe “Virginia ends in Roanoke”, and how so many have almost given up hope in a system that’s been set to pass along the mantle of “leadership” from one party faithful to the next in line with no opportunity for anyone outside the tight knit machine to ever even hope for a chance. I’m running to be that fresh voice, unencumbered by any allegiance except to the people of VA40. And I’m here to make a difference!
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Ballotpedia biographical submission form
The candidate completed Ballotpedia's biographical information submission form:
| “ | What is your political philosophy?
I believe that we are elected to serve, and I’m running to serve my neighbors in SWVA 40 to give us a true voice in Richmond.[2] |
” |
| —Ken Heath[1] | ||
See also
2019 Elections
External links
Footnotes
Current members of the Virginia State Senate
Leadership
Majority Leader:Scott Surovell
Minority Leader:Ryan McDougle
Senators
District 1
Timmy French (R)
District 2
Mark Obenshain (R)
District 3
Chris Head (R)
District 4
District 5
Travis Hackworth (R)
District 6
Todd Pillion (R)
District 7
Bill Stanley (R)
District 8
Mark Peake (R)
District 9
Tammy Mulchi (R)
District 10
Luther Cifers (R)
District 11
Creigh Deeds (D)
District 12
Glen Sturtevant (R)
District 13
Lashrecse Aird (D)
District 14
Lamont Bagby (D)
District 15
Ghazala Hashmi (D)
District 16
District 17
Emily Jordan (R)
District 18
Louise Lucas (D)
District 19
Christie Craig (R)
District 20
Bill DeSteph (R)
District 21
Angelia Graves (D)
District 22
Aaron Rouse (D)
District 23
Mamie Locke (D)
District 24
J.D. Diggs (R)
District 25
Richard Stuart (R)
District 26
Ryan McDougle (R)
District 27
Tara Durant (R)
District 28
Bryce Reeves (R)
District 29
Jeremy McPike (D)
District 30
Danica Roem (D)
District 31
Russet Perry (D)
District 32
District 33
District 34
Scott Surovell (D)
District 35
Dave Marsden (D)
District 36
Stella Pekarsky (D)
District 37
Saddam Salim (D)
District 38
Jennifer Boysko (D)
District 39
Adam Ebbin (D)
District 40
Barbara Favola (D)
Democratic Party (21)
Republican Party (19)
