Dan La Botz
Encyclopedia
Daniel H. La Botz (born on August 9, 1945) is a prominent American
labor union
activist, academic, journalist
, and author. He was a co-founder of Teamsters for a Democratic Union
(TDU) and has written extensively on worker rights in the United States and Mexico
. He is a member of the socialist organization Solidarity, which describes itself as "a democratic, revolutionary socialist, feminist, anti-racist organization," which comes out of the Trotskyist tradition. La Botz ran in 2010 for a seat in the United States Senate
for the Socialist Party
.
. He attended Southwestern Junior College and San Diego State University
. When he was in college, he opposed the American involvement in the Vietnam war
and supported the United Farm Workers
. He is a leader of the socialist organization Solidarity, which describes itself as "a democratic, revolutionary socialist, feminist, anti-racist organization" and which comes out of the Trotskyist tradition. In the 1970s, La Botz worked various jobs in Chicago before working as a truck driver. Within the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), he was a co-founder of the Teamsters for a Democratic Union
(TDU), a reform caucus associated with Solidarity. TDU began in 1975 when a small group of freight Teamsters, some from the International Socialists group in Berkeley, CA met in Chicago, Illinois and founded Teamsters for a Decent Contract (TDC).
He subsequently worked as a community and union organizer and later a journalist. La Botz worked in the 1980s as a journalist in Chicago and Mexico City
and as an author on topics of workers' struggles and unions in the United States and Mexico. He earned a PhD
in American history at the University of Cincinnati
in 1998. He later became Assistant Professor of History and Latin American Studies at the Miami University
, the University of Cincinnati
and the Northern Kentucky University
. La Botz is an editor of Mexican Labor News and Analysis (MLNA). In May 2010, La Botz was working as a Spanish teacher at Waldorf elementary school in Cincinnati.
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On February 19, 2010, La Botz announced that he was running for the United States
Senate in Ohio on the Ohio Socialist Party ballot. He subsequently gathered 1,200 signatures to gain ballot access. La Botz was the only Ohio candidate running on the ticket of the Socialist Party USA
.
In the United States Senate election in Ohio, 2010
, SPOH candidate La Botz received 25 thousand votes (0.68%); the Republican winner Rob Portman
received 2.125 million votes (57.25%) and the Democratic candidate Lee Fisher
received 1.448 million votes (39.00%).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
labor union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
activist, academic, journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, and author. He was a co-founder of Teamsters for a Democratic Union
Teamsters for a Democratic Union
Teamsters for a Democratic Union is a rank-and-file union democracy movement organizing to reform the International Brotherhood of Teamsters , or Teamsters. TDU was created out of the merger of the Professional Drivers Council and TDU in 1979...
(TDU) and has written extensively on worker rights in the United States and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. He is a member of the socialist organization Solidarity, which describes itself as "a democratic, revolutionary socialist, feminist, anti-racist organization," which comes out of the Trotskyist tradition. La Botz ran in 2010 for a seat in the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
for the Socialist Party
Socialist Party USA
The Socialist Party USA is a multi-tendency democratic-socialist party in the United States. The party states that it is the rightful continuation and successor to the tradition of the Socialist Party of America, which had lasted from 1901 to 1972.The party is officially committed to left-wing...
.
Early Life and career
La Botz was born in Chicago, Illinois but grew up outside San Diego, CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He attended Southwestern Junior College and San Diego State University
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
. When he was in college, he opposed the American involvement in the Vietnam war
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
and supported the United Farm Workers
United Farm Workers
The United Farm Workers of America is a labor union created from the merging of two groups, the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee led by Filipino organizer Larry Itliong, and the National Farm Workers Association led by César Chávez...
. He is a leader of the socialist organization Solidarity, which describes itself as "a democratic, revolutionary socialist, feminist, anti-racist organization" and which comes out of the Trotskyist tradition. In the 1970s, La Botz worked various jobs in Chicago before working as a truck driver. Within the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), he was a co-founder of the Teamsters for a Democratic Union
Teamsters for a Democratic Union
Teamsters for a Democratic Union is a rank-and-file union democracy movement organizing to reform the International Brotherhood of Teamsters , or Teamsters. TDU was created out of the merger of the Professional Drivers Council and TDU in 1979...
(TDU), a reform caucus associated with Solidarity. TDU began in 1975 when a small group of freight Teamsters, some from the International Socialists group in Berkeley, CA met in Chicago, Illinois and founded Teamsters for a Decent Contract (TDC).
He subsequently worked as a community and union organizer and later a journalist. La Botz worked in the 1980s as a journalist in Chicago and Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
and as an author on topics of workers' struggles and unions in the United States and Mexico. He earned a PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in American history at the University of Cincinnati
University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is a comprehensive public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a part of the University System of Ohio....
in 1998. He later became Assistant Professor of History and Latin American Studies at the Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
, the University of Cincinnati
University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is a comprehensive public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a part of the University System of Ohio....
and the Northern Kentucky University
Northern Kentucky University
|type = Public|president= Dr. James C. Votruba|city = Highland Heights|state = KY|country = U.S.|endowment = $68 million|students = 15,405|undergrad = 13,206|postgrad = 2,199|faculty = 1,159...
. La Botz is an editor of Mexican Labor News and Analysis (MLNA). In May 2010, La Botz was working as a Spanish teacher at Waldorf elementary school in Cincinnati.
Senatorial campaign
{| align="right"|
On February 19, 2010, La Botz announced that he was running for the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Senate in Ohio on the Ohio Socialist Party ballot. He subsequently gathered 1,200 signatures to gain ballot access. La Botz was the only Ohio candidate running on the ticket of the Socialist Party USA
Socialist Party USA
The Socialist Party USA is a multi-tendency democratic-socialist party in the United States. The party states that it is the rightful continuation and successor to the tradition of the Socialist Party of America, which had lasted from 1901 to 1972.The party is officially committed to left-wing...
.
In the United States Senate election in Ohio, 2010
United States Senate election in Ohio, 2010
The 2010 United States Senate election in Ohio was held on November 2, 2010, as one of many Ohio elections in 2010. Incumbent two-term Republican U.S. Senator George Voinovich decided to retire instead of seeking a third term...
, SPOH candidate La Botz received 25 thousand votes (0.68%); the Republican winner Rob Portman
Rob Portman
Robert Jones "Rob" Portman is the junior United States Senator from Ohio. He is a member of the Republican Party. He succeeded retiring Senator George Voinovich....
received 2.125 million votes (57.25%) and the Democratic candidate Lee Fisher
Lee Fisher
Lee Fisher was the 64th Lieutenant Governor of Ohio, who served with Governor Ted Strickland from 2007 until 2011.He is a member of the Democratic Party.In addition to serving as Lt...
received 1.448 million votes (39.00%).