Chicago mayoral candidate Joe Holberg says his experience overcoming poverty, teaching in Chicago Public Schools and building a financial technology company gives him the perspective needed to address the city’s persistent fiscal and economic challenges.
Holberg outlined his candidacy during an interview with Dan Proft on Chicago’s Morning Answer, presenting himself as an alternative to the career politicians and candidates supported by the city’s established political organizations.
Raised in a low-income household in rural Michigan, Holberg said his family relied on food stamps and that he became a first-generation college student. He ran out of money while attending college, slept in his car and nearly abandoned his education before moving to Chicago for a job.
Holberg eventually founded a financial technology company designed to help people manage their money. The business created jobs across Chicago, served tens of thousands of customers and was later acquired, providing what he described as a life-changing financial opportunity.
He said his mayoral campaign is an extension of his belief in servant leadership and an effort to ensure that other Chicago residents have access to the opportunities that changed his life.
Holberg argued that Chicago’s political establishment has left the city in a defensive position, with inadequate housing construction, an unbalanced budget and a government too heavily influenced by special interests. He said his background in entrepreneurship and financial education would bring a different set of skills to City Hall.
Housing would be one of his central priorities. Holberg pointed to rankings placing Chicago near the bottom of major American cities for new housing construction and said the city should pursue policies that encourage development, improve affordability and expand its tax base.
His campaign platform is presented in a book titled “The Chicago Plan: A Mayoral Candidate’s Vision for Chicago,” priced at $18.71 as a reference to the Great Chicago Fire. Holberg said the symbolism reflects his belief that the city has reached another pivotal moment requiring reconstruction and a more ambitious vision for its future.
Chicago’s access to fresh water, energy resources, transportation infrastructure and an educated workforce creates opportunities for renewed growth, Holberg said. Capturing those advantages will require city leaders to move beyond political infighting and build coalitions capable of solving larger problems.
Education is another major focus of his campaign. Holberg, who previously taught on Chicago’s West Side, identified chronic absenteeism as one of the most urgent problems facing Chicago Public Schools.
He cited figures showing that more than 30 percent of CPS students are chronically absent, including more than half of high school students. Holberg also pointed to high absenteeism among school employees as evidence that the district must develop a more consistent culture of attendance.
Students cannot improve in mathematics, reading, science or social studies if they are not in the classroom, he said. Holberg called for greater transparency about attendance and stronger accountability for schools, employees and the Chicago Teachers Union.
With Chicago moving to an elected school board, Holberg said the mayor will need to work collaboratively with board members and CPS administrators. He described attendance as a shared responsibility involving families, educators, unions, community groups and city government.
Holberg also expressed support for expanded school choice. He said Illinois should consider participating in federal programs that could direct additional resources toward educational alternatives for families, particularly at a time when the city and state face significant financial constraints.
Asked to evaluate Mayor Brandon Johnson’s performance, Holberg described Johnson as well-intentioned but said his administration has suffered from a failure of leadership. He pointed to turnover in senior positions and vacancies in critical financial roles as signs that the mayor has struggled to recruit and retain capable administrators.
Holberg said he is particularly concerned about the city’s budget process. He predicted that Chicago could face another conflict over taxes and spending when officials should instead be concentrating on affordability, housing development and respect for taxpayer money.
His experience in financial technology would be directly relevant to managing Chicago’s multibillion-dollar budget, Holberg said. He argued that elected officials responsible for public finances should understand debt, bonds, credit and the broader financial system.
Holberg has contributed a substantial amount of his own money to the campaign, giving him the resources to compete with candidates who possess stronger ties to unions and other political institutions. He said the campaign has also attracted contributions from business owners, college graduates and former students.
Social media and other direct forms of communication offer candidates a way to reach voters without relying entirely on traditional advertising, Holberg said. He believes issues such as housing costs, lead service lines and the city’s parking-meter agreement can help his campaign connect with residents across Chicago.
Holberg said the city should continue exploring whether it can regain greater control over its parking-meter system, which was leased to a private operator under a controversial long-term agreement. He described the meters as a valuable public asset that should benefit residents rather than remain a continuing financial liability.
Keeping the Chicago Bears in the city would also be a priority. Holberg proposed adding a retractable roof to Soldier Field so the stadium could preserve outdoor football conditions when desired while hosting concerts and other events throughout the year.
A more versatile Soldier Field could attract tourists, fill hotels and restaurants and generate additional economic activity, he said. Holberg argued that the city should approach negotiations with the Bears as a problem to solve rather than accept the team’s possible departure.
Holberg acknowledged that he enters the race without the public profile of some established candidates. He said his personal history, financial experience and willingness to pursue new ideas can distinguish him in a crowded field and give Chicago voters an opportunity to consider a different style of leadership.