Local Green Makes Serious Progress

Candidate Joe Szwaja
interview by Joel Hanson

Challenging Congressional incumbents for political office has become increasingly difficult for third party candidates due to several factors that have eroded the democratic process: the corporate financing of elections, distorted or incomplete media coverage, and the lack of an open public forum where candidates can freely discuss issues. Consequently, those seeking election via grassroots campaigns must devise creative means of spreading their message and content themselves with small gains and long-term goals. Nevertheless, despite wholesale public indifference, Green Party candidate for the House of Representatives (the 7th District of Seattle and Vashon Island), Joe Szwaja, garnered 20 percent of the vote in his attempt to unseat Democratic incumbent Jim McDermott. Szwaja and the Green Party believe his burgeoning support is the beginning of a long-lasting citizen movement both locally and nationally to regain control of the political process. Because future Green Party success depends on increased citizen participation, my questions to Joe Szwaja focused on the Green Party's future and how concerned individuals can stay connected to the movement.

" Jim McDermott doesn't want to debate me for the simple reason that he feels entitled to be re-elected. He coasts on reputation rather than offering voters a real reason to vote for him. Though this is an election year, McDermott obviously doesn't feel like entering into a public space in which his ideas might be openly challenged. He seems to prefer having a coronation in November instead of an election." --Joe Szwaja

What are a few principal differences between yourself and 7th District incumbent Jim McDermott?

He prefers to do everything in the "beltway," and I prefer to also work with grassroots groups that are working to promote democratic participation. One primary difference is our approach to the future direction of the international economy and environmental protection. He favors our nation's support and participation in the WTO, IMF, World Bank, NAFTA as currently constituted. He believes these organizations foster growth and prosperity, and I believe they generally exacerbate poverty, dependency and environmental destruction in poor countries. I favor fair trade alternatives that respect workers and the environment. I believe we should breach the Snake River dams, as recommended by 200 independent scientists, to save that salmon run. McDermott believes we should wait until data is in from the Elwa breaching, which will likely be too late. McDermott voted for the Telecommunications Act, which consolidated control of the media in fewer hands. I believe we should return control of our public airwaves back to the citizens, encouraging more voices in the media, not fewer. I believe that Congress people should use the power of their office to speak out strongly against US complicity in the killing of innocent people in places like Iraq, East Timor, Colombia, and many other areas of the world. Congressman McDermott has spoken out very weakly or not at all on these issues, thereby contributing to continued US involvement.

If voters elect Joe Szwaja next time around, what issue would you work on first?

I would concentrate first on campaign finance reform and limiting corporate power over global trade issues.

What are your plans for the future? Will you run again? If not, how will you stay connected to the concerns of your campaign?

I think it is likely that I will consider seeking the Green Party nomination again for this Congressional seat. I think there is a potential to build a positive progressive alternative to the big money parties in Seattle, and I think our campaign organization has made an incredible start. I expect to continue to work on human rights, environmental and economic justice issues for the rest of my life, as I have for the last 25 years, whether or not I seek public office.

What are some structural changes you would like to see in the way campaigns are run and financed that would increase the chances of success for third party candidates?

I believe in total public financing, based on a certain minimum threshold of public support, probably through some kind of strictly volunteer signature gathering effort. I believe the media should provide free air time to all candidates, public forums should be presented more frequently, debates should be sponsored by non-partisan organizations. I believe we should move to some form of proportional representation and instant run-off voting to eliminate the winner take all and lesser of two evils phenomena.

Can you outline a few of the points of disagreement between the Seattle/Washington Greens and the Green Parties in other states/countries? How can such factionalization be overcome so the Green Party doesn't suffer the same fate as the Reform Party?

I am not really aware of any conflicts between our local Green organizations and Green Parties in other states and countries. One of the ten key values of the Greens is De-centralization, so local Green organizations have the freedom to develop their own platforms and positions, and associate in whatever way they elect to with other Green party groups. Eventually, there will need to be more unification on the national level, but I would refer you to other folks within the Seattle and Washington Greens that have been working on these issues for much longer than I have.

What are some ways that Green Party members, sympathetic voters, and concerned activists can stay connected, and continue to work on party issues, after the election is over? What can the Green Party do to continue to spread its message to young people?

There are so many ways for people to become involved. Everyone is invited to come to Green Party meetings, and the party is very involved with local issues and keeping pressure on our currently elected officials. The party has working groups in many subjects, including transportation, global warming, etc. There is plenty of work to do in areas like police brutality, environmental racism, racial profiling, etc. and the Greens could continue to reach out to other groups working on these issues--in short, to go where the people are--and co-sponsor educational forums on a regular basis in all of our city's communities. We currently have lots of young people involved, but we could strengthen our work and presence at the community college and university campuses, again, forming coalitions with other groups to sponsor educational programs and activities. Another way to interest young people is to be present at events they are interested in, like theatrical performances and concerts.

I've heard Nader and other Green Party candidates not only encourage voters to join the party but to run for public office themselves. How does one go about running for city council or higher office? What is the first step?

The first step is to decide if you are willing to give six months or more of your life to a 24-hour endeavor, and if your family is also willing to join in, or at least accommodate, the busy schedule that campaigning brings. My first step was to clarify for myself the reasons I would be a good candidate, and why we needed someone to run in this particular race. I then sought the support of the Green Party of Seattle, and we had several discussions before I was officially endorsed. We got commitment from a small group of volunteers to begin organizing the campaign infrastructure, getting literature prepared and a website developed, as well as beginning our fundraising and volunteer recruitment activities. We then gathered signatures to avoid paying the filing fee of one percent of the salary of the office one is running for. In our case, the fee would have been $1413, so we had to gather 1413 signatures, which we accomplished quite successfully. The rest is just lots of hard work, getting out there in the public and getting your message out.