Frances Motiwalla

Motiwalla was born in Chicago, Illinois. She attended Wheaton College in Illinois, graduating in 2000. Her career experience includes working as a community organizer.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am one who is sick of elected officials taking huge amounts of money from corporate lobbyists and ignoring the real life experience of everyday people.

My priority in Washington will be fighting for every constituent – whether they are struggling to find work or they are a successful business owner.

Because I refuse to accept corporate campaign cash, I am able to challenge the status quo. I will be your loud voice in Washington, speaking truth to power.

To reduce your electric bill, I will stand up to SEMPRA and the fossil fuel companies standing in the way of a real, just transition to a clean energy future.

To lower gas prices, I will press for diplomatic resolutions to global conflicts and work to restore America's reputation on the world's stage. Rebuilding trust abroad will begin by restoring confidence that Congress is doing its job holding the Executive Branch accountable.

Health care, dental care, and child care should be accessible and guaranteed. No one should go bankrupt over medical bills, or have to ration their medicine.

To create this reality, I will work to shift money out of nonsensical wars and into the education and training of care workers, and support those already providing care.

To bring greater safety to our neighborhoods, I'll work to end ICE terror. I will relentlessly pursue funds to fix roads and infrastructure, clean toxic sites, improve air and water quality, increase after-school opportunities and training programs.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Peace Action! War is a racket!

Moving money out of war and into care is our only path to maintain a livable planet. For our survival, we must shift from a posture of global competition to cooperation.

We need new leaders in Washington to shift spending from the enrichment of defense contractors and destruction of innocent lives to investment in the health and wellbeing of all people, and repairing past harm.

Our service members should never be taken for granted, never have to worry about losing their VA benefits, and never sent into un-winnable or illegal conflicts.

America is strongest when we lead with our best values, including care, compassion and camaraderie.Climate Action! Disaster preparedness!

Transition workers to green jobs, clean up hazardous sites, stop risking our lives by warming the planet further.A FARE Economy - a Feminist, Anti-Racist, Regenerative Economy. In America, everyone deserves to be treated with dignity, respect and care. We must work together to preserve our planet, and produce a sustainable plan to close the income gap.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Foreign Affairs, Economic Policy, Government Oversight, Transportation, Education, Energy, Natural Resources.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a Pakistani, Peruvian American political organizer from Park Ridge, IL. (a.k.a. Chicago) > New York City > LA

Formerly, I served as the Deputy Director of Development for Peace Action, the nation's largest grassroots peace network. For over a decade, through community-centered lobbying, strategic campaigns and direct action, I organized for an end to the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Yemen; the New START Treaty and the Iran Nuclear Deal; and diplomatic instead of military approaches to Syria, North Korea and Venezuela.

After the 2016 election, I co-founded The Constituents, a group focused on raising local civic engagement and understanding of our electoral system. You can find our zine, The Constituent's Guide to Civic Engagement online at TheConstituentsLA.com

Until I found that my Representative was not living up to his progressive promises, I had not planned to run for office. But I knew someone had to step up - and that I had the expertise to do it. Unlike my opponent, I wont take any corporate PAC money. Instead, my campaign will be energized by direct collaboration with grassroots organizations and increasing civic engagement across the district.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

We can end the homelessness crisis, with the will to enact common sense systemic reform. We must overturn Citizens United and reduce the influence of corporate interests in politics.We have to shift to a sustainable energy policy and foreign policy if we are to survive.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Social Welfare, Public Health, Economic Policy, Energy Policy, Immigration, Foreign Affairs, National Security, Criminal Justice, Human Rights, Net Neutrality, Campaign Finance Reform, Arms Control

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Transparency, honesty and empathy are the most important traits of an elected official in my book. I wont accept any corporate PAC money and will prioritize the public interest before corporate interests.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would my campaign to have massively increased voter turnout in CA-34, increased civic engagement, strengthened coalition collaboration amongst intersectional organizations, and built a movement to further proves Americans want to elect un-bought, un-bossed leaders.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

When I was 8 years old, Shining Path terrorist in Peru bombed the train my family and I were meant to be on. If it were not for my father's physical inability to cope with the altitude, we would have been on that train. While it's not my first memory of an historical event, it is one that has stuck with me closely. I am committed to non-violence, and hope our country follows suit promptly.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Sloop John B. by The Beach Brothers. I'm sure it has nothing to do with running for Congress. LOL.

What do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

I perceive the greatest challenge we face as a nation is our ability to transcend partisan politics and corporate influence in order to create sensible policy to actually govern ourselves in an effective manor.

If you are not a current representative, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

My top 3 are:

Appropriations

Oversight & Reform

Foreign Affairs

Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

I hope to emulate the courage and fortitude of Representative Barbara Lee, the only Representative to vocally oppose and vote against George W. Bush's War in Iraq, and persist every year to sunset that Authorization for the Use of Military Force.