The first declared candidate in the 2027 Chicago mayor's race believes his status as an outsider will help him succeed where he believes others have fallen short.
As a young man, Joe Holberg had a choice: pay tuition to continue his studies at the University of Michigan, or pay rent.
"I wanted to finish, so I paid tuition," Holberg said. "I was homeless, I lived in my car, I was on food stamps."
From there, he became a teacher on the West side, and eventually launched a firm at Chicago's 1871 tech incubator that taught people how to manage their money. He believes his background gives him an insight into how the city is mis-managing its books.
"We're in a crisis right now - the city's budget and its finances are a disaster," Holberg said in an interview with WBBM Newsradio after formally launching his campaign. "This is an opportunity to continue to expand and deepen the commitment to serve other people that I've done my entire life."
He said his ability to speak to different people and find common ground will help him stand out, and can help him bring together disparate and often warring stakeholders on City Council to find a way forward to solve Chicago's issues.
"You go out and you say, 'What is the thing that I can do as mayor to make your ward and your constituents the best off?'" Holberg said.
The next citywide election is in February of 2027 - and Holberg says he's got the backing to stay in all the way.