The 15th Congressional race came to campus last week when the Associated Students Inc. (ASI) Legislative Affairs committee invited candidates running for multiple assembly and congressional seats to a candidate forum to address policy and social issues.

The debate came just weeks after congressional incumbent Pete Stark made allegations against Dublin councilman and Democratic competitor Eric Swalwell of accepting bribes from a Dublin developing family known as the Lin family. Since then, Stark has issued a statement of apology but not without addressing “concerns” for Swalwell’s involvement in “developing families that have been raided by the FBI.”

It was an apology that Swalwell called a “non-apology apology” due to tacked on accusations of Swalwell’s alleged involvement with corrupt development families.

This past debate didn’t construe as much controversy or fireworks as its predecessor did, mainly because Stark was nowhere to be found. Evidently, he was in Washington, D.C. with other Bay Area congressional members Barbra Lee and Mike Honda, who were unable to make it due to a congressional session.

The debate looked at first to only have independent but self-admitted conservative candidate Chris Pareja in attendance because Swalwell had previously said he would not be attending. Swalwell told The Pioneer the date change for the debate from Sunday to a Wednesday caused scheduling issues that originally made attendance difficult.

Swalwell appeared anyhow, citing the importance for students to be addressed concerning college accessibility as a concern that required his attendance. Pareja felt he showed up because a loose email of his had fallen into Swalwell’s hands where he criticized Swalwell for not showing up for his potential constituents “because Stark would not be in attendance.”
Swalwell denies this accusation.

The debate lacked sparks but gave opportunity for Swalwell to criticize Stark without him there to respond.

“I will work to repeal citizens united, I know humans have hearts but I don’t know any corporation that does,” said Swalwell, “I am running against a member of congress who thinks corporations are people though. His contributions come from political action committees while all of mine comes from individual contributions.”

Swalwell never personally attacked Pareja because according to Ian Crueldad, president of the CSU East Bay Democratic Club, that endorsed Swalwell for Congress, he doesn’t consider Pareja to be a challenger.

“Pareja should just drop out,” Crueldad said.

Swalwell further reiterated his common criticisms of Stark, namely of being the “number one liberal member of Congress” who cannot work with Republicans, his vote for “No Child Left Behind,” and missing “20 percent of congressional votes last year.”

Stark told Tri-Valley voters in February at the Tri-Valley Democratic Club he had pneumonia last year and spent some time in the hospital that prevented him from attending every congressional session.

Swalwell said he is willing to work with Republicans to pass legislation in effort to fight against partisan polarization, a response Pareja said he “couldn’t help but smile at.”

Pareja, who thus far has stayed above the political fray — a “highlight” that he considers in his campaign for Congress — did issue one line of personal rhetoric calling out Swalwell and Stark’s controversy.

“We have those who cannot work together across the aisle but yet we have drawn on national attention in the past few weeks with democratic mud wrestling, in our own district.”

Pareja leaned to the right during the forum, citing his opposition to the DREAM Act, emphasis on border security and proficiency tests. He said he ideologically opposed the DREAM Act because it was “unfair to put one group of people over another,” and advocated for making colleges more accessible across the board for everyone.

Swalwell said that he supported the DREAM Act because it would be unfair to have a Hispanic child go through the education system but then not allow them to attend college. Swalwell then segued himself into immigration reform, calling upon “creating a pathway to documentation for those who wish to stay here and contribute.”

Concerning the war on drugs, Swalwell said he wished to decriminalize non-narcotic substances such as marijuana to help clear the overcrowded prison system but said he would not legalize heroin or cocaine but rather work to remove the drugs from affected communities.

Pareja focused on border security, saying the flow of drugs could be limited if America had a more effective border security system. Trafficking, kidnapping and gang activity could be also be stymied if border security took more precedence, according to Pareja.

For citizens united, Pareja said he supported the decision only because if unions can give unlimited campaign contributions then so should corporations. Pareja said he believed in equal rules for both sides but did oppose to how the political structure was gamed.

“I prefer the belly button rule,” said Pareja, “if you don’t have one then you don’t deserve a voice.”

Pareja said after the debate that he likely said things during the debate that didn’t coalesce well with people in the audience, acknowledging his views are more to the right of the largely democratic Hayward area.

The primaries for the congressional election is just a little over a month away with Swalwell aiming for a “second place strategy” to push out Pareja and game a showdown with Stark in the fall.