About Joe Szwaja
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Who is Joe?
High School Teacher, Seattle Public Schools Community Leader Former Three-Term Councilmember |
Joe Szwaja has a strong record of leadership, independence, and meaningful results. As a city councilmember in Madison, Wisconsin for six years before he moved to Seattle, Joe earned a reputation as a practical visionary who could, "Pull a needle out of a haystack" and pay for programs he proposed by addressing inefficiencies in city agencies. He earned respect from advocates for renters' rights and business leaders alike, and the people of Madison re-elected him twice.
A high school teacher for 14 years in the Seattle Public Schools, Joe has inspired many students to get involved in political and humanitarian programs. He has also traveled with many of these students abroad to learn Spanish and volunteer for social justice-related work projects. He received an Outstanding American Teacher's Award in 2006 as a result of student nominations.
Part of Joe's broad record of achievement in Seattle includes a UN Association of Seattle Human Rights Award in 1999, the founding of the Seattle International Human Rights Coalition in 2002, and his successful promotion of renewable energy and conservation at Seattle's Nova High School.
Born in Oberlin, Ohio in 1956, Joe studied History and Spanish Literature at Kenyon College where he received his Bachelor of Arts degrees in 1978. He subsequently received a Masters degree in Latin American History and a Teaching Certificate from the University of Wisconsin. Joe speaks fluent Spanish and has lived in Colombia and Mexico.
Notable legislative accomplishments:
- Passage of a family-fairness law to provide health insurance, as well as sick and bereavement leave for city workers' families. Pioneer legislation in 1988, many gay and lesbian families received benefits for the first time as a result of Joe's legislation.
- Instrumental in the passage of legislation to protect wetlands, support mass transit and require developers to cover more of the costs of their development projects
- Chaired the Affirmative Action Commission and Vice-Chaired the Equal Opportunity Commission in Madison.
Notable community groups Joe has recently assisted:
- Common Ground Seattle
- Seattle International Human Rights Coalition
- Initiative 937 for renewable energy standards in Washington State
- Jobs with Justice
- Community Alliance for Global Justice
- Seattle Rainforest Action Network
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