Re: Green Challenge at City Hall
Posted May 24, 2007 at 5:09 pm by Aimee CurlCathy Allen, who's working as a political consultant on Seattle City Council member Jean Godden's re-election bid, says the Godden camp's preparing for a challenge from Green Party candidate Joe Szwaja and that every indication is that he'll run against the one-term incumbent and former newspaper columnist.
As I wrote earlier, Szwaja's filed with the city, but he's not yet announced his intention to run or who he plans to run against.
Allen says she'd expected that if someone challenged Godden, it would be a more conservative candidate. She says Godden's got "pretty darn good" environmental credentials, not to mention a long list of accomplishments and good name recognition.
Her message to Szwaja: "If he's running on the Green Party mantle, come on in, the water's fine."
Topics: Politics
Comments
Joe got 20 percent of the vote against Jim McDermott in 2000—I think he can pull 30 or even 35 percent against Jean. Sorry, Greenies, the party of Nader is dead in this town.
Posted May 25, 2007 at 12:25 pm by J.R.All of the current city council members can call themselves environmentalists - this is Seattle after all - but the question is if Godden has a vision and can act as a check and balance to Mayor Nickles, rather than as a rubber stamp. I would say that on that count she has failed. Szwaja has proven his effectiveness on the Madison (WI) city council and in his consistent good works - most recently with the Seattle East Timor Relief Association.
Posted May 29, 2007 at 3:41 pm by O.H.Hmmm... the only thing I've seen about Joe from Wisconsin is his arrest record for domestic violence. I've seen nothing about his effectiveness on the city council. Either way, both Joe and Jean need some help with the fashion.
Posted June 7, 2007 at 1:01 pm by Rich MakersUm, I lived in Madison when Joe was on the common council as my housemate and friend was his colleague also on that elected body. As a matter of fact, he and Joe had an outstanding record of acting as the principled opposition to the status quo of a mayor and his business developer supporters in this "liberal" city. Hmm, now that you mention it, sounds like Seattle needs much of the same thing to me and he has just the right experience for the job.
Posted June 19, 2007 at 5:27 pm by Hugh GeenenI consider both Jean & Joe excellent citizens; both having attained many of their ideals to help others and excelling in their chosen fields. Both, of course, have their share of bad decisions. However, I do feel Joe will be more effective in helping to stem the growing disparity in our society. A city with less disparity is a city with more community and true richness. Children, women, the elderly, and the sick are increasing the ranks of the homeless. I'll soon be booted out from my apartment due to a conversion to condos. I'll likely end up burning more gas to make it to my work. Joe's platform on this issue is a very needed new direction that would decrease segregation I beleive. Of course, some people may actually be hoping for segregation out of fear or comfort. I beleive Joe will will be a good leader towards a truly sustainable Seattle.
Posted Aug. 21, 2007 at 6:03 am by Jesse Hunter