Campaign News Archives

April 9, 2002 - Happy Birthday to Varrin + Large shirts running out

Happy Birthday to Varrin Swearingen. Today he turned 28 years old. This makes him one of the youngest congressional candidates in the nation. He celebrated with his family, enjoying time with his parents and children.

Varrin for Congress T-shirts are going fast. Large size shirts are almost gone. Get yours quick. We have several XL shirts still available and even a couple with pockets. We may have more made but are considering a different color (probably navy) for the shirts. Please specify what you want and we'll do our best to accomodate you. Contact edi@varrin.com for more info.

April 4, 2002 - Varrin for Congress T-Shirts are now available

Varrin for Congress T-shirts are now available. The shirts are white and sport the Varrin for Congress logo in color on the left breast. Shirts are available in sizes L and XL to those contributing at least $20.00 to the Varrin for Congress campaign. Anyone wishing to receive a shirt may send a note with their contribution indicating the desired size. For more information, feel free to email Edi at edi@varrin.com .

March 28, 2002 - Fresno LP Elections

Fresno, Ca - The Libertarian Party of Fresno County elected new officers at a meeting today. Additionally, local Libertarian candidates came out to meet with party members and make brief presentations. Congressional candidates Jonathan Richter and Varrin Swearingen, and Assembly candidate Jonathan Zwickel all spoke about their campaigns.

At the end of the meeting, elections were held for the leadership positions in the Fresno County Libertarian Party. Jonathan Richter, who has been the chair for several years, expressed a desire to pass the baton to someone else. As a result, Varrin Swearingen was elected as the new chair for Fresno County and Jonathan Richter was elected Vice Chair.

These changes will allow Richter to focus more on his Congressional campaign. Varrin Swearingen expressed a desire to get regular meetings and newsletters going again in Fresno and building a base of support for libertarian ideas and the Libertarian Party. As the new chair, he hopes he will be able to accomplish that and more.

March 27, 2002 - Campaign Finance Reform - News Release

Fresno, CA - Bush and Congress sell souls for “Campaign Finance Reform”

Varrin Swearingen, Libertarian Candidate for the 20th Congressional District, expressed his dismay this morning over President Bush’s signing of campaign finance reform legislation. Bush signed the bill this morning, which Fresno Rep. Cal Dooley voted in favor of, imposing unconstitutional restrictions on campaigning and campaign financing.

“Bush has sold his soul to the Devil”, said Swearingen. “When Bush took office, he took an oath to defend the U.S. Constitution against all foes. The 240 Congressmen and 60 senators who voted for the bill, including Fresno’s own Cal Dooley, and California Senators Boxer and Feinstein, also took an oath to defend the Constitution. They have all betrayed their oaths and become foes of the U.S. Constitution.”

Swearingen continued, “In voting for and signing this campaign finance reform bill, the Representatives and Senators, and President Bush, who says he is a Christian Republican, were all lying to us when they took office. They have no intention of defending the U.S. Constitution. To the contrary, their support of this legislation demonstrates they intend to destroy the U.S. Constitution.”

Swearingen not only believes that this bill is unconstitutional, but that any federal campaign or campaign finance regulations are unconstitutional. “Article 1, section 4 clearly gives Congress power to regulate ‘The times, places and manner of holding elections’. There is no constitutional authority for Congress to regulate political campaigns or how they are financed. As a result, this matter should be left to the states and the people according to 9th and 10th Amendments.”

Bush claims that the new bill “will result in an election finance system that encourages greater individual participation …” Swearingen rebuts, “Bush is wrong about this. All this bill does is further protect incumbents and restrict the freedom of all other Americans.”

Bush also said "I believe individual freedom to participate in elections should be expanded, not diminished." Swearingen responded by saying, “Limiting free speech, the amount of money people contribute to political campaigns, and rights to privacy with respect to personal financial matters, is no way to promote freedom. Shame on the Representatives and Senators who voted for this bill, and Bush, who signed it, for claiming to be in favor of freedom when all they really want is to get reelected.”

Swearingen finished by saying, “I have promised to uphold the U.S. Constitution and defend the freedom of all Americans. Unlike Bush, Dooley, and the other 299 who voted for this bill, I take my vow seriously. As a candidate for Congress, I hope the people in my district take this into account when choosing their next representative.”

February 26, 2002 - Lemoore Chamber of Commerce Lemoore, CA - Last night the Lemoore Chamber of Commerce had a meet the candidates event at Jasper's Saloon in Lemoore. Varrin Swearingen brought his message of freedom to the voters and candidates and was warmly received. The atmosphere was friendly and civil. A dozen candidates were in attendance including Andre Minuth and Rick Martin, the two Republican candidates running for the 20th district race. Missing, again, was Cal Dooley, the incumbent Democrat.

Varrin followed Andre Minuth's presentation. Varrin focused, again, on his vision for the future. He pointed out that many of the previous candidates cited increasing quality of life as one of their main goals. "All of us want a better quality of life. The question is not whether a candidate wants that. The question is how to get there. The answer is freedom. The government grows bigger and bigger each year. That causes higher taxes and more regulation - less freedom for you to live your life the way you want to."

Varrin went on to say, "I don't mind talking about issues. Stop by my table and I'll be happy to do that. But right now I want to talk about an idea. The idea is freedom. Should you decide how to educate your children, or should some educrat in Washington? Should you have control over your water or should some 'watercrat' in Washington? You should have the freedom and the resources to make those important decisions."

Several people remembered meeting Varrin previously and were happy to see him there. Among them was Democrat Nicole Parra. Varrin even took his message of freedom to her. She works for and supports Rep. Dooley and is running for the 30th Assembly District as a Democrat. Varrin said, "you came back to this valley to do something good for the people. If you really want to do that, you should seriously consider respecting their freedom. You may have the opportunity to do that if you're elected. That would be the best thing you could possibly to for you and for them." Varrin is anxious to see if she will heed his advice.

February 16, 2002 - Black Political Council Fresno, CA - Varrin Swearingen presented his vision for the future at the Black Political Council's candidate endorsement forum today. The forum, held in a southwest Fresno church, gave Varrin an opportunity to focus attention on the idea of freedom. Varrin and Hanford Republican Rick Martin were the only two candidates present from the 20th Congressional District. Neither Republican Andre Minuth nor incumbent Democrat Cal Dooley were there.

Varrin followed Rick Martin's presentation of a food labeling program. "I didn't bring any fruit," said Varrin, "but some people think I'm a little nuts. Sometimes that's what it takes to get anything done. Einstein was a little off. Thomas Edison was crazy to try to invent a light bulb. But they had vision. They had an idea and they pursued it." Varrin continued by pointing out the painting of Martin Luther King, Jr. on the wall behind him. "Dr. King had a dream. His dream was for freedom. Our founding fathers had vision. Their vision was for freedom. My vision is for freedom."

Varrin went on to say, "I have some ideas about how to restore freedom in America. More important, I have the desire, the dream, to make it happen. Never in history has a nation with declining freedom had a peaceful movement towards more freedom. That is what I want. If you want that, I'm confident we can figure out how to get it. The question before you today is 'do you want to be free?'. If you do, endorse me. I am the candidate who stands for freedom."

February 11, 2002 - Comments to FAA - News Release Fresno, CA - Varrin Swearingen submitted comments to the FAA today regarding arming airline pilots as an enhancement to aviation security. Read the full news release here.
February 11, 2002 - Campaign and Media Update Many things have happened since our last update. Most recently, we received a portion of coverage in a Fresno Bee article on the 20th Congressional District race. Read the Fresno Bee article here.

Also, on January 8th, 2002, Varrin and his campaign manager, Edi, had their second child, a daughter. This had the look and feel of a scandal until it was discovered that Varrin and Edi have been married since 1993. Read coverage by the Bakersfield Californian here(scroll to the bottom). Note that our first child is actually a boy, not a girl as implied by the Californian. This is our second child and she is a girl.

January 4, 2002 - Fresno Bee Letter To the Editor Fresno, CA - Edi Swearingen's letter to the Editor of the Fresno Bee about airline security was published today. Read the letter here. It pokes fun of Richard Reid and points out that government has failed again to protect our airliners.
December 18, 2001 - Fresno Bee Letter To the Editor Fresno, CA - Varrin Swearingen's response to Mayor Alan Autry's proposed meeting of San Joaquin Valley mayors was published today as a Letter To the Editor in the Fresno Bee. Mayor Autry's position is that cities in the Valley get passed over on funding from the state and federal governments because bigger cities like San Fransisco and Los Angeles are larger, draw more attention, and are better at lobbying. Varrin pointed out that we should just keep our money here in the Valley and that it is only the Libertarian Party that wants to do just that. For the full text of the article, see the Fresno Bee.
December 11, 2001 - Campaign Update Varrin Swearingen spoke Sunday at the MAPA/HAPA (Mexican and Hmong American Political Associations) Candidate Endorsement forum in Downtown Fresno. The 20th Congressional District race was the best represented Congressional race at the forum with all 3 candidates attending. Cal Dooley, proposed more big federal government programs to solve problems in rural areas of the San Joaquin Valley. Varrin Swearingen proposed more big freedom, less government, lower taxes, and a better life for everyone. Andre Minuth was late and didn't seem to have any real specific proposals for the group. Though Dooley got the nod, Varrin's position was well received and understood by most in attendance. Varrin was the sole Libertarian candidate in attendance bringing a message of freedom, smaller government, lower taxes, and a better life for everyone.
December 7, 2001 - Fresno Bee Article


Fresno, CA - Varrin Swearingen received great coverage in the Fresno Bee today regarding his campaign announcement yesterday. His article was bigger and more effective than the article announcing Republican candidate Andre Minuth. The text of the article can be online at The Fresno Bee . A scan be seen to the right (click for full screen):

December 6, 2001 - News Release Fresno, CA - Varrin Swearingen officially announced his candidacy for the 20th Congressional District to news reporters outside the Fresno County Elections Department this morning. Varrin, a 27-year-old airline pilot and musician from Fresno, is running as a Libertarian.

Varrin joins Democratic incumbent Cal Dooley, and Republican candidate Andre Minuth in the race for the 20th District, which extends from Fresno to Bakersfield. His addition to the race will provide a smaller-federal-government perspective to voters in the Central Valley.

“I want to get the federal government out of your life and out of your wallet”, he told reporters. When asked why he's running as a Libertarian, he answered, “The Republicans and Democrats work together every year to make the federal government bigger, more intrusive, and more expensive. I want to make government smaller and less expensive and give you back your freedom and your money so you can live the best life possible. The Libertarian Party is the only party that stands for that kind of principle.”

Varrin’s wife and campaign manager, Edi Swearingen, their 11-month-old son, Edison, and his father Virgil Swearingen joined Varrin at the event.