Vol. 71/No. 40      October 29, 2007

In a sidebox, the paper also reported that Galinsky is a meat cutter in a slaughterhouse, active in the Socialist Workers Party, and joined the May 1 demonstrations to demand the legalization of undocumented immigrants. It noted that he “joined Des Moines’ demonstration ‘Justice for Jena 6’” and has “participated in trade union conferences and book fairs in Cuba.”

In the October 10 issue the Register ran an article on the previous day’s primary elections. It quoted Galinsky saying, “To me it’s a victory that we were able to get our ideas out to a wide range of working people.” The paper reported that he received 302 votes, 8 percent. Galinsky continues to run as a write-in candidate for the November elections.

BY MELISSA WALKER  
Seth Galinsky has one goal in his quest for an at-large seat on the Des Moines City Council: He wants to provide a voice for working people.

“I wouldn’t represent the entire city. I would represent working people,” said Galinsky, 50, a meat cutter for Iowa Pacific Processors, Inc. “I’m not interested in representing the rich.”

Galinsky will face two-term Councilman Chris Coleman and Josh Daines in Tuesday’s primary, which will narrow the field to two candidates for the Nov. 6 general election.

Galinsky has no experience in elected office, nor has he been on civic boards or commissions. He said he’s running for the council because working people need a voice, and because he feels many government decisions—not just those made in Des Moines—favor wealthy people. Tax credits for developers are an example, he said.

Galinsky was not required to file a campaign disclosure form with state election regulators because he did not exceed contributions or spend more than $750 on the campaign, which has consisted of passing out fliers, giving speeches at factories and doing door-to-door visits to spread his message.

He said Des Moines City Council members do not speak for the working class.

“They’re going to sit there and talk about budgets and franchise fees, but the most important questions for working people are not discussed at the City Council,” Galinsky said.

Galinsky said he would use the council position to fight efforts by immigration officials to deport illegal workers, and he would try make it illegal for employers to fire workers found to have used illicit Social Security numbers. He said he would work to strengthen labor unions and try to assure safe working conditions and livable wages.

Galinsky said his campaign is different from other candidates in that “I don’t make any promises.”

“Actually, what I bring is a message: Working people, we need to stand up for our rights,” he said.

Galinsky said that Des Moines has no problems that are specific to it, and that the city needs to consider itself part of the global picture. Municipal elected officials need to take a stand on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, he said, and be willing to participate in war protests and other demonstrations.
 
 
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SWP candidate joins debate on Blacks in Iowa jails  
 
 
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