2004 Candidate Questionnaire

SECTION I

BASIC CANDIDATE INFORMATION

1. Name as it will appear on the ballot

First Name	Middle Initial or Nick Name	Last Name
Bob		Hasegawa

2. Office sought (include office, jurisdiction, position/district number):

State rep. 11^th Dist. Pos. 2

3. Are you the incumbent? Yes No

4. How long have you resided in this district/city?

At current address since 1956 except for six years in Renton (1980-86)

5. How long have you resided in King County?

All my life.

6. Is the office sought partisan or nonpartisan? Partisan Nonpartisan

7. If partisan, please indicate party: D

CAMPAIGN CONTACTS

Campaign Name:

Bob Hasegawa for State Rep.

Address:

P.O. Box 84331

City/State/Zip:

Seattle, WA 98124-5631

Campaign Phone:

206.568.0556

Campaign Fax:

Campaign E-mail:

bob@bobhasegawa.org

Campaign Website:

www.bobhasegawa.org

POLITICAL BACKGROUND

1. Beginning with the most recent position, please list public offices which you have held. Include positions on appointive Boards or Commissions.

Public Office

Elective or Appointive?

Dates Held

Leadership Role (if any)

Board of Visitors, University of Washington Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies

app.

8/2003

King County Solid Waste Oversight Committee

app.

98-99

Chair

Governor’s Blue Ribbon Committee on Future of Recycling in Washington

app.

2. If you ran for public office but were not elected, please list those races below:

Office Title

Year of Run

SECTION III

In this section, we are seeking responses that reflect the four ratings criteria: involvement, effectiveness, character, and knowledge. These are defined as follows:

Involvement: What has the candidate done previously in family, neighborhood, community, volunteer work, employment or public life to suggest readiness to accomplish challenging objectives? How do these activities demonstrate readiness for the challenges unique to the office sought?

Effectiveness: Has the candidate demonstrated promise of being productive in the office sought? Has the candidate shown the ability to work with other people?

Character: Do the candidate's personal traits show the ability to take on the responsibilities of campaigning for and holding the public office she or he is seeking? Is the candidate a leader, participant or observer? Is the candidate trustworthy, reliable and candid?

Knowledge: Has the candidate demonstrated the willingness and ability to learn and adapt? Does the candidate understand the duties and challenges of the office sought? Does the candidate have a firm grasp of the issues important to his or her constituency and their potential effects?

1. In a page or less, why are you running for this office? (Note: the interview committee will be given a copy of this statement before your interview; at the beginning of your interview you will have the opportunity to expand on this statement in any way you wish.)

I am running for State Representative in order to continue and expand on the work I began in the labor movement for social and economic justice. I have been a lifelong social justice activist and I see a unique opportunity at this time to build unity and to mobilize working people and their families, seniors and retirees, environmentalists, other progressive social justice movements, and even small business owners, to stand up against the injustices inherent in our state’s current economic and social policies. The people are waking up to the harsh and mean-spirited economic policies being thrust upon them by what is widely viewed as an increasingly detached government, and the accompanying deterioration of our social and economic infrastructure due to the greed and profiteering of large corporations, the social elite, and their loyal supporters in government.

I believe too many decisions made by state government do not recognize or protect the interests of average working men and women, their families, seniors and retirees that make up the majority of people in our state. For example, Washington State is dead last, (#50 of all 50 states) regarding the regressivity of its tax structure. It is a disgrace that the Washington State tax burden on the bottom 20% income bracket is 5.7 times that of the top 1% (Roger Doyle (July 2004). Undercutting Fairness: States and Localities Undermine Tax Progressiveness. Scientific American, p35.)

Much of the problem is that large corporate interests and their lobbyists have too much power. While they are able to protect their profit making interests by pushing legislators to pass laws that lower living wages, working conditions, health and safety standards, and unemployment benefits, the average working family is forced to resort to a two income lifestyle just to stay afloat. Where are the alleged family values conservative legislators tout when such is the impact of the laws they create? Our tax system is unfair and public education, health care, and any number of social services have been shortchanged. State budgets are balanced on the backs of the poor, while large corporations making millions in profits are given tax exemptions without accountability requirements. Jobs are outsourced, companies downsize, and benefits are cut while corporate profits and remuneration to the social elite go through the roof. I will challenge this imbalance in power by organizing and mobilizing people in our communities for power to change things in Olympia.

The state’s most fundamental need is to take on the issue of tax fairness and tax reform. We have many legitimate needs in our state that are forced to fight against each other for smaller and smaller pieces of an ever shrinking pot. I cannot accept that we must continue to make impossible decisions between which worthy need gets funded and which worthy need does not. Its like asking a mother to choose between which baby she'll feed and which will starve. Its an unethical paradox. We need to put the immense weight of the state behind a massive campaign to educate our communities about the true nature of regressivity in our current tax structure. We must reform the system so it is not only progressive, but also strategic about creating a social and economic infrastructure that retains business and invites sustainable economic development.

I see an opportunity to build the political clout at the grass roots level necessary to effect true progressive tax reform. The State Legislature will be a good podium for facilitating that community based power-building process. That process would culminate with a visionary social plan for our state that the people of our communities can really get behind; a plan that takes the offensive over the reactionary corporate agenda. Imagine the power of a real broad-based coalition of progressive social justice and community based organizations and legislators collectively pushing for the same visionary agenda.

The upcoming Northwest Social Forum (NWSF), for which I was a core organizer until this election campaign popped up, provides a good model on how to facilitate this grassroots vision building (www.nwsocialforum.org).

I believe we can assemble a progressive critical mass in Olympia to move such a visionary agenda if we first bring together the hearts, minds and resources of the numerous social justice and community based organizations to discuss, develop and buy in to such a plan. Networking, coalition building, re-enfranchising the traditionally disenfranchised, and rebuilding democratic government through democratic principles. These are the main reasons I’ve decided to run at this time.

2. Describe your most important personal characteristics or traits as they relate to the office you seek.

I am a tenacious, determined fighter for social justice. In my 32 years in the Teamsters Union, I provided conscientious leadership with honesty and integrity that permitted me to rise to the top post in my union: Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 174. We implemented democratic organizational transformation of the union from a top down management style that often times focussed more on improving the conditions of union officials than that of the union members. I learned to harness my worker’s perspective combined with my belief in rank & file power to build a powerful organization that fought for the interests of its membership. Throughout my career as a union activist, I’ve learned how to stand up to the pressures of entrenched leadership that resist efforts to change for the betterment of the people. I hope we can do the same to transform the legislature into a powerful tool for the working families, seniors, retirees and small businesses of our state.

I am a very principled person. I base my policy decisions on my core principles of honesty, integrity, democracy, social justice, equality, and putting people first. These are the filters I will view proposed legislation through.

I love to learn and think creatively. I have developed a complete skill-set honed by my extensive experience as the head of a large labor organization: negotiating skills, organizing skills, administrative skills, supervisory skills, leadership skills, problem solving skills, dispute resolution skills, strategic thinking/planning skills, communications skills, and even computer skills. This skill-set will undoubtedly serve the people of our state well when I’m in Olympia.

3. Please describe in sufficient detail, one to three accomplishments or contributions of which you are most proud. These examples should illustrate effective skills and capabilities you think apply to the office you are seeking. These accomplishments may have occurred at any time in your personal, professional, or public life.

1. I helped bring democracy to the Teamsters. We encouraged rank and file participation and control of the union's affairs. Development of leadership from amongst the members, and open, democratic decision-making on strikes, contracts and all phases of union activity were hallmarks of my nine years as the principal officer of Local 174. The labor movement has the resources to effectuate progressive social change, provided it is philosophically grounded in democratic principles. Without such grounding, unions are reduced to bureaucratic structures that are more threatened by rank and file empowerment than appreciate the power of an organized rank and file. Once we completed the organizational restructuring at our Local union from a top-down to a bottom-up structure, we were able to realize our organizational interests as being tied to the interests of the broader social justice movements. Progressives' struggles over issues of racism, sexism, environmental justice, etc. are all linked by the common desire to create a better world that is based in justice, equality and humanity. Rather than allowing these issues to be devisive, we fought to build bridges between the social justice networks that were fighting on the progressive side of these issues. Therefore, we fought for broad based social change by building relationships between labor and churches, the civil rights movement, immigrant advocacy groups, glbt rights organizations, peace networks, environmental activists and just about any group that had a progressive social justice agenda. In 1999 I led efforts to ally the labor movement with a broad base of social justice networks who were demanding democratic accountability and transparency by the World Trade Organization. The famous image of "Teamsters and Turtles United At Last," is a lasting symbol of the unprecedented networking and bridge-building between social justice networks that culminated in the peaceful WTO demonstrations and the birth of a movement. Recognition of the true nature of the power that people have when we work collectively will be a bedrock principle that will guide my work in Olympia. Furthermore, the technical skills I developed as a negotiator, problem solver, administrator, organizer, and educator will help me be effective in working for the interests of all the people of our state, just as I was effective representing all the members of our union--Teamsters Local 174, the largest trucking local union in the Pacific Northwest--by negotiating top wages, benefits, working conditions and job security with some of the largest multi-national corporations in the world.

2. I graduated from college last year. I'd previously attended the University of Washington many years ago and had accumulated a good amount of credits, but had not focussed in on my political science niche until I became a union activist. I attended labor studies classes in the late 70's and early 80's while working full time as a UPS employee and graduated with an AA degree in Labor Studies. In 2001 when I was running for a fourth term as head of Teamsters Local 174 (the largest Teamsters trucking local Pacific Northwest) I was illegally removed from office by the International General President (I ultimately prevailed over the union through a settlement of a federal lawsuit brought by the U.S. Dept. of Labor against the Union on my behalf). During that period of unemployment I found myself effectively blackballed from Teamster work. I realized this was really an opportunity to complete my college education--a personal unfulfilled goal for many years. I worked hard and graduated from Antioch University Seattle last year, going through the commencement ceremony in the same week as my daughter was graduating from Garfield High School in Seattle. In my B.A. program I had two areas of concentration: a) Organizational and Social Change, and b) Labor Relations. Both of these areas will serve me well in Olympia as we try to think strategically about the future of our state. By this example, you can understand that I try to look at situations as opportunities, regardless of how dire or desperate a situation may appear. But more importantly, my proven core values of honesty, integrity, and hard work will insure I am successful representing the people of the 11th District.

3. I'm successfully raising a wonderful family with my wife, Lindy and two daughters Mineko and Toshiko. This is the most challenging and rewarding accomplishment of my life and really gives meaning to all the work I do. Of all the candidates, I will best represent the people of the 11th District because I know what its like to be a disenfranchised worker in a system that doesn't care; I know what its like to be laid off from a downsizing company, the stress of the uncertainty of unemployment and to have to scramble for a means to support a family; I know what its like to rely on unemployment benefits and the important role the social safety net plays in helping people to survive and live with dignity in our community; I know what its like to be scared to death of losing health insurance for my family and having to choose whether to maintain the health insurance or sacrifice my children's future by not putting money aside for college. So, not only have I represented people who face these nerve-wracking dilemmas every day, I have lived them myself. Yet I faced these challenges as opportunities and am succeeding in raising my family of which I am very proud. I know that these experiences, along with my depth of experience as the head of Teamsters Local 174 for almost a decade will make me an exceptional legislator for representing regular people.

4. Please list or describe your current and past activities in the community in which you have acquired skills that relate to the office you seek. Include your role in the activity and the year(s) in which you were involved. Involvement consists of many areas such as family, neighborhood, community, employment, or public life.

* Elected Secretary-Treasurer (Principle Executive Officer) of Teamsters Local 174 (12/91-1/01). Managed, directed and provided vision and leadership for this major labor organization with a $2.5 million annual budget, 7,400 members and families, and over 250 labor agreements. Organizational duties were all encompassing-, including direct oversight over all aspects of the organization from administrative day-to-day operations, to membership servicing, to establishment and implementation of strategic plan and goals.

* Chaired numerous successful labor negotiations with some of the largest multinational corporations in the world. We won top pay, benefits and working conditions for workers at United Parcel Service, The Boeing Co., Waste Management, Allied Waste Industries, BNSFRR, UPRR, Safeway, Onoda Cement, Heidelberger Zement, PepsiCo, Coca Cola, and more.

* I also negotiated many contracts with local small businesses and developed an appreciation for their plight in a deregulated economy facing the overwhelming weight of large corporations.

* Successfully planned and executed an organizational change program that completely revitalized the organization. Crafted membership development programs including comprehensive educational programs using original course curricula and materials covering numerous labor, social justice, and other relevant topics.

* Planned and implemented multifaceted organizational communications and mobilization programs.

* Developed working relationships with environmental, faith based, civil rights, and other community based social justice and social service organizations.

* Implemented an organizing strategy that grew the local membership from 5,700 to 7,400 at a time when the rest of the labor movement was losing members.

* Organizational Development Coordinator, Teamsters Local 174 (1/1/04-present).

* Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO (APALA): elected At-Large National Executive Board member (1993-2000), and APALA Seattle Chapter Executive Board member. (1993-present)

* Elected Delegate to two International Teamster Conventions as a pro-“union democracy” reformer (1991, 2001)

* Teamsters for a Democratic Union (TDU), Evergreen Chapter Organizer (1978-91)

* King County Labor Council, AFL-CIO, Executive Board member/Delegate (1993-2000, 2003), representing the Transportation Trades/Local 174/APALA

* Center for Social Justice, Board of Directors, 2003-present

* Interim Executive Director, Center for Social Justice, 4/03-7/03.

* University of Washington Bridges Center for Labor Studies, Board of Visitors (2003-present)

* King County Labor Agency (United Way), Executive Board member (1992-1996)

* Governors Transportation Advisory Team (Lowry appointee)

* Governor’s Task Force on the Future of Recycling (Locke appointee)

* Manufacturing Industrial Council of King County, ~1998-99, (Sims appointee)

* King County Solid Waste Oversight Committee, Chair (Sims appointee)

* International Teamsters Human Rights Commissioner, 1992-2001.

* First Asian American to run for Int'l Vice President of the Teamsters Union, 2001

* Trustee-Teamster Construction Industry Health and Welfare Trust Fund, ~1995-1998.

* Community Alliance for Global Justice, Advisory Board member (2001-present)

* Member of the Teamsters UPS National Negotiating Committee, 1992-1998.

* Member of the Teamsters UPS National Grievance Committee, 1992-1998

* Taught, and spoken before many youth groups and classes from elementary to college level on various topics.

* 2001 Recipient- "Domingo/Viernes/Jefferson Award" from the Northwest Labor Employment Law Office (LELO).

* Recognized in "Colors NW Magazine" (June 2001), "Bob Hasegawa's Reform Crusade," by Maya Insaaf.

* Featured in “This Is What Democracy Looks Like,” (2000), Dworkin & Young, Moving Images Productions

Please describe the duties of the office you seek. Which are the most important duties and why?

My main job as a State Rep. will be to steward the interests of all the people of the district and to facilitate processes in insure the state protects these interests. Of course, "crafting good law" is a traditional definition of a legislative job, but good law is only created proportionally to the level of grass roots and community based organization that supports it. Therefore, grass roots and community based organizing has to be a main component of the legislative work. A State Rep. should help the people prioritize their issues, develop strategies to resolve them, and move legislative solutions to the extent they can be addressed at the state legislative level.

Bureaucratically, as a State Rep. I expect to propose legislation and to study and debate legislation proposed by others; to analyze budgets and other proposals from the executive branch, and to be helpful to my constituents in any way I can.

EDUCATION BACKGROUND SUMMARY

FOR PUBLICATION IN CANDIDATE EVALUATION REPORT

The Municipal League’s Candidate Evaluation Report is distributed to voters in print and/or on our website. It includes a summary of the candidate’s education. Please summarize your education in 120 characters (letters, punctuation, and space all combined). The League will delete material that exceeds the space limit by beginning with the last entry. Suggested order is (degree) (subject) (school) (year, if desired).

Note: If this question is left blank the League will not include education information in your candidate profile.

Graduated with honors, Cleveland High School, 1970; AA Degree, Labor Studies, Shoreline Community College, 1984; BA Degree, Areas Of Concentration in: a) Organizational and Social Change, and b) Labor Relations, Antioch University Seattle, 2003

CIVIC INVOLVEMENT SUMMARY

FOR PUBLICATION IN CANDIDATE EVALUATION REPORT

The Municipal League’s Candidate Evaluation Report also includes a summary of each candidate’s civic involvement. Please summarize your civic involvement in the space below. We will make every attempt to include the information in the Candidate Evaluation Report as submitted. Due to space restrictions in the Report, your response is limited to 500 characters (letters, punctuation, and spaces all combined). It is important that you list your involvement beginning with the most important and ending with the least important. If you exceed the length of response permitted, or if the League should find it necessary to shorten responses for publication purposes, deletions will be made beginning with the last item listed.

Note: This information will appear verbatim on the League’s Candidate Evaluation Report. If this question is left blank, the Municipal League will not include information on your civic involvement in the Report.

Check here if you would like the Municipal League to copy the first 500 characters from Question 4 to paste into this section.

My civic involvement has mostly been as a volunteer to community based non-profit organizations with progressive social missions/issues. Beyond question 4 above, I’ve worked with the Northwest Social Forum organizing committee, ML King Jr. Celebration committee, PTSA, Asian Pacific Islander Coal., Community Coal. for Environmental Justice, Community Alliance for Global Justice, Sierra Club, Asian Pacific Environmental Exchange, Legacy House, Cleveland H.S., Japanese Congregational Church, more..

Finished!

If at all possible, send your response to the Municipal League electronically as an attachment, or insert it into an e-mail message (rebecca@munileague.org). Mail and fax numbers are listed below. If the League has not contacted you to schedule an interview, please call the League office at your earliest convenience.

Don’t forget to send the following to the Municipal League: a resume, a photo, campaign literature, and, if you are an incumbent, constituent newsletters and other materials. Please use the check-off list on the cover sheet of this packet to indicate which items you have sent.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION AND GOOD LUCK IN YOUR CAMPAIGN!

THE MUNICIPAL LEAGUE OF KING COUNTY

Candidate Evaluation Coordinator: Rebecca Cooper

810 Third Avenue, Suite 224 Phone: 206-622-8333 Email: rebecca@munileague.org

Seattle, WA 98104-1614 Fax: 425-671-0506 Website: www.munileague.org