Fred Heineman

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Fred Heineman
Fred Heineman

Fredrick (Fred) Heineman (born 28 December 1929) was a Republican U.S. Congressman from North Carolina, serving between 1995 and 1997.

Born in New York City, New York, Heineman attended Mt. St. Michael High School in Brooklyn. He then entered Concordia Junior College, Westchester Community College, the University of Bridgeport, St. Francis College, and John Jay College. Heineman served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1951 to 1954, and worked as a New York City police officer between 1955 and 1979.

In 1979, Heineman came to North Carolina as the chief of police of the city of Raleigh, North Carolina. In 1994, he stepped down as chief of police and ran for Congress as a Republican against incumbent Democrat David Price, narrowly besting Price in the "Republican Revolution" of 1994. After a single term in the 104th Congress (January 3, 1995 to January 3, 1997), Heineman was defeated for re-election in 1996 by Price.

Heineman made news in 1996 with his assertion that his $180,000 income made him lower-middle class. "When I see a first-class individual who makes $80,000 a year, he's lower middle class," Heineman said. "When I see someone who is making anywhere from $300,000 to $750,000 a year, that's middle class. When I see anyone above that, that's upper middle class."