Meet The Candidate: Joe Sweeney

DUBLIN, CA — Ballots for the March 5 primary are being mailed out, and voters may be confronted with many names or offices they don't know about. Patch reached out to all the candidates running for major legislative seats that represent the Tri-Valley. Below, read about Joe Sweeney, an independent candidate running to represent the 10th Congressional District, which includes Danville, San Ramon, eastern Dublin, Walnut Creek, and Concord. It is currently represented by Democrat Mark DeSaulnier.

If you would like to submit a candidate profile, see here, or email michael.wittner@patch.com. Answers are not edited.

Name:
Joe Sweeney

Email:
campaign@independentjoe.com

Campaign Phone:
925-222-2751

Website:
IndependentJoe.com

City:
Dublin

Office Seeking:
US House of Representatives

District:
10th Congressional District

Party Affiliation:
None (Independent)

Degrees:
B.A. Biochemistry & Mathematics, Hamline University
M.S. Chemistry, UC Berkeley

Occupation:
Business Owner, 16 years

Family:
Daughter, 11

Any family in politics?
No

Ever held office?
No

Age:
42

Why seeking office?
Our country is being destroyed by the corrupt two-party system. The candidate I wanted to vote for wasn’t in the race, so I’m going to be that candidate. I’m running to break the two-party system, solve problems, and put our country back on the right track.

Top 3 Issues, and how to solve:

See my website for details on my positions. Here is a summary:

1. The Border

• Reinstate “Remain in Mexico” policy
• Finish building and fortifying border wall
• Negotiate with Central/South American governments to stop migrant flows
• Increase resources to immediately process asylum claims
• Move immigration courts from the executive branch to an Article I institution, like US Tax Court, to stop political interference with case processing

2. Economy & Inflation
My policies will put an end to:

• Unaccountable government spending and out-of-control debt and deficits
• Regulations that hinder growth and productivity
• Education system failing to equip people for high-paying jobs
• Immigration crisis driving up costs, housing, and tax burden on Americans
• Drugs, homelessness, and crime destroying our cities

3. Overseas Conflicts
Our foreign policy is making America less safe and destabilizing the world. We need to de-escalate foreign conflicts, normalize relations, close hundreds of the nearly 800 overseas military bases that do not serve a vital strategic interest, and bring our veterans home. This will free up resources to modernize our offensive and defensive capabilities if we ever need them to defend our homeland.

4. Right to Choose
I have to include this fourth issue because women deserve to know where I stand. My personal belief is that a government's collective "morality", which changes with who's in charge, should not be imposed during the early stages of a pregnancy, which is delicate and involves personal, moral choices. Women should choose. However, I believe around 20 weeks, when a pregnancy becomes healthy and viable, a decision should be made, and thereafter only exceptions for severe health risk to the mother or terminal conditions of the child would warrant intervention.

Major differences between me and others:
I'm not a Democrat. I'm not a Republican. I'm the only true independent candidate, registered as an independent voter for over 10 years. I don't care what either party says and I solve problems on an issue-by-issue basis. I will only be guided by the voters in our district and my internal compass, not by party leadership or party donors.

How has incumbent failed the community:
The incumbent’s voting record and co-sponsored legislation shows he is one of the 20 farthest left Democrats in the House out of the 210.

He has not done anything meaningful to stop the expected 12 million illegal immigrants pouring across the border from 2021-2024, which will decimate the working class and unions, strip critical health, education, and law enforcement resources, increase Americans' tax burdens, and risk collapsing the entire system.

He routinely supports massive budgets that waste trillions of tax dollars, increase deficits, and rack up massive debt. The interest alone on the $34 trillion debt will cost every person in our district an average of $3,000 this year. Family of four? That’s $12,000. Higher than average income earner? Tens of thousands of dollars.

There are numerous other policies and co-sponsored legislation that are counter to the interests of our district and our country, but I will discuss them as the campaign goes on.

Other issues I will address:
Stop corruption in Congress:
• 12-year term limits
• No insider trading of stocks
• Disclosure of meetings with lobbyists
• 4-year prohibition on lobbying
• Disclosure of Super-PAC dark money
• Much more on my website

What accomplishments show I can handle job:
I have started and run successful businesses for the past 16 years, and have an extensive knowledge in tech & law, including being a self-taught, full-stack programmer. I was a catalyst in bringing reform to California’s judicial oversight system through investigative work, alliance-building, media-generation, and driving the California legislature to audit and hold the system accountable. I understand how government works and can analyze, maneuver, and get things done.

Best advice anyone ever gave you:
No problem can withstand the assault of sustained thinking and action. Someone quoted it to me, and I added “and action” to the end.

Anything else about myself or positions:
If you’re tired of the two-party system, there is a clear alternative on your ballot this year. I’m not a politician. I’ve never run for office. I’m running to turn our country around, and for no other reason. Visit IndependentJoe.com. I’ve posted more content than all the other candidates combined because I have the respect for every voter in this district, no matter your political affiliation, to tell you who I am, how I think, and where I stand on what's important. If you elect me to Congress, I will allocate my time to our most pressing problems, and I have the ability, energy, and drive to solve them.