Some recent newspaper articles have raised questions about my personal life between 1988 and 1991. The issues include non-payment of medical bills during a time when I did not have medical insurance, litigation expenses, and unpaid fines for traffic infractions, all of which were resolved by court-supervised payment schedules that I completed over a decade ago. But the most serious charge relates to an argument I had with my former girlfriend (who is also the mother of my son).

I should have disclosed these issues earlier, and am writing now to provide an accurate record of not just events from my personal life that I am not proud of, but an explanation of how I took responsibility for them during my time as an Alderman on the Madison City Council.

I deeply regret that, on June 3, 1990, during an argument with my former girlfriend I committed an act which was hurtful to her, both emotionally and physically. I took open, honest, and full responsibility for this act by apologizing to my family, pleading no-contest to a charge of disorderly conduct, and participating in a court-required educational program. I learned a great deal from this program, and as a result of my participation in it, the disorderly conduct charge against me was dismissed. I also engaged in the humbling but important experience of openly dealing with questions about this incident in the media.

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.*

Taking responsibility for this event transformed me and my personal relationships. Since then, I have steered towards more healthy decisions in my personal life. Nothing like this had happened before, and it has never happened since. Other healthy decisions helped me transform my personal finances so that I could repay previous debts and reaffirm the responsibility of paying for most of my son's educational and personal needs since his birth. Today I am blessed to have a loving, wonderful marriage to a woman with whom I've spent twelve great years. I'm also very lucky to have a great relationship with my son, Jozef-Engel, now 24 and attending graduate school in Irvine California, who has supported me through my personal challenges.

Over the last fourteen years, I have worked in Seattle as a high school teacher and human rights activist, devoting my life to the teaching and practice of peace and reconciliation for resolving the world's problems. My campaign for Seattle City Council continues this important work of bringing our communities together to build a more positive future.

The Capitol Times editorialized that "Joe Szwaja.. knows how to use his power on the council to help his constituents. He has not, however, let his tenure dull his ability to prod the city to pay attention to renters, the homeless, the students…we think Szwaja has a lot to offer his district , this city and ought to get another term on the council." (3/25/93)

The Wisconsin State-Journal editorialized that "..in six years on the council, he has learned a lot about how to work with people of differing political persuasions. And as his political sophistication has grown, so has his political stature on the council and his ability to provide effective representation for his district. Szwaja knows the residents of the 5th district are not just students, but working people, elderly people and poor people. He tries to represent them all". (3/29/93)

For a statement from Joe's son Engel on the issue, please click here.

*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.