Joe Szwaja

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Joe Szwaja
Joe Szwaja
Madison, WI City Council
In office
1986 – 1993
Born October 10, 1956 (1956-10-10) (age 51)
Oberlin, Ohio, United States
Political party Green
Wisconsin Labor Farm
Spouse Debra Morrison
Children Engel (son), Sam, Leaf, Reed (stepsons)
Residence Seattle, WA (since 1993)
Occupation Public high school teacher and political activist
Website http://www.joeforcouncil.org

Joseph Brian "Joe" Szwaja (born October 10, 1956) is a Seattle public school teacher and progressive political activist. Formerly a Madison, Wisconsin City Council member, he ran in 2000 for a seat in the United States Congress in his current home of Washington's 7th congressional district as a Green Party candidate. In 2007, he ran unsuccessfully for a seat on the Seattle City Council against incumbent Jean Godden.

In November 1999, Szwaja received the United Nations Association of Seattle's Human Rights Award for his work helping war victims in East Timor.[1] During the 2000 United States Congressional elections, Szwaja captured nearly 20% of the vote, which at that time set a new record for a Green in a Congressional election.[2][3][4]

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[edit] Early life and time in Wisconsin

Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, his parents played a role in desegregating Cleveland public schools. In 1978 Szwaja graduated from Kenyon College, earning bachelor of arts degrees in both History and Spanish Literature. Afterwards, he began additional schooling in Colombia, at the Universidad de los Andes, undertaking research projects involving the World Bank, before moving to Mexico to work as an English language teacher. In 1984 Szwaja earned a Master's degree in Latin American History from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and, in 1992, he obtained a teaching certificate from the same institution. Szwaja is fluent in the Spanish language and has been an educator at both Madison Area Technical College and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.[5][6]

While living in Madison, Wisconsin, Szwaja served four consecutive terms on the City Council from 1986 to 1993 and acted as chair of the Labor Farm Party for Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district for three years.[7]

In 1988 Szwaja was arrested for failing to repay $2,584 in state payments of medical bills for the birth of his son.[8] Szwaja was arrested in 1990 for domestic battery charges that were subsequently switched to disorderly conduct after throwing a plate against a wall, which cut his then-girlfriend's face, after she allegedly threw a beer bottle on Szwaja's dinner plate.[9] The criminal complaint claims that Szwaja told the police the woman threw the bottle at his head and "he was emotionally hurt and that he threw the plate at her." He was required to take classes in anger management before the disorderly conduct charge was settled.[8] On several occasions, Szwaja was reported to have had issues related to driving in Wisconsin. In 1989 he was found guilty of driving without a license and failed to appear at a related hearing; in 1991 he was charged with allegedly driving with a revoked driver's license.[9] In a separate matter, a Wisconsin court issued a judgment in 1994 that Szwaja pay more than $5,100 and garnished his wages, according to Courtlink. Szwaja stated that $5,100 judgment stemmed from a child-custody and placement dispute, and it was paid off by January 2000.[9] Szwaja's 2007 Seattle election campaign released a statement, explaining his past. The statement said,

"Though nothing could excuse what I did, I was heartened that my efforts toward reconciliation were viewed positively by the people of Madison. Voters re-elected me twice afterward-in 1991 and 1993-and during the second campaign, neither my opponent nor the media believed it necessary to revisit the issue. The endorsements of the two major Madison newspapers for my April, 1993 reelection campaign show how the media in Madison came to view my character as a person and as a politician."[10]

[edit] Career in Seattle

Today, Szwaja resides in a North Seattle neighborhood with his wife, Debra Morrison. In 1993 Swaja became a member of the East Timor Action Network of Seattle (ETAN), as both a Project and Volunteer coordinator, playing roles in lobbying and fund raising. He helped draft legislation for Washington State to cease investing in Indonesian-controlled East Timor, as such investments were in violation of international law. In November of 1999, Szwaja received the United Nations Association of Seattle's Human Rights Award for his work helping war victims in East Timor.[1] Politically, Szwaja has played local roles in Seattle against both the World Trade Organization and the International Monetary Fund, and has advocated for fair working conditions.[1]

Szwaja has assisted a host of community groups including the Seattle International Human Rights Coalition, as their founder, as well as Common Ground Seattle,[11] Szwaja says that that he has labored on Initiative 937 to promote renewable energy in Washington state, and that he has worked with Jobs With Justice, Community Alliance for Global Justice and the Seattle Rainforest Action Network.[12]

Szwaja received the Human Rights Award from the United Nations Association of Seattle for his work to provide humanitarian aid and protect human rights around the world.[13] Szwaja also sits on the board of Instant Runoff Voting Washington, a multi-partisan organization that is trying to implement the system in Washington state.[14][15]

Currently, Szwaja teaches at The Nova Project in Seattle, an alternative public high school in the city's Central District.[16] He is a teacher of American Government and Economics, World History and Weightlifting.[4] With his students, he created the Fair Trade Coffee Project, which works to convince coffee retailers to use fairly traded organic coffee.[17]

[edit] Political career

[edit] 2000 United States Congress race

In 2000, in the aftermath of the Seattle WTO protests, Szwaja challenged Seattle U.S. Congressman Jim McDermott for his seat, on the Congressman's support of United States membership in the World Trade Organization and past votes in favor of trade agreements like the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).[18][19] During the campaign the Seattle Post-Intelligencer remarked that he had "impeccable liberal credentials."[13] Szwaja captured nearly 20% of the vote, which at that time set a new record for a Green in a Congressional election.[2][20]

Election results for his 2000 Congressional bid:

2000 Washington United States Congress, 7th District General Election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Jim McDermott (incumbent) 193,470 72.79% --
Green Joe Szwaja 52,142 19.62% --
Libertarian Joel Grus 20,197 7.60% --
From King County Elections.[2]

[edit] 2007 Seattle City Council election

On June 4, 2007, Szwaja challenged incumbent Jean Godden for a seat on the Seattle City Council.[21][22] Szwaja outlined that his aims revolved around environmental sustainability, housing affordability and government accountability, with a special emphasis on controlling condominium development in Seattle, to protect rental apartments and affordable housing.[23] According to Szwaja, he is campaigning for the position to "wake up and shake up City Hall."[23] "We have to shake things up," Szwaja said. "We can't continue with the same leadership."[24]

Election results for his 2007 Seatte City Council bid:

Note: This municipal election is non-partisan; hence no party is listed here.
2007 Seattle City Council, General election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Jean Godden (incumbent) 96,530 71.21%
Joe Szwaja 38,479 28.39%
From King County Elections.[25]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Manny Frishberg, Seattle Weekly, "It's not easy being Green", July 26, 2000. Retrieved October 11, 2007.
  2. ^ a b c King County, Washington State, "King County Election Results", 2000 General election. Retrieved October 11, 2007.
  3. ^ George Washington University, "2000 Washington State Election reports". Retrieved October 11, 2007.
  4. ^ a b Bob Young, Seattle Times, "Godden faces 3 challengers", August 13, 2007. Retrieved October 11, 2007.
  5. ^ Our Campaigns; Szwaja, Joseph, "Joseph Szwaja", June 7, 2007. Retrieved October 11, 2007.
  6. ^ joeforcouncil.com, "Joe Szwaja for Seattle City Council, About page", verified September 17, 2007. Retrieved October 11, 2007.
  7. ^ Neil Modie, Seattle PI, "Incumbents Clark, Godden win big; Velazquez, Harrell to face off", August 21, 2007. Retrieved October 11, 2007.
  8. ^ a b Jim Pugh, The Capital Times, "Alderman Accused Of Violence", June 6, 1990. Retrieved October 11, 2007.
  9. ^ a b c Angela Galloway and Neil Modie, Seattle PI, "Council candidate recounts 'tough times' with law", June 7, 2007. Retrieved October 11, 2007.
  10. ^ Joe Szwaja for Seattle City Council, joeforcouncil.com, Information release, June 18, 2007. Retrieved October 11, 2007.
  11. ^ Adam Hyla, Real Change News, "Just say Szwaja", May 30-June 7, 2007. Retrieved October 11, 2007.
  12. ^ The Municipal League of King County, Joe Szwaja questionnaire for 2007, "2007 CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE". Retrieved October 11, 2007.
  13. ^ a b Scott Sunde, Seattle PI, "A tough task: 2 take aim at McDermott", October 16, 2000. Retrieved October 11, 2007.
  14. ^ Instant Run Off Voting Washington, website. Retrieved October 11, 2007.
  15. ^ Seattle Times, Joe Szwaja, "Avoid messy deadlocks with instant runoff voting", January 10, 2005. Retrieved October 11, 2007.
  16. ^ The Nova Project, staff page. Retrieved October 11, 2007.
  17. ^ East Timor and Indonesia Action Network, by Larry Johnson, Seattle PI, "Help's brewing in fund-raiser for East Timor", July 28, 2003. Retrieved October 11, 2007.
  18. ^ Secretary of State, Washington State, "Candidate Information: Federal Offices (General Election 2000), SZWAJA, Joe." Retrieved October 11, 2007.
  19. ^ United States House of Representatives, H R 3450; "NORTH AMERICAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT IMPLEMENTATION ACT", "FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 575", November 17, 2003. Retrieved October 11, 2007.
  20. ^ Eric M. Appleman, George Washington University/Democracy In Action, "Washington--Details". Retrieved October 11, 2007.
  21. ^ Joe Szwaja for Seattle City Council, joeforcouncil.com, "Joe Szwaja To Challenge Jean Godden for Seattle City Council Position One", June 4, 2007. Retrieved October 11, 2007.
  22. ^ Cydney Gillis, Real Change News, "Looking for places people can afford", July 25, 2007. Retrieved October 11, 2007.
  23. ^ a b Young, Bob. "Teacher targets popular Seattle City Council incumbent with broad support", Seattle Times, October 26, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-10-26. 
  24. ^ Schilperoort, Rebekah. "Candidates focus on hot button issues", Ballard News Tribune, October 24, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-10-26. 
  25. ^ King County, Washington State, [1], 2007 General. Retrieved May 1, 2008.

[edit] External links