According to the "Olmettifor43rd" Twitter account, Carmen Olmetti is an unpredictable aldermanic candidate whose campaign has run out of money and out of common sense. Of course, that Twitter account is fake and intended to sabotage the aldermanic candidate (Olmetti's real Twitter is CarmenFor43rd).
However, the 43rd Ward aldermanic hopeful says he's been through worse. Olmetti beat cancer twice in college and still graduated on time. Windy City Times caught up with Olmetti to ask him about his goals for office, his stance on LGBTQ issues, and what has readied him for office at the age of 26.
Windy City Times: Carmen, tell us a little bit about yourself.
Carmen Olmetti: I'm originally from the Chicagoland area, born and raised here. I attended Arizona State University. I went to business school there. I moved back to Chicago to go to graduate school at UIC, where I earned my masters in science and accounting. I bought my home in Chicago in Lincoln Park about two and a half years ago. Presently, I work as a business representative for Teamsters. Just recently, I was a field director for Governor Quinn's campaign. A lot of what I do, I believe, is very similar to what an alderman does.
WCT: Would you have run had Alderman Daley sought re-election?
CM: Yes. A lot of my candidacy began before that. It was something that I was considering for I'd say over a year and a half.
WCT: You have relied heavily on social media to get the word out about your campaign. Are there new social media tools that you think could help the alderman communicate with residents?
CM: Absolutely. Technology, particularly for people my age, is something that's utilized probably every day. In college, I was actually about a class away from majoring in computer information systems, so I've actually build databases before. Conceptually, it's not difficult to come up with a system that has a very user-friendly interface. I think in this ward particularly some sort of electronic system, or just outreach database needs to be employed.
WCT: Redevelopment is a significant issue in your ward right now. Tell me about your plans for redevelopment.
CM: As far as a Children's Memorial… a lot of people talk about mixed-use development and I absolutely agree that mixed-used development is what needs to go there, but I think what bothers me most about a lot of the candidates positions is that they look at Children's Memorial Hospital, and they simply view it as an opportunity for space. If you look at what it really is, first and foremost, it's an economic engine for this ward. I think when you look at Children's Memorial Hospital, the first question you need to ask yourself is… "what do we put here that is going to give us a similar economic engine that is consistent with the neighborhood?"
WCT: Will you involve residents in development decisions?
CM: I think, and I say this emphatically, that it's imperative to include the community to extent that is practical. You know there's only so many community forums you can have before it becomes marginalized and ineffective. That being said though, I think there are number of community activists in the ward that would like to be represented… that would like to sit on a committee. So in terms of reaching out to the public, I think absolutely.
WCT: What is one non-developmental project you want to undertake in the ward?
CM: One thing that I see more room for improvement in is putting in more dog parks, putting in a dog park in the part of the ward that really doesn't have one. If there's an opportunity for another dog park or cleaning up existing dog parks, I think that's a great place to start because there's a high number of people in the ward that own dogs.
WCT: You are just 26 years old. What response do you have for people who say you are not experienced enough to take on this job?
CM: I have experience in economic development, in economic planning. I also have experience in labor issues. I mean, I work with labor every day. And in my role as someone who works in that capacity, I also serve the people that I represent, which… is basically first and foremost what an alderman does. And if I'm left with the choice between a 26 year-old and a 45 year-old, and the 26 year-old is far more capable… I'm not going to say "I'm not going to vote for him because he's 26."
WCT: Tell me about your stance on LGBTQ issues.
CM: I think it absolutely ridiculous that we even have this public discourse, you know in terms of civil unions. I don't see why people even question the right for a person who is gay or lesbian to enter into a union who they feel that same way about, so I am 100-percent emphatically for LGBT rights. I've been public on that. Admittedly, I haven't been an actual advocate on a lot of issues in terms of going to events and things like that. I know I'm a little bit more philosophical on this but I don't even like using the term "LGBT" because I feel that it actually alienates a group of people that are no different from myself or anyone else.
WCT: Given that you don't like saying "LGBT," do you support committees like the advisory council on LGBT issues? And would you like to keep the Office of LGBT Health?
CM: I think those committees and those advisory councils have extremely important roles to play in Chicago, in Chicago society and Chicago government, and my ward. Philosophically, it doesn't make sense to that we alienate a certain group of people. That being said, I understand that my view is pretty much my own view and the minority.
See www.carmenfor43.com .
