Joe Szwaja
Encyclopedia
Joseph Brian "Joe" Szwaja (born October 10, 1956) is a Seattle public school teacher
and political activist. Formerly a Madison, Wisconsin
City Council member, he unsuccessfully ran in 2000 for a seat in the United States Congress
in his current home of as a Green Party
candidate. In 2007, he again ran unsuccessfully for a seat on the Seattle City Council
against incumbent Jean Godden.
During the 2000 United States Congressional elections, Szwaja captured nearly 20% of the vote, which at that time set a record for a Green in a Congressional election.
, in 1978 Szwaja graduated from Kenyon College
, earning bachelor of arts degrees in both History and Spanish Literature. Afterwards, he attended 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.
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.
n-controlled East Timor, as such investments were purportedly in violation of international law. In November 1999, Szwaja received the Human Rights Award from the Seattle chapter of the United Nations Association
for his work helping war victims in East Timor. Politically, Szwaja has played local roles in Seattle against both the World Trade Organization
and the International Monetary Fund
.
Szwaja has assisted a host of community groups including the Seattle International Human Rights Coalition, as well as Common Ground Seattle, Szwaja says 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. 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.
Currently, Szwaja teaches at The Nova Project
in Seattle, an alternative public high school in the city's Central District
. He is a teacher of American Government and Economics, World History and Weightlifting. With his students, he created the Fair Trade Coffee Project, which works to convince coffee retailers to use fairly traded organic coffee.
, 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). Szwaja captured nearly 20% of the vote, which at that time set a record for a Green in a Congressional election.
Election results for his 2000 Congressional bid:
. 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. He placed second of four candidates in the primary and lost the general election.
Election results for his 2007 Seattle City Council bid:
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
and political activist. Formerly a Madison, Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
City Council member, he unsuccessfully ran in 2000 for a seat in the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
in his current home of as a Green Party
Green Party (United States)
The Green Party of the United States is a nationally recognized political party which officially formed in 1991. It is a voluntary association of state green parties. Prior to national formation, many state affiliates had already formed and were recognized by other state parties...
candidate. In 2007, he again ran unsuccessfully for a seat on the Seattle City Council
Seattle City Council
The Seattle City Council is committed to ensuring that Seattle, Washington, is safe, livable and sustainable. Nine Councilmembers are elected to four-year terms in nonpartisan elections and represent the entire city, elected by all Seattle voters....
against incumbent Jean Godden.
During the 2000 United States Congressional elections, Szwaja captured nearly 20% of the vote, which at that time set a record for a Green in a Congressional election.
Early life and time in Wisconsin
Originally from Cleveland, OhioCleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, in 1978 Szwaja graduated from Kenyon College
Kenyon College
Kenyon College is a private liberal arts college in Gambier, Ohio, founded in 1824 by Bishop Philander Chase of The Episcopal Church, in parallel with the Bexley Hall seminary. It is the oldest private college in Ohio...
, earning bachelor of arts degrees in both History and Spanish Literature. Afterwards, he attended the Universidad de los Andes
University of the Andes, Colombia
The University of the Andes , is a coeducational, nonsectarian private university located in city centre Bogotá, Colombia. Founded in 1948, the University has 9 faculties: Administration, Architecture and Design, Arts and Humanities, Sciences, Social Sciences, Law, Economics, Engineering and...
, undertaking research projects involving the World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
, before moving to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
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
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
and, in 1992, he obtained a teaching certificate from the same institution. Szwaja is fluent in the Spanish language
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
and has been an educator at both Madison Area Technical College
Madison Area Technical College
Madison Area Technical College is a technical and community college headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin. It serves parts of 12 counties in south-central Wisconsin: Adams, Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Green, Iowa, Jefferson, Juneau, Marquette, Richland, Rock, and Sauk...
and the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
While living in Madison, Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
, 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
Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district
Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district is a congressional district of the United States House of Representatives in southern Wisconsin, covering Dane County, Green County and Columbia County, as well as portions of Jefferson County, Sauk County, Rock County and a small region of Walworth County...
for three years.
Career in Seattle
Today, Szwaja resides in a North Seattle neighborhood with his wife, Debra Morrison. In 1993 Szwaja 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 IndonesiaIndonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
n-controlled East Timor, as such investments were purportedly in violation of international law. In November 1999, Szwaja received the Human Rights Award from the Seattle chapter of the United Nations Association
United Nations Association
The United Nations Associations are non-governmental organizations that exist in various countries to enhance the relationship between the people of a member state and the United Nations, raise public awareness of the UN and its work, promote the general goals of the UN and act as an advisory body...
for his work helping war victims in East Timor. Politically, Szwaja has played local roles in Seattle against both the World Trade Organization
World Trade Organization
The World Trade Organization is an organization that intends to supervise and liberalize international trade. The organization officially commenced on January 1, 1995 under the Marrakech Agreement, replacing the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade , which commenced in 1948...
and the International Monetary Fund
International Monetary Fund
The International Monetary Fund is an organization of 187 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world...
.
Szwaja has assisted a host of community groups including the Seattle International Human Rights Coalition, as well as Common Ground Seattle, Szwaja says that he has labored on Initiative 937
Initiative 937
Ballot Initiative 937 was a successful clean energy initiative in the US state of Washington, appearing on the ballot in the November 2006 elections...
to promote renewable energy
Renewable energy
Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from...
in Washington state, and that he has worked with Jobs With Justice
Jobs With Justice
Jobs With Justice is a nationally linked network of about 40 local coalitions throughout the United States that bring together labor unions, community organizations, religious groups, and student groups to fight for workers' rights....
, Community Alliance for Global Justice and the Seattle Rainforest Action Network. 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.
Currently, Szwaja teaches at The Nova Project
The Nova Project
The Nova Project, also known as Nova, is located at 300 21st Avenue Ein Seattle, Washington. It is a small alternative high school in the Seattle Public School District.-About:...
in Seattle, an alternative public high school in the city's Central District
Central District, Seattle, Washington
The Central District is a mostly residential district in Seattle located east of Cherry Hill, west of Madrona and Leschi, south of Capitol Hill, and north of Rainier Valley...
. He is a teacher of American Government and Economics, World History and Weightlifting. With his students, he created the Fair Trade Coffee Project, which works to convince coffee retailers to use fairly traded organic coffee.
2000 United States Congress race
In 2000, in the aftermath of the Seattle WTO protestsWTO Ministerial Conference of 1999 protest activity
Protest activity surrounding the WTO Ministerial Conference of 1999, which was to be the launch of a new millennial round of trade negotiations, occurred on November 30, 1999 , when the World Trade Organization convened at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center in Seattle, Washington,...
, Szwaja challenged Seattle U.S. Congressman Jim McDermott
Jim McDermott
James Adelbert "Jim" McDermott is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1989. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The 7th District includes most of Seattle and Vashon Island, and portions of Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Tukwila, SeaTac, and Burien.He serves on the House Ways and Means...
for his seat, on the Congressman's support of United States membership in the World Trade Organization
World Trade Organization
The World Trade Organization is an organization that intends to supervise and liberalize international trade. The organization officially commenced on January 1, 1995 under the Marrakech Agreement, replacing the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade , which commenced in 1948...
and past votes in favor of trade agreements like the North American Free Trade Agreement
North American Free Trade Agreement
The North American Free Trade Agreement or NAFTA is an agreement signed by the governments of Canada, Mexico, and the United States, creating a trilateral trade bloc in North America. The agreement came into force on January 1, 1994. It superseded the Canada – United States Free Trade Agreement...
(NAFTA). Szwaja captured nearly 20% of the vote, which at that time set a record for a Green in a Congressional election.
Election results for his 2000 Congressional bid:
- From King County Elections.
2007 Seattle City Council election
On June 4, 2007, Szwaja challenged incumbent Jean Godden for a seat on the Seattle City CouncilSeattle City Council
The Seattle City Council is committed to ensuring that Seattle, Washington, is safe, livable and sustainable. Nine Councilmembers are elected to four-year terms in nonpartisan elections and represent the entire city, elected by all Seattle voters....
. Szwaja outlined that his aims revolved around environmental sustainability, housing affordability and government accountability, with a special emphasis on controlling condominium
Condominium
A condominium, or condo, is the form of housing tenure and other real property where a specified part of a piece of real estate is individually owned while use of and access to common facilities in the piece such as hallways, heating system, elevators, exterior areas is executed under legal rights...
development in Seattle, to protect rental apartments and affordable housing. He placed second of four candidates in the primary and lost the general election.
Election results for his 2007 Seattle City Council bid:
- Note: This municipal election is non-partisan; hence no party is listed here.
- From King County Elections.
External links
- Candidate statement for 2007 Seattle City Council election
- Candidate statement for 2000 U.S. Congressional election
- Instant Runoff Voting Washington (IRVWA)
- Radio debate for Seattle City Council Pos. 1, KUOW 94.9 FM Seattle, July 5, 2007
- "Joe Szwaja for Congress!" - Eat the State!, November 5, 2000
- "Avoid messy deadlocks with instant runoff voting" - Seattle Times, January 10, 2005
- High School Students at Anti-WTO Protests Give Media a Quiz On WTO - Democracy Now!, December 8th, 1999