Dan Swecker
Dan Swecker is a former Republican member of the Washington State Senate, representing District 20 from his appointment in 1995 to 2013. He served as Republican Caucus Vice Chair, 2007-08 and as Assistant Majority Whip, 1997-98.[1]
Swecker attended the University of Washington. He went on to earn his AA from Tacoma Community College. He then received his B.A. in Cooperative Education from The Evergreen State College in 1973.
Swecker worked as a warrant officer in the United States Army from 1966 to 1969. He then worked as owner and operator of Swecker Salmon Farm. He has also worked as secretary and treasurer of Washington Fish Growers Association.[2]
Committee assignments
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Swecker served on the following committees:
- Government Operations, Tribal Relations & Elections Committee, Washington State Senate, Ranking Minority Member
- Natural Resources & Marine Waters Committee, Washington State Senate
- Transportation Committee, Washington State Senate
Elections
2012
- See also: Washington State Senate elections, 2012
Swecker ran for re-election in the 2012 election for Washington State Senate District 20. Swecker advanced past the blanket primary on August 7, 2012 and was defeated by John E. Braun (R) in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[3][4]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican |  John Braun |
55.4% | 29,943 | |
| Republican | Dan Swecker Incumbent | 44.6% | 24,075 | |
| Total Votes | 54,018 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican |
Dan Swecker |
47% | 10,861 | |
| Republican | John E. Braun |
40.3% | 9,327 | |
| Republican | Rae Lowery | 12.7% | 2,936 | |
| Total Votes | 23,124 | |||
2008
On November 4, 2008, Swecker was re-elected for the Twentieth District of the Washington State Senate receiving 39,650 votes.
Swecker raised $116,812 for his campaign.[5]
| Washington State Senate, District 20 (2008) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Dan Swecker (R)
|
39,650 | |||
| Chuck Bojarski (D) | 22,428 | |||
Campaign finance summary
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Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Swecker and his wife live in Rochester and have four children and two grandchildren. Swecker lives in Rochester, WA.[6]
Scorecards
Freedom Foundation
The Freedom Foundation releases its Big Spender List annually. The Institute ranks all Washington legislators based on their total proposed tax and fee increases. To find each legislator’s total, the Institute adds up the 10-year tax increases or decreases, as estimated by Washington’s Office of Financial Management, of all bills sponsored or co-sponsored by that legislator.[7]
2012
Swecker proposed a 10-year increase in state taxes and fees of $322.5 million, the 14th highest amount of proposed new taxes and fees of the 46 Washington state senators on the Freedom Foundation’s 2012 Big Spender List.[8]
- See also: Washington Freedom Foundation Legislative Scorecard (2012)
The Freedom Foundation also issued its 2012 Informed Voter Guide for Washington State voters, including a legislative score card documenting how Washington State legislators voted upon bills the Foundation deemed important legislation. The legislation analyzed covered budget, taxation, and pension issues.[9] A 
sign indicates a bill more in line with the Foundation's stated goals, and a 
sign indicates a bill out of step with the Foundation's values. Here's how Swecker voted on the specific pieces of legislation:
| 2012 Senate Scorecard - Dan Swecker | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill #6636 (Balanced budget requirement)
|
Bill #5967 (Senate Republicans budget)
|
Bill #6582 (Local transportation tax increases)
|
Bill #6378 (Pension reforms)
| ||||||||
| Y | Y | Y | Y | ||||||||
Recent news
This section displays the most recent stories in a Google News search for the term "Dan + Swecker + Washington + Senate"
- All stories may not be relevant to this legislator due to the nature of the search engine.
External links
- Dan Swecker Campaign Website
- Dan Swecker for State Senate Facebook Page
- Legislative profile of Swecker on Project Vote Smart
- Biographical profile of Swecker on Project Vote Smart
- Campaign Contributions: 2008, 2006, 2004, 2000, 1996
- 20th District map
- Washington Votes profile for Swecker
Footnotes
- ↑ Swecker bio from Washington SRC website
- ↑ Project Vote Smart - Sen. Swecker
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "2012 Primary Candidates," accessed July 16, 2012
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "August 07, 2012 Primary Results - Legislative - All Results," accessed August 15, 2012
- ↑ Follow the Money's report on Swecker's 2008 campaign contributions
- ↑ Project VoteSmart, "Senator Dan P. Swecker," accessed July 30, 2012
- ↑ Freedom Foundation's 2012 Big Spender List
- ↑ Freedom Foundation's 2012 list of Washington state senators by proposed new taxes and fees
- ↑ My Freedom Foundation, "Home," accessed June 18, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by ' |
Washington State Senate District 20 1995-2013 |
Succeeded by John E. Braun (R) |
