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Steve Caramelli: Candidate Profile

Hanover Twp. Committeeman (Democrat)

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Note: Answers provided have not been edited for grammar, misspellings or typos. In some instances, candidate claims that could not be immediately verified have been omitted. Jump to:BioQA Bio City: Hoffman EstatesWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Hanover Twp. Committeeman Age: 37Family: Lisa and MatthewOccupation: Illinois State TrooperEducation: University of Illinois at Chicago - Bachelor of Art and Science: Major in Criminal Justice, Minor is Spanish LiteratureGraduate Course work - Public AdministrationCivic involvement: Member of Life Changers Church, Hoffman EstatesMember of the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus FoundationActive volunteer within the Village of Hoffman EstatesElected offices held: Present: Trustee - Hanover TownshipHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NOQuestions Answers Why are you running for this office? Is there a particular issue that motivates you, and if so, what is that?I am running for this office to grow the Democratic Party in Hanover Township. My goal is to organize people who believe in the principles of the Democratic Party. I look forward to promoting the highest qualified candidates to office. Every elected official should be willing to competently serve the people they represent. I am opposed to the influence of the democratic machine which gives no voice to the residents, the community leaders and the civic organizations looking to contribute and improve the election process. Several factors have motivated me to run for this office. First, this is an open seat and there is no incumbent. Also being involved for the last several years in campaigns, the community and the election process has giving me the experience and knowledge to fulfill the duties of a Democratic Committeeman. I intend to bring community leaders and democratic elected officials together so that we can strengthen our local democratic party. As Committeeman, I will promote diversity so that all resident will have a sense of participation. With voter registration in Hanover Township at approximately 47 % (source: cook county clerk web site, 10/2013), one of my goals will be to grow the number of primary and general election voters and also increase the involvement of young adults, particularly high school and college students. Lastly, I am motivated by the opportunity to start from the ground up in building something new; an energetic organization made up of volunteers and democrats that will use the political process to elect competent democratic officials that will represent the residents of Hanover Township.What differentiates you most from your opponents in the race?The main difference is my party affiliation. I am a Democrat. I have voted Democrat, supported Democrats and have been committed to the party. My engagement with the Democratic Party, as Political Director for State Representative Fred Crespo, my voting record, my direct involvement in helping Democratic Trustee Gary Stanton of Hoffman Estates get elected and my continued support in this 2014 primary election during the petition drive, having been responsible for collecting more than 2600 signatures for several state and county wide Democratic candidates are things that set me apart from my opponent. On the contrary; my opponent has a record of contributing towards the election of republican / tea party elected officials. I have been an independent organizer, mainly contributing towards the continued success of the first Democratic State Representative of Hanover Township Fred Crespo and State Representative Keith Farnham. Whereas my opponent is an active member of the Republican Organization in Hanover Township referred to as HERO for at least the last 8 years which is chaired by the Hanover Township Republican Committeeman. I have been a proponent for diversity. Having been born in the U.S. of European and Latino descent, I have been an advocate for diversity in government, and am a member of Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation. Secondly, I am public servant. Having stared my police work in the Village of Norridge in 1999; In 2005, I began my profession as an Illinois State Trooper. I am also the Vice Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Board of the Village of Hoffman Estates and in April of 2013, I was elected to the office of Trustee for Hanover Township. Lastly, as candidate for Democratic Committeeman, I am proud to be an active member of the Illinois Troopers Lodge #41 and have been a former member in good standing with the Teamsters Union, Local 726 and the Cement Masons Union, Local 502.Finally, is there anything we haven't asked about that you feel we should know?Yes. In the last several years I have volunteered to help Democratic candidates get elected, such as State Representative Fred Crespo and Trustee Gary Stanton. In addition, I have helped many individuals looking to be active within the Democratic Party. I have the experience and skill sets to run campaigns, organize volunteers, build relationships with State, County and local officials. For this position of Democratic Committeeman, I am proud of my track record which I have done solely as a volunteer. There is one motive-to strengthen the party.