Victor Swanson: Candidate Profile

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Note: Answers provided have not been edited for grammar, misspellings or typos. In some instances, candidate claims that could not be immediately verified have been omitted. Jump to:BioQA Bio City: BataviaWebsite: www.electvictorswanson.comTwitter: @electvswansonFacebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: 14th District U.S. Representative Age: 42Family: I am married to Karen Swanson, a 5th grade teacher in Aurora. We have two children, Ellie and Carter, and a dog named Buster.Occupation: Social Studies Teacher at Glenbard East high schoolEducation: B.S. in Social Science Secondary Education and a M.S. Ed in Curriculum and Instruction from Northern Illinois UniversityCivic involvement: I served 3 years in the United States Navy earning a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. I am one of the leaders in the Social Studies Department on our Democracy School program.Elected offices held: NoneQuestions Answers What do you think is the government's responsibility in assuring that citizens have health care? To what extent does the Affordable Care Act address this responsibility? What, if any, changes are needed in the act.Nearly every country in the developed world provides some sort of universal health care. It is time that the United States joins the rest of the developed world. In the future, I support Medicare for All as a long-term, full solution to helping Americans receive affordable health insurance. Until we can achieve Medicare for All, the Affordable Care Act is a positive movement in that direction. Because insurance markets thrive on stability we need to change the Affordable Care Act in the following ways: we need to increase federal subsidies, allow Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices, get younger people enrolled, and help insurance companies cope with the high costs associated with pre-existing conditions.What immigration policies do you support? Where, if at all, do you see room for compromise to produce an effective policy on immigration? What, if any, responsibility does the government have toward immigrants referred to as Dreamers who were brought to the United States illegally as children and are now adults? How will these policies affect your district?Immigration increases economic opportunities and production, raises wages, and improves revenue from taxes. I've been teaching in public schools long enough to have had undocumented students unable to continue their education after high school without the kinds of protection that DACA has created. Turning on back on Dreamers--just children themselves when brought to the United States--is downright inhumane. When we turn away immigrants, we lose a sizeable investment in our future. I believe that there is a better way to deal with immigration than building an 18 billion dollar wall at American taxpayers' expense. 1. We need to enforce current laws and hold businesses accountable who take advantage of immigration laws and/or make use of undocumented workers illegally. 2. We need to continue investing with our global partners and in the areas from which illegal immigrants largely stem. 3. We must show compassion to those who are currently in our country who were brought here as minors, through no fault or decision of their own. To that end, I support complete and indefinite protection of DACA recipients and the Dreamers. These policies will help the 14th district economy grow by ensuring that every student is allowed further their education and bring back their talents, skills and abilities to the 14th district.What military or diplomatic roles should the United States play to promote peace and stability in the Mideast? Under what circumstances should we have military forces actively operating?The United States should be a global leader in promoting peace and stability in the Middle East. We have already been engaged in military roles in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria, with no end in sight. Having proudly served in the Navy, I recognize the enormous strength of our Armed Forces coupled with a unique understanding of the grave responsibility that comes along with such power. I would not consider any further military action in the Middle East until all diplomatic measures have been exhausted. We cannot be leaders in the Middle East until we recognize fairly and equally both sides of the disagreements. One of our first priorities in keeping the country safe must be to reaffirm and strengthen our relationship with our close allies in order to continue reciprocal information sharing that can help stop the spread of terrorism in the Middle East and elsewhere abroad. Secondly, we need to continue to strengthen our military by investing in the Armed Forces from enlistment to post-service support. We are only as strong and the proud men and women in uniform. We must fully support them to ensure that our troops on the ground remain the strongest and most capable armed forces in the world.What should the United States be doing to reduce the threat of potential nuclear conflict from North Korea?I believe economic and diplomatic sanctions are essential to solve any threat like North Korea. The United States has ongoing conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, we cannot afford another quagmire so I would be reluctant to commit to any military action. Our response to Kim Jong Un's regime cannot be unilateral given our Pacific allies' proximity to North Korea. We need to continue to press our allies, including China, to pressure North Korea with economic and diplomatic sanctions. I appreciate what our military is capable of, but as a proud Navy veteran, I understand too well everything that comes with a decision to use our military might.How would you describe the effectiveness of Congress today? If you think Congress needs to be more effective, what would you do to promote that?I believe many members of Congress have started to put their party ahead of our country which has led to inefficiency and ineffectiveness. In order to make Congress more effective we need to get money out of politics. As long as a special interest group or a corporation is able to donate thousands of dollars to members of Congress, political party polarization will continue and special interests will be put ahead of the common interests of our country.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?My passion for education not only led me to become a public school teacher but also continues to influence the way that I see solutions to many of our problems. Since I began teaching 18 years ago, the low-income population of every school district in the 14th district has doubled and sometimes even tripled. Our school districts' budgets have decreased. Schools have been asked to do more with less. Our nation cannot continue to thrive unless we invest in early education and K-12 education. I support universal pre-K for families. I also support family paid leave so that families can spend more time together at the beginning of their life as a family. As an additional investment in our children and education we need to offer greater subsidies for any high-quality child care that meets the Annenberg Standards. Also affordable higher education will also be a priority for me. We need to allow students to greater flexibility to refinance their student loan debt, we need to offer more loan forgiveness programs, and reduce, if not eliminate the interest paid on student loans. Every day, as a teacher, I see the cost of not investing in families and children. I see students who are hungry, students who can't focus, and students who can't see a way out of the poverty in which they live. If we truly want to continue being the beacon of light to the world, we need to start investing more aggressively in families and our children.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.People don't need to be elected politicians to be Ã#402;â#8364;#8482;leaders,Ã#402;â#8364;#339; anyone who works for the most vulnerable in society inspires me.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?There will be hard times, there will be lean times, and there will be struggles but if you can laugh those times are more tolerable.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I have two healthy, happy children. I have a wonderful intelligent wife. There is nothing I would do-over again.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Social Studies. I decided to become a teacher to share my love and appreciation for the importance of history, and government with future generations.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Be Kind.