Joe Jaworski: A 12th Man For The Texas Senate

[Ed. Note: This is the first part of a three-part series. In Part I, we will get to know Joe Jaworski and learn why he is running for State Senate. In Parts II and III, we'll examine some of his positions on the issues. All parts are being published today on Capitol Annex at 9 a.m., 12 p.m., and 3 p.m. Please check back for more!]

There are presently 11 Democrats in the Texas Senate. It’s a razor-thin margin that barely allows the Democratic Senators to kill disastrous legislation such on issues such as Voter Identification, school vouchers, and measures that go against sound, progressive, public policy. As shown during the recent 80th Texas Legislature, one ill senator can allow Republicans the opportunity to bring up legislation that could harm millions of Texans.

What’s the solution? Clearly, we need more Democrats in the Texas Senate. In short, we need a ‘12th Man’ to borrow from the football phrase.

In the coming election cycle, however, there are limited opportunities for Democrats to acquire this much needed 12th Man.

But, one opportunity does stand out as a winnable State Senate seat—and, a Democratic candidate has already stepped up to the plate to take on the challenge.

The district is Senate District 11, and the candidate is Joe Jaworski (D-Galveston), an attorney and two-term Galveston City Councilman.

Jaworski, who has already raised more than a quarter million dollars for an anticipated battle with incumbent Sen. Mike Jackson (R-Shoreacres) sat down for a phone interview Tuesday with Capitol Annex about his campaign and some of the issues facing Senate District 11.

Before we get to the interview, however, Joe’s last name, “Jaworski” may sound familiar to you. If it does, that’s because it is. Joe is the grandson of famed Watergate Special Prosecutor Leon Jaworski.

Joe follows in his grandfather’s footsteps by committing himself to public service.

About Joe Jaworski

Jaworski, 45, recently completed his second term on the Galveston City Council (the city has a two-term limit). He and his wife, Rebecca, met in law school (UT Austin). They have two children. Joe practices maritime law in Galveston.

Joe, like many Texans, became involved in politics starting at the local level. As Joe tells it:

I got involved in local politics shortly after we moved here to Galveston—in the historic district—not long after we got married. We went to a neighborhood association meeting and someone said there were plans to put up a bail bond business in the historic district. Of course, I was a lawyer and people said, ‘well, you’re a lawyer, can’t you do something?’ So, we challenged the zoning, filed a lawsuit, and won. And, people started asking, ‘who is this young guy?’ The city council appointed me to a city board after that—I guess they thought they’d take this ‘rabblerouser’ and give him something to do.

After that, David Bowers, who was the first openly gay mayor of Galveston and a great mentor, (who was on the council at that time), decided to run for mayor. And, he approached me about running for his seat [which he was vacating, on the council]. I did, served out that term and ran for a second, and was term-limited in May 2006.

A ‘Dandy Of A Seat’

In a state where many State Senate seats go unchallenged following the Legislative Redistricting Board’s partisan redistricting plan of 2001, some may wonder how Jaworski came to the conclusion he would oppose Sen. Jackson in SD 11.

According to Jaworski, a year before his final term on the Galveston City Council expired, he started thinking about his future plans:

I decided, ‘ok, I’m good at this,’ and I’d like to keep doing it. I was appalled with what passes for leadership in Washington D.C. and in Austin, and I don’t shrink away from a fight.

A ‘Vast Group Of Persuadables

Jaworski first thought about a Congressional run, but nixed that because of his young family. As he turned his eye toward state-level office, he realized that his home senate district could be a good possibility:

It’s a dandy of a seat. It’s a Republican district, but it’s not so out of reach that it isn’t unwinnable. I believe that this seat can be a great harbinger and set a great example for what you can do. This seat could be a bellweather for a new Texas.

Jaworski notes the district has historically Democratic roots, includes Galveston and eastern Harris County.

And, Jaworski says, the race is a good place to start an “honest discussion” about our future.

Over the years, we hear that Democrats have ‘lost’ the middle class and ‘lost’ the labor vote. But, we’re seeing evidence in what we read about the shameful disgust people feel with the way things are going, both in Washington and Austin. Over the last few years, the emphasis in government has been about a strong defense, moral values, and low taxes A lot of people might say we have none of the three. And, maybe that means it’s time for an honest discussion about what government is supposed to do, what the church is supposed to do, and what corporations do. And, we can talk about what government is doing.

People are willing to talk about that now. I’m a Democrat and proud to be one, but I am excited about appealing to a great, vast group of persuadables who are disappointed in the GOP leadership.

[In Part II, we'll see where Joe stands on issues of importance to his district. Please check back at 11 a.m.!]